St Barts welcomes back Year 10 and 12 pupils

ST BARTHOLOMEW’S School in Newbury has welcomed back Year 10 and Year 12 pupils for face-to-face lessons.

However, due to Government guidelines and social distancing, only a limited number can be in school at any one time, alongside key worker and vulnerable pupils, who have attended since lockdown.

This presented a huge logistical challenge involving the whole school staff, from resetting all classrooms, labs and larger spaces, implementing one-way systems and two-metre distancing to creating a whole new timetable while continuing to provide home working for all the students.

Each Year 10 pupil will receive 10 face-to-face lessons for the remainder of this term and Year 12 pupils will receive a two-hour lesson in each of their subjects.

All pupils will continue to receive pastoral support.

Year 10 pupil Haaris Begg said: “I’ve found live lessons very useful because students can now better understand tasks that are being set as teachers are able to give guidance and help all pupils.

“It also allows students to socialise more and see people face to face, especially when we return to school, which has been really positive and overall really beneficial for all the students.”

Year 12’s Jemima Garner said:

“I enjoyed the remote lessons, but there really is no substitute for being in the classroom to get the most out of a lesson.

“It was great to be back in school and see friends, tutors and teachers alike.”

Pupils were initially given a virtual tour showing all the new arrangements, including how to arrive, to move around the school, hygiene stations, classroom behaviour and how to leave the site.

The staggered start and end time also ensures there are no large groups moving around at the same time.

Headteacher Julia Mortimore said: “I’m immensely proud of the way all our staff have worked together to enable us to safely welcome back Year 10 and Year 12 students.

“After a very successful first week where the atmosphere was calm and industrious, we look forward to continuing to enhance our students’ learning for the remainder of this term.”

Meanwhile, the school has hosted a virtual induction day for September’s Year 12 pupils

Unable to physically host all the pupils who made the school their sixth form choice, teachers instead provided two live sessions with pupils and launched a new website full of resources and information for pupils and parents.