'Glad to be back' - The Cowplain School pupils talk about life in lockdown and returning to school

With students already in the midst of studying for GCSEs, the premature end to their full-time schooling brought a number of educational and emotional challenges. While schools have been setting online work many pupils are glad to once again have the support of their teachers.

Aiden Bailey, 15, said: ‘I’ve found coming back to school really helpful, especially getting the teachers’ input.

‘During the lockdown I’ve continued working, although it’s obviously difficult to stay motivated after three months, but I’ve got a good routine with my work. The teachers have been helpful and it’s been useful to be able to ask questions, especially in smaller groups.’

Classmate, Charlie Reade, 15, added: ‘I initially found it a bit strange coming back but I’ve enjoyed being in. I’ve got a lot more learning done at school, although I’ve made sure I completed the work set at home. It’s been good to be able to ask teachers questions about my work.’

While pupils may have returned to school, with staggered timetables, group bubbles and socially distanced classrooms, it’s a very different environment to the one they left in mid-March. However, Charlie and Aiden feel the measures in place are just an extension of what they had already been adhering to in the local community.

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Aiden said: ‘Following the procedures the school has put in place hasn’t been difficult, I was sticking to the guidelines anyway.’

Charlie added: ‘Coming into school hasn’t been a big deal. I’ve followed what we’ve been told to do in terms of social distancing, for example keeping two meters apart, and just carried that on in school.’

Pupils have initially returned one-day-a-week where they will cover four lessons consisting of English, maths, science and a humanities subject to support their home learning.

Headteacher, Ian Gates, said: ‘It has been fantastic to see students back and the lessons so far have gone really well. Pupils have said they’ve really enjoyed being back in school. The students have been brilliant at following the guidelines issued to schools.’

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