Chaos as schools delay return to full-time classes
A RETURN to school has been thrown into chaos after council bosses revealed that not all pupils will be allowed back at the same time.
Youngsters in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, will not return to the classroom full-time until nearly two weeks into the new term.
Education chiefs have said there will be a ‘phased return’ during the first two weeks of term.
All pupils will be back full-time by August 24, following an agreement by the council on Tuesday.
It comes only weeks after Education Secretary John Swinney announced an embarrassing U-turn, with ministers ditching plans for so-called blended learning.
Mr Swinney had previously told schools to prepare to have children in the classroom part-time, with learning also being done at home.
Some areas had prepared to have youngsters in school for only one day a week.
But following a furious backlash to the plans, with youngsters already missing out on three months of school time, Mr Swinney was forced to ditch the proposals.
He instead announced that children will return to schools full-time from August 11, with social distancing rules scrapped for youngsters.
However, it has emerged that council chiefs are now looking at their own plans – which will mean some pupils do not return for full-time schooling for almost two weeks after their peers elsewhere.
Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, chairman of Falkirk Council’s emergency executive, said: ‘Reopening our schools fully is one of our highest priorities in our response to the Covid-19 situation. We’re grateful to parents, carers and families for their patience as we follow the progress of the national recovery plans in Scotland.
‘We know it has been a tough time for everyone. However, returning to a degree of normality is really important and this is a significant step forward.’
Fears have been raised that the decision shows the Scottish Government’s pledge to get children back into the school is ‘falling apart’.
And there have been warnings that the decision by Falkirk Council could be ‘hugely harmful’ for youngsters who will miss out on full-time education.
Johannah Bisset, organiser for campaign group Us for Them Scotland, said: ‘Barely two weeks after this pledge was made it already seems to be falling apart.
‘If this is happening in Falkirk, it will be happening in other council areas, too.
‘Children and parents have endured months of lockdown doing their very best to keep things going.
‘The Scottish Government needs to match that commitment and ensure all schools open in full on August 11.
‘Even a few weeks of delay will be hugely harmful to children’s wellbeing and education – in particular pupils sitting lifechanging exams this academic year, not to mention the careers of their parents, who need certainty about going back to work.’
Mr Swinney is expected to make a statement on July 30 confirming the move to get all children back to school from August 11.
But yesterday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon shrugged off concern, insisting the council had decided to ‘ease’ pupils back into full-time education following their lengthy break.
She said: ‘As I understand the Falkirk situation, it’s about taking a few days at the start of the term to ease children who wouldn’t have been at school for four months into it in a particular way rather than going back to full-time education right at the outset.
‘But that’s not a step away from the aspiration of full-time education.
‘All of the these issues will continue to be fully considered and it’s important over the summer that parents are kept fully updated, too.’
‘Harmful to wellbeing’