School will teach the same subject in FIVE-HOUR long lessons each day so pupils can be kept in separate bubbles from start of September term
- Manor High School in Leicestershire will have five hour lessons on same subject
- It is hoped the policy will limit the movement of pupils once the school restarts
- Whole days will be dedicated to a single subject as part of the school’s plans
A school in Leicestershire is planning to hold day-long lessons on the same subject from September to minimise moving around.
Manor High School in Oadby, Leicestershire, has drawn up a fortnightly cycle of all-day lessons to meet government coronavirus guidelines.
The plan will see pupils study a different subject each day with students experiencing the same hours per lesson within 50 days as usual.
It could see them spending five hours on Maths on a Monday, English on a Tuesday and science on Thursdays.
Liam Powell, the headteacher, believes it also ensure less teaching time is lost to moving between lessons.
Manor High School in Oadby, Leicestershire, will dedicate entire days to just one subject when the school reopens
Hastings High School, also in Leicestershire, is introducing a similar plan.
Mr Powell told the Times: ‘The basic principle is to avoid pupil and staff movement and to comply with government instructions for all children to return full time. The school was built in 1968 and doesn’t really allow for pupils to move with distance between lessons.
‘The idea is to run a fortnightly timetable with day-long lessons. So on a Monday they will have maths and it will last for the whole day, while a different class might have French all day.’
However, the head admitted that students might struggle with having to spend five hours on the same subject.
Teachers will be expected to come up with ways to keep delivery fresh, with staggered break times also expected to be introduced.
After 50 days, the school will evaluate the success of its plan and decide whether or not to continue with it.
It will also continue utilising online lessons even when pupils are back in from September.
Schools are set to reopen in September under a range of government guidelines to stop spread of coronavirus
Vertical tutor groups will be suspended, with pupils expected to form ‘bubbles’ by year group, as per government guidance.
Pupils from each bubble are not supposed to mix in corridors, sports teams, arts or music sessions or even commuting to and from school.
Extra basins and hand sanitiser units have been introduced, as have one-way systems.
Some schools have even purchased marquees to make use of extra outdoor space.
However, heads are complaining they have not received extra government money for the changes.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders said: ‘We are disappointed that the government has so far failed to recognise the impending financial impact on schools of safely bringing back pupils from September.
‘It has no plans to reimburse additional costs incurred as a result of the safety measures, which must be introduced to enable the return of all pupils.’