All pupils could go back to school - but on different days

As a former high school headteacher, I should like to contribute to the discussions about how the school lockdown could be gradually relaxed, potentially some time in June. It has been suggested that selected year groups but not others could return, but would this pattern not benefit some but continue to disadvantage others? Surely it would be fairer for all to go back at the same time with half being present on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the others on Wednesdays and Fridays. Staff would use Mondays to prepare lessons for when the pupils/students would be there and for when they would be working at home, although children of key workers and those who are vulnerable or with special needs would be catered for during the whole week. There would be no extracurricular activities.

The time available between now and resumption would enable staff to liaise with parents on the rota system that would take account of siblings. The most effective classroom layout and use of resources would be organised. Plans would also be made to stagger break and lunch times and to consider increased provision of breakfast and after-school clubs. Agreement would have to be reached with cleaning/caretaking staff to work extra hours to ensure systematic and rigorous cleaning before, during and after school. Additional hours for supervisory staff would need to be agreed to provide greater supervision during non-lesson times and before and after normal school hours. Teaching assistants could be trained to temperature-test staff and pupils/students on arrival to prevent at-risk people attending. Bus and taxi drivers would be guided on numbers of travellers and on rigid seating plans for their fewer passengers, supported by chaperones, who could also temperature-test prior to vehicles being boarded.

An absolute minimum of three weeks - and possibly more - would be required to achieve all of the above, as it would involve liaising with all parents, planning the school day from 8am to 6pm, determining and circulating safe distancing procedures, agreeing extra hours with and providing training for support staff, liaising with transport companies and appointing chaperones. Beyond all of this would be the critical purchase and delivery of adequate stocks of antibacterial gel/cleaning products, temperature-testing kits and appropriately protective equipment for all staff.

Such a pre-planned, pre-informed and pre-supplied staggered approach would provide effective and efficient learning for all while still enabling social distancing to be carefully implemented in the more spacious and clean environment. The reduced daily capacity would minimise the risk while maximising learning for all, especially since the government’s provision of laptops and 4G routers is still weeks away.

Such a plan, simple in principle but complex in implementation, really would “level up” the return to a more normal educational life for the nation’s young people and for those directly responsible for their learning, achievement and wellbeing.

David Thompson
Corbridge, Northumberland