What is the current status of primary schools reopening in England?
After shutting down all schools on March 23 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the government began a phased reopening of primary schools in England last week. Nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6 students returned to classes starting from June 1, with the goal to educate all primary school children in England for a month before the summer holiday. However, on Tuesday, the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, admitted that not all students would be able to return before the summer. Some students might have to wait until September. This turn of events may lead to even greater losses of education opportunities for children, particularly disadvantaged pupils.
Why did the government make this decision?
The government received warnings from headteachers and teaching unions that the plan to reopen was impractical due to physical distancing requirements, space constraints, and staff shortages. Consequently, schools were advised to teach pupils in protective bubbles of no more than 15, which is half the normal class size. However, halving the usual class size means that the school requires double the number of classrooms. The limitations have hampered the opening of more primary schools. Moreover, many parents are not ready to send their children back to school just yet. As a result, only 25% of eligible students returned to school last week, and only 52% of primary schools deemed it safe enough to allow more students to return.
What will happen next?
The government is giving headteachers the flexibility to decide if and when additional pupils can be admitted because schools in England vary in their infrastructure and abilities. Meanwhile, secondary school students, like primary school kids, will remain open only to children of key workers and vulnerable students. Students preparing for their GCSE and A-level exams next summer will receive some face-to-face interaction with their teachers. The rest of the secondary school pupils will continue to learn online until term ends.
Will all pupils be back in September?
The government plans to bring all children back to school in September. Williamson stated that exams would proceed as usual next summer. However, teachers caution that if physical distancing still proves necessary by the end of the summer, schools may have to offer a blend of online and in-person classes to limit the number of students on site at any one time.
What about other parts of the United Kingdom?
As education is a devolved issue, each nation in the United Kingdom has different plans for reopening their schools. In Wales, schools are reopening on June 29th. However, only 33% of students may attend any given time. For those pupils who do return, there will be a period of adjustment with the extension of the summer term by one week. Scotland’s schools are scheduled to open in August, with most pupils receiving a combination of in-school and at-home learning. Some pupils in Northern Ireland plan to return in late August, while others will return gradually after that.
How will pupils catch up?
Disadvantaged students who have missed out on formal teaching have fallen behind their peers. The government is under increasing pressure to provide catch-up plans for these students. Although it will take more than a few weeks to bridge the gap, summer camps have been suggested as part of the catch-up plan. However, the official planning for this is still in an early stage.
