Getting back to a sense of normality
AS SOME YEAR GROUPS CONTINUE THEIR RETURN TO SCHOOL, WE CATCH UP WITH PUPILS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO SEE HOW IT’S GOING
Secondary schools are welcoming year 10 and 12 pupils back with strict hygiene and social distancing measures in place to keep them safe. One pupil who’s been relieved to return is Rheeya Makwana, 17, who went back to Hinchingbrooke School in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. She’s found studying independently relatively easy, but is still glad to be back in the classroom. “I was so happy when I was told we were going back to school because I really enjoy lessons,” she says. “I FaceTime my friends every day, but it’s different seeing them at school. “We’ve been having online lessons and voiceover PowerPoints, but it’s not really the same as being in a classroom. Coming back, the structure was really good and I felt I learned a lot more. I came home in a good mood!” Parents have praised the school’s communication and commitment to getting their children back into class. “Initially I was concerned about them going back in,” says Alesia Dickinson, parent of Year 10 students Vahine and Lucia. “But they’ve got hand-sanitising stations, one-way systems and the teachers are making sure everyone is social distancing. The communication school provided has reassured parents and I don’t feel any concerns now compared to how I did before.” The school, part of the ACES Academies Trust, has implemented the one-way systems with clear arrows and markings so the pupils don’t get too close to each other. Classrooms are used for just one “bubble” group before being closed down for cleaning. “What we’ve done is we’ve split year 12 into two groups,” says Principal Mark Patterson. “One group comes in on a Monday and the other group comes in on a Tuesday. “We’ve split year 10 into three groups, which means we can manage quite a large number of students across the week.” Staff and student safety is paramount, and parents and pupils were well prepared in the build-up to the return, with a booklet, a virtual assembly and a contract to sign saying they would keep to the new guidelines. “It’s a dramatically changed picture from the one they left before lockdown in school,” says Mr Patterson. “When students arrive, if there’s any kind of queue, we have red circles marked on the ground that are two metres apart so they have to line up in a socially distanced way. “We’ve got designated areas set aside at break and lunchtime for each group to go to and there’s signage around the school reminding everybody of the importance of
hygiene, frequent hand-washing and keeping their distance.” Getting back into the routine is important, and Mr Patterson says pupils have welcomed the return. “You could see it on their faces,” he says. “In many ways they were more pleased to see each other than they were the teachers – but they were pleased to see the teachers as well. “It’s getting back to some sense of routine, structure and normality. “I think a lot of them have been surprised by how much they’ve missed school. “I think if you’d asked them before lockdown, ‘Would you like a week off ?’ they’d have said ‘Please!’ I bet if you asked them now, they’d say, ‘Can I come back?’ “I think the parents and students now realise how important school is. They’ve been out a long time and remote learning is not nearly as good as face-toface. Quite a lot of students, particularly younger ones, are struggling with the self-discipline that’s required.” With the support of teachers, years 10 and 12 now have the best chance to prepare for their exams – and spend that all-important time with their friends.
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“I think a lot of students have been surprised at how much they’ve missed being at school”