Analysis from the Education Policy Institute (EPI)
highlights the challenge facing the government in maintaining
"social bubbles" among school year groups and classes, as
pupils return to school in September.
The government announced plans for schools to
socially separate large groups of pupils – including
entire year groups in secondary schools – as part of
its published guidance for reopening schools in the
autumn term.
However, findings published today by EPI
indicate that such an arrangement is likely to prove unworkable
given the limited transport options currently available to
pupils.
.
Findings from the analysis
include:
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Secondary schools typically attract pupils from
up to three miles away, in rural areas it can be
significantly further.
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As many as 1 in 3 of all pupils at secondary
school in England (around 1.1 million) rely on either a
school bus or public transport to get to
school.
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The vast majority of pupils travelling on school
buses or using public transport have no alternative, unless
they have access to a private car.
You can read the analysis piece in
full here.
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Commenting on the analysis, Jon Andrews,
author and Deputy Head of Research at the Education Policy
Institute (EPI) said:
"Schools will be going to great lengths to
minimise the risk of infection during the school day with bubbles
of year groups and distancing where possible. But a significant
number of pupils are likely to mix with those from other year
groups and even other schools on their journey to and from
school.
"There are no easy solutions to this, and schools and local
authorities will have to work together the best they can. But the
government needs to be open about any assessment they have made
of the risk that travelling to and from school poses.
"While there is a very serious risk of a second pandemic wave,
with local and national lockdowns, the government must also have
a robust “Plan B” that will allow all pupils to work effectively
at home in the autumn and winter. All children – not just the
current “priority groups” should be given home access to IT, such
as laptops, and additional provision for online tutoring is
needed."
