Chesterfield primary school moves to remote learning for most pupils in ‘temporary measure’

Highfield Hall Primary School in Newbold will only open to some children from Tuesday following the Christmas break.

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In a letter to parents on Sunday, headteacher Mike Bywaters said: “This is an incredibly difficult decision, but I have a duty of care to keep pupils, the wider community and staff safe in order to help relieve pressure on the NHS.

“I am therefore taking the decision to move to remote learning for the majority of pupils from Tuesday, with face-to-face for some.

“School, including nursery, will remain open for face-to-face teaching for families where there are no adults in the house due to work – key workers and others – and for our vulnerable pupils.

“Hopefully this will keep disruption to families’ incomes to a minimum and mitigate the short notice.”

He added: “I know that this decision will cause some parents to be upset or angry that we are not able to offer face-to-face learning for your child(ren) in school, while for other parents this may lessen their anxiety about the risks to their child and family from being in school.

“I would like to make it clear that my preference would, like everyone else, for all of the children to be in school – teaching children in schools is the reason why I do my job.

“However, my first duty as a headteacher is to ensure that the pupils and staff are safe, and in this instance, I have to also consider the wider community – parents, grandparents and carers at home.”

Mr Bywaters said the new strain of Covid-19 is ‘much more transmissible that the previous strain’ and is ‘much more prevalent in younger children’.

He added: “SAGE (the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) have said that we will know more by mid-January, and my sincere hope is that this is a temporary measure while we wait for a clearer understanding of the new strain of Covid-19.

“Whether or not you agree with my decision, I hope that you will at least understand it is made with the best interests of the school community at its heart.”

Several councils in England have written to the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson asking for schools in their area to be told to stay shut – following closures in London.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said parents should send their children to primary school on Monday as long as they are open in their area.

Mr Johnson said there was ‘no doubt in my mind that schools are safe’ but did not rule out further closures.

Most primary schools in England are set to return on Monday – but in London and some surrounding areas they will not open for most pupils until January 18 due to the fast-spreading new variant of Covid-19.

Secondary schools in England are expected to stagger their return with pupils taking exams in 2021 starting on January 11 and other year groups returning in person on January 18.

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