Education News: School Update
Most students in the UK have now been at home for almost two months after the imposed lockdown closed schools on the 23rd March to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This closure of schools has undoubtedly negatively impacted pupil progress; this is compounded by the length of time students have spent out of school and outside of a formal learning environment. This was acknowledged by the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, earlier in the lockdown. However, he added that schools should not reopen until it is “safe to do so”.
The Prime Minister revealed the government’s plan for as smooth an exit as possible out of the coronavirus lockdown in a national address on Sunday 10th May. The government has forecast that Primary schools will be able to reopen on Monday the 1st June in over a month’s time assuming that there is no resurgence of COVID-19.
Schools will have a “phased” re-opening process to reduce the risk of another spike in coronavirus infections. This will begin with certain year groups returning to school ahead of others. The first year groups to return will be Reception (aged 4-5), Year 1 pupils (aged 5-6) and Year 6 pupils (aged 10-11).
As for secondary schools in the UK, they are likely to remain closed until September. However, the prime minister said there was an "ambition" that pupils in Year 10 (aged 14-15) and Year 12 (aged 16-17) would be able to return to school before the summer holidays.
Schools are doing everything they can to provide and maintain quality education during this difficult time using a plethora of tools to keep students learning and developing their academic understanding. Notably, Eton College has pledged a £100 million investment over the next 5 years to help disadvantaged youngsters from the Midlands and the north.
Simon Henderson, the headmaster of Eton, revealed the school is in discussions with the Department of Education regarding sponsoring certain selective state sixth forms in East Anglia, the Midlands and northern England. Simon Henderson announced that the coronavirus pandemic has the potential to be “a trigger for profound change”.
Known as ‘Eton 2020’, this large-scale investment comprises four key initiatives:
Further access to financial aid for pupils;
Expanding Eton’s online education platform EtonX;
Growing the College’s network of partner organisations; and
Setting up new selective Sixth Forms.
As Simon Henderson, headmaster of Eton, has said: “There is no doubt that the inequality gap within education is widening as a result of Covid-19 and we must play our part, as an educational charity, in helping to address such inequality where we can. After this pandemic has receded, we cannot continue as is nothing has changed. As Mark Carney recently wrote in The Economist, institutions will be judged by 'who shared and who hoarded'. Our governing body has now approved a plan which is both ambitious and demanding, but which builds on much of what we already do.”