Northampton headteachers excited to get all students back in school and insist safety is top priority

Headteachers in Northampton say they cannot wait to get all of their students back into school but insist safety is their top priority.

All pupils can return from March 8, as only vulnerable students and the children of key workers have been present during the third national lockdown and the rest learning virtually.

Megan Morris, the principal at Malcolm Arnold Academy in Queen's Park, said: “Our staff, students and families have dealt fantastically with online learning and engagement has been very high.

"But we know that nothing beats being in the classroom."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced schools will be welcoming all pupils from March 8 as part of the 'roadmap' out of lockdown on Monday (February 22).

It will be up to individual schools whether everyone comes back at once or in stages over the first week of the full return after two months of home-schooling for many.

While secondary school pupils will be getting coronavirus tests - three at school before two-a-week at home - and having to wear masks in some classrooms and corridors.

Teachers' unions have raised concerns about the safety of students coming back all at once and parents may be concerned about the potential spread of the virus.

Carmel Dodds, the headteacher at The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School in Kingsthorpe, said: "Understandably parents will be feeling a range of emotions after the government announcement.

"To support this, we had already organised parent consultations for next week via Teams to give parents an opportunity to discuss those concerns with class teachers to ensure everyone is fully prepared."

All schools will be leaning on the experience of opening for all students during the pandemic from September to December.

Staggered starts, breaks, lunchtimes and finishes became commonplace as well as class and year group bubbles, masks and marking out parts of the school for certain groups.

Ms Morris said they will be helping students transition back to school through focused teaching, routines, individual tutoring, top-up provision and counselling sessions if needed.

Mass testing will be a new challenge and Thomas Becket Catholic School headteacher Mark McLaughlin said they are still finalising plans to manage that.

"We are excited to get to work integrating them back to school, helping them settle and then to support them and map the areas we need to work on with them," he added.

JD Hives, principal of Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School, said she is thrilled to be welcoming all students back into the classroom and is confident it will be safe.

“We strongly believe that school is the best place for our children," she added.

"We have worked really hard to continue our community focus and are delighted to have pupils back soon.”

How students will catch up on lost time has also been discussed by ministers with suggestions ranging from summer lessons to increasing the length of the school day.

Mr McLaughlin said: "As always, all of the decisions about the way that we 'catch them up,' will be planned with the children's best interests at heart and if it is to their benefit, we will do all that we can to provide for them."