Coronavirus: Hampshire schools unveil new measures to keep children Covid safe

With coronavirus cases on the rise and schools exempt from the latest gathering restrictions – where groups can be no more than six – headteachers have been tackling the logistical minefield of creating a ‘Covid-secure’ environment for children to learn.

After allowing The News exclusive access to Priory School in Southsea, headteacher, Stewart Vaughan said: ‘While I’m delighted that pupils are back, this has been the biggest logistical reorganisation of a school I have experienced, in what has been the shortest possible available time.’

To ensure year group bubbles remain segregated, measures put in place include the relocation of entire departments, hand sanitising at the start and end of every lesson, staggered break and lunchtimes, with exclusively designated zones for each year group, and a strict one way ‘trainline’ for pupils to move around school.

Each year group has also been allocated a separate entry and exit gate.

Mr Vaughan said: ‘The two biggest subjects on student timetables are English and maths and so to reduce movement, we have relocated both departments so they are next to each other.

‘There are certain pinch points around school where students from each year group could meet during lesson changeover and so every 30 minutes a member of staff is deployed to these areas to control student movement.’

While the changes are ‘taking some getting used to’, pupils at the school accept and understand the need to adhere to the guidelines.

Year 11 pupil, Rojgar Ahmed, 15, said: ‘I think the school has done as much as it can to keep us safe and I appreciate that.’

Classmate, Credence Preston-Diggles, 15, added: ‘Everything has been very different since we returned. While it can be frustrating to have restricted movement and to have to sanitise every lesson it’s obviously necessary.

‘I do worry about passing it on to older relatives such as my grandparents.’

With headteachers given the discretion to implement the wearing of masks, Mr Vaughan has opted for them to be worn in communal areas and between lessons.

‘We have narrow corridors in this school as well as certain pinch points and so I felt it was necessary for masks to be worn when moving between lessons,’ said Mr Vaughan. ‘While pupils do not have to wear them in classrooms some have opted to do so.’

While the sight of children moving around school in surgical masks is a stark reminder of the ongoing impact of the pandemic, it’s something to which pupils have quickly adapted.

Year 11 pupil, Emma Dillon, 15, said: ‘I’ve got used to having to wear my mask whenever I go to the shops and so it now seems fairly normal to have to wear it in school. I’ve become so used it that I sometimes get to my lessons and forget to take it off.’

SEE ALSO: New Portsmouth school celebrates its first day – as pupils get used to new normal

Headteacher at Park Community School in Havant, Chris Anders, has made the wearing of masks optional, although he accepts that at some point ‘this may well have to change’.

Mr Anders said: ‘It’s important for children and teachers to be able to see facial expressions which can help interpret what has been said.’

Fortunately for Mr Anders, the recently built school offers a level of space which has enabled him to divide the school up into zones to ensure year groups are kept apart.

‘For most subjects children will remain in their zone and quite often in the same classroom. In order to identify straight away if a pupil is in the correct zone we have introduced different coloured ties for each year group,’ said Mr Anders.

To keep pupils apart, the school has also introduced three staggered times for both breaks and lunch. The school has also introduced 40 automatic hand sanitising points and invested in three marquee coverings to increase the outside space which children can use in adverse weather.

Year 11 Pupil, Taylor Anderson, 16, said: ‘I understand why these measures have been put in place and the school have done all they can, but being in the same room all day can be a bit frustrating.’

Classmate, Max Wallis, 15, added: ‘I’m pleased all these things are in place as I do worry about getting the virus and passing it on to an older relative.’

The measures put in place have cost ‘between £25,000 and £30,000’ for which Mr Anders pointed out they ‘have received no additional funding’.

Mr Vaughan added: ‘Education minister Nick Gibb said ‘schools should use their reserves’ but many schools don’t have this additional money.’

While the dedicated headteachers have done all they can to mitigate the risks, they both accept that they cannot guarantee 100 per cent safety.

Mr Anders said: ‘It’s all about managing an acceptable level of risk and the government has deemed this is an acceptable level. While that may change, my job for now is to make it as safe as possible for children to enjoy being back in school.’

Mr Vaughan added: ‘As headteacher it’s my responsibility to mitigate and minimise the risk.’

While both headteachers are ‘delighted’ to welcome back pupils, Mr Anders conceded that a large proportion of time is ‘now spent on managing logistics rather than education’.

Mr Vaughan added: ‘All the logistical measures we have put in place are to try and ensure once children enter the classroom their experience is as normal as possible.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.