Commenting on the government
guidance about the full reopening of schools in the
autumn, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of
School and College Leaders, said:
“It will be immediately apparent to anyone reading this
guidance that it is enormously challenging to implement. The
logistics of keeping apart many different ‘bubbles’ of children
in a full school, including whole-year groups comprising hundreds
of pupils, is mind boggling. School leaders will have to consider
implementing staggered starts, finishes, and lunch times,
alongside transport to and from school, on an epic scale.
“However, we recognise that the options about how to bring
all children back to school in the autumn are limited. It is the
right ambition and it has to be done in a way that mitigates the
risks associated with coronavirus as effectively as possible. We
understand the guidance is an attempt to achieve both
aims.
“There just needs to be a sense of reality about what is
possible. School leaders will do their best, as they always do,
and ASCL will support them all the way, but this is not going to
be perfect. It will be hard for everyone concerned to implement
and become accustomed to difficult and complicated systems, and
it will not work smoothly all the time.
“And while we share the ambition of bringing all pupils
back to school in the autumn, we would urge the government to
have in place a national Plan B in the event that we arrive at
September and it becomes clear that a full return is just too
risky.
Inspections and performance tables
“We are pleased the government has agreed with the need to
suspend routine Ofsted inspections for the autumn term, but
extremely disappointed there is no commitment to suspending
school performance tables next year.
“Schools must be able to focus on supporting the learning and
wellbeing of pupils following a time of great disruption, and
bearing in mind the possibility of continued partial or full
shutdowns in response to outbreaks. Given the very different
circumstances schools and pupils are facing, school performance
tables are meaningless and counterproductive, and they should be
suspended in 2021.
The curriculum
“One of the challenges facing schools will be to support
children in catching up on lost learning from very different
starting points. This is why there is room in the guidance to
discuss with pupils and parents the possibility of dropping a
GCSE subject in order to allow greater focus on other
subjects.
“We are aware that this may lead to concerns that the
curriculum is being narrowed for these children. However, the
guidance makes clear that this would happen only in exceptional
circumstances, when it is in the best interests of the pupil, and
the goal at all times is to provide a broad curriculum.
Attendance
“We do not agree with the suggestion in the guidance of
fixed penalty notices for unauthorised pupil absences. This is
not the right message at this difficult time and we need to focus
on building confidence rather than threatening sanctions.
“The government should make it clear to school leaders that
there will be no expectation on them to issue fines from the
start of term and that there will be a period of grace as
attendance settles down.
BAME staff and pupils
“The absence of detailed guidance about the risk of
coronavirus to pupils and staff from certain ethnic minorities is
an ongoing concern. Schools need information and guidance. It is
not good enough for the government to offer no support beyond
suggesting schools discuss any concerns.”
