Schools in England face waiting a fortnight to find out how the government expects to bring every child back to school in September – but plans in Northern Ireland suggest teachers will have to move between classrooms and school bags could be banned.
Speaking today Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: ‘We’ve been creating bubbles of children in the classroom, creating a protective environment for those children.
‘Currently that is at 15, what we would be looking at doing is expanding those bubbles to include the whole class.’
The Department for Education has offered no guidance on how schools can plan their return to the new academic year, but it will likely involve cutting the gap between pupils to one metre and following similar guidance from elsewhere.
Unions are up in arms over the lack of clarity, but a 53-page document from Northern Ireland’s Department of Education could offer a glimpse inside daily life for schools come September, it involves:
Stay in one classroom:
Secondary school pupils could be asked to stay in one classroom throughout the day, with teachers moving between lessons. There’s a possibility meals could be delivered to classrooms to save space and stop ‘bubbles’ from spreading germs.
Don’t bring anything to or from home:
Pupils will be encouraged not to bring bags into school and will also be told not take anything room from the classroom. Equipment that is hard to clean could be placed in storage, which has been done with toys in younger years classes in England. It’s not clear what will happen to art, science and technology equipment, such as canvases and Bunsen burners.
Lessons in dining halls:
To ensure schools have enough room to teach classes, the DoE says dining halls and assembly halls can be temporarily converted to make room for multiple classes. Where there still isn’t enough space, schools are being encouraged to make remote learning a possibility.
No need for PPE:
The guidance says children should not wear PPE in school and staff should only wear it in very limited circumstances, such as giving medication to a pupil.
Pupils at a school in Corringham, Essex, are obeying new social distancing rules, with classroom sizes limited to 15 students at a time
Tables have been used as barriers to enforce two-metre distancing rules at Orfu Gable Hall School in Corringham – but the Department of Education in Northern Ireland is preparing for classes to return with a reduced one-metre gap between pupils
Northern Ireland’s Department of Education published guidance on Friday explaining how classrooms could be set out from the start of the autumn term
All pupils returning to school are being encouraged to wash their hands regularly, it remains a key part of the guidance issued by Northern Ireland on Friday
Schools should be ready to exclude pupils who do not follow new Covid-19 rules.
The Department of Education warned schools should ‘make provision to be able to sanction, up to and including exclusion, pupils who wilfully refuse to adhere to arrangements of social distancing and deliberately cough or spit at pupils or staff, putting them at risk.’
Speaking during a visit to a Hertfordshire primary school on Friday, Boris Johnson said: ‘To be absolutely clear, I’m absolutely signed up to the fact that we want to bring every child back, in every year group, in every school.
The PM said it was ‘absolutely’ his aspiration that pupils of all ages will be back in the classroom for a full five days a week in September.
With detailed plans being released in Northern Ireland, teaching unions are calling for greater clarity from the government on how classes will return to their full size in England.
Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield told The Sun: ‘With Ireland reducing social distancing to one metre in schools, it seems like a good opportunity for Government to look whether schools in England can do the same.
‘Children and parents have sacrificed to help battle this virus.
‘The wellbeing and education of millions has been turned upside down and the most disadvantaged kids are at risk of falling further behind.’
In other coronavirus developments today:
- Britain announced 173 more coronavirus deaths including a 12-year-old, as government scientists confirmed the outbreak is in retreat with the number of new cases shrinking by 4 per cent each day and the crucial R rate remaining below the dreaded level of one;
- A third meat factory reported a coronavirus outbreak and was forced to shut down – as experts warned that chilled environments are ideal for the virus to thrive;
- Britain’s retailers are still struggling through the coronavirus pandemic despite a much-needed 12 per cent boost in sales last month, compared with the record lows in April;
- UK debt is bigger than GDP for the first time in almost 60 years as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the economy, with the government forced to borrow £55.2billion in May;
- Apple hit back at Matt Hancock over claims its tracing app can’t detect distances and said the government hasn’t asked to work together after the NHS software was humiliatingly scrapped;
- UK society has ‘regressed to a 1950s way of living’ for many women because the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened gender inequality and left women with more childcare, Sussex University experts warned
In his most categorical statement yet, Boris Johnson said it was ‘absolutely’ his intention for all pupils to be back at school full-time by September
Plans in Northern Ireland encourage keeping a two metre gap between pupils and staff – similar to current conditions in English classrooms (above)
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: ‘The desire to bring everyone back is correct but we need to know what the Government is thinking and the scenarios they are planning for.
‘This will give school communities what they need to get through this term and plan for the new academic year in September.’
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), added: ‘The Prime Minister’s hopes are not enough.’
‘If the requirements of social distancing – in order to stop a second peak – are reduced even to 1m, then most schools could not have 30 children in a classroom,’ he added.
Labour leader Keir Starmer told The Mirror the government must develop a ‘coherent national plan to reopen our classroms safely together with those who know our schools best: parents, teachers, unions and local councils’.
Speaking on plans for schools in England, Mr Williamson said: ‘Over the coming weeks we will publish further information and guidance to help schools prepare for a full return in September.
‘We are working across Government and with the sector to ensure these plans are fully in place so that this can happen.’
When pressed for any details on how English classes would return to full size, the Department for Education said: ‘The Government announced its clear intention for all pupils to be back in school in September today, with further information and guidance being published in the coming weeks.’