Atherstone academy trust: Coronavirus has cost pupils 62 days learning 'at worst'

PLEDGE TO PARENTS THAT LOCKDOWN WILL NOT LEAD TO A LOST GENERATION

'OUR CHILDREN DESERVE A GREAT, AND SAFE, EDUCATION AND WE WILL NOT LET THEM DOWN'

THE BOSS of the trust which runs Atherstone's The Queen Elizabeth Academy has pledged that pupils will not become a "lost generation" as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

In a letter mapping out plans for the start of the new academic year in September, CEO of Academy Transformation Trust Debbie Clinton informs parents that the curriculum is being adapted to ensure students "get the learning and knowledge that they need to achieve success in the future".

She does acknowledge, however, that some parents and pupils may have concerns about the return to school.

Ms Clinton writes: "We understand that some of you and your children will be anxious about returning in September, after some months out of the academy environment.

"Please be reassured that we are taking exceptional measures to make our academies as safe as they can be.

"We will be providing additional emotional and wellbeing support for any pupils that need it and will also be providing additional opportunities to support learning where this is required.

"Although it feels like this situation has lasted forever, in fact pupils have lost, at worst, only 62 academy days of learning.

"And very many of them have worked hard using online resources or workbooks provided by our hardworking and dedicated teachers.

"We are all determined that they will absolutely not be 'a lost generation' and we're adapting our curriculum to make sure that they get the learning and knowledge that they need to achieve success in the future.

"The curriculum...will remain broad and balanced, and will continue to include music, arts and sport – as usual.

"Your children deserve a great, and safe, education – we will not let them down."

Ms Clinton says the trust is in the process of planning, completing revised detailed risk assessments and working out how each academy will look and feel like when pupils return.

"We're working hard to consider how we group our pupils together, ensure that we reduce contact between different groups of pupils, and keep the stringent cleaning and disinfecting processes we already have in place to ensure that our academies are as safe as can be for your child," she writes.

Ms Clinton goes on to explain a number of key points, including that attendance will be mandatory from the beginning of the autumn term - except for children unable to attend because their parents are following clinical and/or public health advice.

Students will also be expected to follow strict behaviour rules in relation to physical contact and keeping their hands clean.

They will also have to wear full uniform and have access to their own equipment to eliminate the need to share items.

She adds: "Pupils will not be wearing face coverings in our academies. The government advice is quite clear that this is not necessary.

"If face coverings are used on public transport to get to your child's academy, they must be removed on arrival."

Year 10 students returning to the school in mid-June to have some much needed face-to-face time with teachers were given a vital first lesson with a "lasting" message on a subject that had impacted on their lives for the previous three months – coronavirus.

The pupils went through the school gates readying themselves for the usual tutorials on English, Maths, Science and Humanities but ended up with an "excellent" starting point for the first day back as they look ahead to siting GCSEs next year.

While academy principal Neil Harding stressed "anxious" parents and carers would "not be held to account" if they decided against allowing students to get "in school" tuition ahead of the summer holidays, it will be a different scenario in September as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has insisted on a mandatory return to the new scholastic year.

Wood End Primary School head Moira Cross is about to tell parents of her "official plans" on how the new academic year will shape up.