Peterborough academy chief insists she will only open schools if safe to do so as she admits ‘surprise’ at government timetable

Julie Taylor, who heads the Thomas Deacon Education Trust, said she had been a “little surprised” by Boris Johnson announcing schools could re-open on June 1 for some primary pupils and that it was “unrealistic” to expect to expect children to return full-time.

But she hopes to see some Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils back in the classroom next month in ‘bubbles’ alongside a teacher or teaching assistant, although a final decision will only be made this week when the trust’s board meets virtually.

The trust runs seven academies, including five primaries, three of which are in Peterborough - Gladstone, Welbourne and Thomas Deacon.

Ms Taylor admitted convincing parents and staff it was safe to re-open schools to more than just vulnerable children and the children of key workers will be difficult as the country slowly eases out of lockdown, but she insisted each academy will only do what is safe even if it means allowing in fewer pupils than recommended by the Government under its published guidance.

Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph, the trust chief executive said: “We are taking time to make sense of the new guidance. We had considered a number of scenarios before the Government guidance came out.

“We were perhaps a little surprised by the June 1 announcement. We were thinking it might be a more gentle, phased return.

“The guidelines are only that - the responsibility lies with the corporate body. We are just making the decisions that are right for our schools.

“Parents have been given a message that the safest place is at home and now they’re being asked to send their precious children to school. It’s a challenge.

“We are communicating clearly with our leaders and making sure they are confident. It’s better to build confidence then rush in.

“We are looking very much at how we can work in social bubbles. We won’t be able to do 15 children in a school like the Government suggests - with the space in our schools I don’t think that’s workable.

“We want to be on the side of caution and are looking at around 10 children with a teacher or teaching assistant in a bubble.”

Concerns have been raised about whether it is possible for social distancing to take place in schools, with many parents across the country insisting they will not send their children back.

Moreover, the challenge for school leaders locally was arguably made more difficult by the announcement last week that Welbourne and Ken Stimpson Community College were both forced to close due to a person testing positive for coronavirus.

Ms Taylor acknowledged there is “anxiety” among staff and parents but she said the trust benefits from having a big backroom team, including building services and HR departments.

Challenges will include managing bathroom breaks, whether to serve hot meals or packed lunches and how parents pick up their children at the end of the school day.

“Our intention is to try and provide some form of education in our primary schools,” Ms Taylor said.

“We’re in constant conversation with staff virtually. They’re telling us about concerns they may have which are very serious.

“A number of staff are shielding while others are self-isolating. We’re making sure they feel supported. We also work very closely with the local union representatives.

“Between us we are working very hard to ensure we have the safest environment possible when the academies return.”

Schools have remained open to a few pupils during the lockdown, with the vast majority having to learn from home.

Ms Taylor acknowledged that the quality of home learning “does vary” for various reasons - including the space of homes and the number of children in a household - but that staff have done a “fantastic job”.

She said: “There have been some fantastic examples across school websites and we have been genuinely excited by what children have done.”

As for grading next year, she hopes to see a combination of external exams and teacher assessment to reflect the fact children will have lost a term of learning.

But that is something for the future. For now, the focus is on whether pupils will be returning in a fortnight’s time as the Government currently intends.

“We want to get them back in a classroom but it has to be in a safe environment,” the chief executive added.

“We’re looking at each school on an individual basis and trying to work with each academy to find a solution within the guidance that works for them. It needs to work for staff and families - how we can do things safely and build up.

“We’re not going to open up fully.

“(The Government) saying they want children back in full-time from June 1 is unrealistic. It’s great to have that as an ambition, but it can’t be the expectation.”