Experts sound alarm at lack of progress on planning for return to class

Education experts have expressed fears about lack of progress in preparing schools for reopening full-time next month.

Schools are to reopen with no physical distancing in August if coronavirus remains under control.

On June 23, Education Secretary John Swinney announced a return to full-time education after criticism of plans for pupils to be taught in schools just one or two days a week and study at home the remainder of the time.

Some head teachers have already informed parents of their plans for a full-time return, such as pupils wiping down desks and chairs at the start and end of lessons, one-way systems and a ban on pupils leaving school at lunchtime.

But other councils have yet to set down rules for pupils and teachers to follow as they await guidance from the Scottish Government.

Professor Lindsay Paterson, professor of education policy at Edinburgh University, said: “My impression is that, after the announcement on June 23 of full-time return, serious planning went into abeyance for either option.

“Work to prepare schools to ­reopen in five weeks is detailed and challenging. There is also still a need to plan for blended learning, if that really is a serious contingency plan, as the Scottish Government now claims. Perhaps work on these is ­continuing unseen, but there is no evidence of it from statements by the Scottish Government, Education Scotland, the SQA or trade unions. The ­question has to be asked: how seriously are Scottish Government officials taking the plan to open schools on August 11?”

The Commission on School Reform, an independent group set up by the think tank Reform Scotland, has called for an extra six hours of teaching a week so pupils can catch up on lessons missed during the coronavirus lockdown.

Carole Ford, an ex-head teacher and former president of School Leaders Scotland, said: “I’m really concerned head teachers are going to be left in the lurch.

“We should not be subjecting children to a postcode lottery if some areas are more organised than others. I’m worried that might happen if the central organisations don’t get their act together and get the guidelines out there.”

Former First Minister Jack McConnell called for a “national mobilisation” and regular updates on progress. Lord McConnell, also a former education minister and maths teacher, said: “The day after the announcement there should have been a meeting between the Education Secretary and the 32 council leaders to get started.

“Within a week there should have been guidance to the councils telling what was expected, and by this weekend the councils should have agreed with all the head teachers what was going to be put in place.

“There needs to be a national leadership on this and there needs to be local mobilisation.

“Some councils have made it clear to parents they will work towards this objective and they are already making great efforts in that direct. Others councils, either because they are lazy or they are bamboozled, are not yet moving.”

In a letter to Clare Adamson, the Scottish Parliament education committee convener, the parents’ campaign group 50/50 urged scrutiny of progress “to allow schools time to get this right well before schools are due to return”.

The Scottish Government said: “The Education Recovery Group met again last week. It brings together the Scottish Government, councils, teachers’ representatives, parent bodies and trades unions, and will continue to work together to ensure plans are developed collaboratively for a safe and smooth transition back to school. The group meets again tomorrow.

“In addition, the Deputy First Minister has established a scientific advisory group that is focused on education and children’s issues. It provided briefing to the Education Recovery group this week. We are also working with local authorities to expand the teaching workforce.”