School bosses open to Covid catch-up sessions
A county headteacher has welcomed the prospect of catch-up sessions for pupils over the summer.
The Government has suggested the initiative could be one way of helping pupils who have been disadvantaged by the Covid-enforced disruption of education over the past 12 months.
Julie Johnson, head of school at Shrewsbury Academy, which is part of the Marches Academy Trust, said she supported the idea – and that the school's teachers are already interested in helping out.
She said: "I've already had staff come to me to say, 'if we're doing a summer school, can I be involved?'.
"If it gives that catch up time that our community and students need we're well behind it.
"I've had staff who have heard rumours already asking to be considered, saying it's a great scheme – it's incredible.
"We think the benefits of summer school, certainly for year 6s, who have missed out a lot, as well as our current years, will be greatly received."
Sarah Godden, CEO of the TrustEd Schools Partnership, which includes Oldbury Wells and Church Stretton schools, said they were pleased at the prospect of being able to offer extra session for pupils – something her schools had carried out last summer.
Opportunities
She said: "We are very pleased that the government is supporting young people by making extra funding available for children and young people so that we can bring about some extra learning opportunities for them.
"Last summer our schools carefully selected pupils who needed some extra support with their work. This means some catch-up from last summer's lock down has already been underway in our schools.
"We look forward to all our pupils returning to face-to-face learning very soon, so that we can build on this.
"We are of course very conscious that there is a need to support learning through catch up sessions, but also that there is a need to support children in terms of social, welfare and mental health too. For our youngest pupils in particular we know that giving them space to simply play together and to develop socially will be vital."
Both Mrs Johnson and Mrs Godden said they were unsure about suggestions the government could consider extending the school day.
Mrs Godden did though suggest that extended lessons could be available for the children who need that support.
She said: "Extending school days for all pupils is quite difficult in Shropshire, for many of our rural schools because parents rely on school bus transport. However, all of our schools are looking at extending learning slots for children who especially need a boost in their learning, rather than it being for all pupils."
