A joint letter has revealed that a final Brexit deal needs to take into account schools and pupils to ensure UK visas limits do not lead to a greater shortage in teacher numbers.
School leaders and the British Council have written a joint open letter warning Brexit negotiators that they should not underestimate the impact that changes to the UK visa system could have on schools and pupils.
The letter also suggests that Brexit could have an effect on the number or type of international exchanges and visits pupils can embark upon via their school.
The letter has been signed by a number of industry leaders including Geoff Barton, secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, the head of the schools programmes for the British Council, Mark Herbert, and the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, Paul Whiteman.
Comparing the education industry to the healthcare industry, the letter states that they are seriously concerned that Brexit could extend a number of issues already facing the industry.
It says: “The post-Brexit visa regime must ensure that those already living and working here have their rights protected and feel secure; it must be straightforward for schools to recruit teachers from European countries.”
“Britain’s future prosperity and place in the world depends on a new generation of outward-looking, multilingual, globally minded young people who are prepared to live, work and thrive in the global economy.”