Don’t bring blazers to school, parents told

As pupils prepare to go back to classes tomorrow, head teachers set out the Covid-compliant rules

PUPILS have been told to leave ties, blazers and hats at home and parents must not “natter” at the gates as schools prepare to reopen tomorrow.

Children are being told not to bring in items that are infrequently washed – including school bags.

Some schools have asked pupils to wear sports kit instead of uniforms, so they can do physical activities without needing to use changing rooms.

Parents have been given time slots to drop off their children to avoid too many congregating at the school gates and breaching social distance rules.

Head teachers have written to parents advising them on the arrangements so they can reopen in a Covid-19 compliant manner. Neil Roskilly, chief executive of the Independent Schools Association, said: “The difficulty is that parents love to congregate and chat at the school gates; they have their daily natter. Those are old habits and they are difficult to break.”

The Government has asked schools to open from tomorrow for pupils in Reception, Year One and Year Six, with the “ambition” that all primary age pupils will return by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, secondary schools have been asked to reopen for pupils in Years 10 and 12, who are midway through their GCSEs and A-levels, from June 15 – but only a quarter of each year group is allowed back on any one day.

Mr Roskilly said schools that ordinarily require students to wear a blazer, tie, hat or any other “non-essential” item, will be telling children to find alternatives, as these items tend to be less frequently washed.

Christopher King, chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools, said some schools had asked children to wear PE kit to school every day rather than uniforms. “Many are fortunate to have a large site with playing fields and they are looking to incorporate some physical activity into the timetable every day,” he said.

“They are asking the pupils to come to school ready changed because changing rooms are problematic.”

Some 39 per cent of parents want to keep their children at home for an initial two weeks when schools open on Monday to judge whether it is safe for them to permanently return, according to a survey or 2,085 mothers and fathers by ORB International. But 42 per cent were unsure what they would do.

Schools are carrying out their own risk assessments on sporting activities with the aim of minimising contact between pupils.

Many schools will ask students to bring packed lunches. “This reduces the area of risk and means fewer adults being on site,” Mr King said.

Jo Coton, chief executive of NET academies trust which runs six primaries in Essex, said pupils had been told not to bring school bags.

Instead each will get a plastic wallet for exercise books and pencils, which can be left at school overnight.