Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Schools return: Guidance for senior pupils outlines physical distancing requirement

Some senior pupils are expected back in school in just over a week for 'critical' practical coursework.

Guidance has been issued for the return to school of some senior pupils, just over a week before they are due back in class.

Education Scotland has published advice for secondary schools on which pupils should be permitted in class for practical coursework and how they should be accommodated safely.

It includes a requirement for two-metre distancing between pupils and that they should use separate entrances and exits from pupils already in school due to key worker or vulnerable status.

Phased return

Part-time attendance of a few secondary pupils from February 22 was announced by the First Minister on February 2 as she outlined the first stage of a phased reopening of schools.

Nursery and P1 to P3 children will be back on the same day if the planned schools return – dependent on sufficient progress in tackling coronavirus – is confirmed on Tuesday.

However, publication of the advice on Friday afternoon gives some schools just three or four days to prepare, due to the mid-term break.

In Fife teachers are off on holiday next Thursday and Friday, with an in-service day on Wednesday. In Dundee and Angus they are off on Monday, with Tuesday an in-service day in Dundee.

What does the guidance say?

Limited numbers of S4 to S6 pupils will be allowed in school for practical work deemed critical to their qualifications which can only be done in school.

Schools should, the guidance says, set a clear purpose for learners coming in and make the most effective use of in-school time.

No more than 5% to 8% of the school roll should be in for this purpose – in addition to those pupils already in school.

Schools are advised to prioritise the subject areas which require pupils to be in school, and support remote delivery of practical work as much as possible.

Background and theory for a practical activity – such as science experiments – should before done remotely in advance.

Subjects which pupils could attend school for include:

  • administration and IT;
  • art and design;
  • craft, design, engineering and graphics subjects;
  • computing (where students do not have the software or hardware at home);
  • drama;
  • home economics  (practical cookery and cake craft where resources are required);
  • media (where creation of film requires specialist equipment);
  • modern languages/ESOL (speaking);
  • music and music technology;
  • PE (some elements outdoor only);
  • science.

The guidance states schools must:

  • communicate with parents, carers and pupils in advance to reinforce strict Covid-19 mitigations and explain how distancing will work;
  • make best use of their buildings, and space out learners to allow physical distancing and be clear on routines for meeting and greeting and exiting;
  • minimise the flow of learners in and out of school;
  • carefully manage lunchbreak and other social times in line with mitigations;
  • arrange school transport taking account of part-time attendance.

The guidance says: “Schools and staff are best placed to determine the local arrangements that reflect the key principles and other advice set out in this guidance.

“They can also explain clearly to learners, parents and carers the rationale and detailed practical arrangements for learners across the relevant subjects and level.”

Schools are expected to be in touch with families of those pupils who will be permitted to attend.

Take part in The Courier’s remote learning survey