Philip Hurst, headteacher of Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham, said the preparations by staff were remarkable
Suffolk and north Essex headteachers have said schools are well-versed and prepared for a safe reopening as coronavirus lockdown measures are lifted on March 8.
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced earlier this week all students will return to classrooms next month in the first step of England s roadmap out of restrictions.
As part of the plans, students at secondary schools and colleges will be given Covid-19 tests three times in the first two weeks.
But the National Education Union (NEU) has said the government is not following scientific advice and has called for students to return in phases to prevent future closures.
Parents are overjoyed that pupils will return to the classroom in just under two weeks after months of home learning. But union bosses have raised concerns that the government hasn’t adopted a phased approach of bringing children back to school. On March 8, all school children will ditch online learning and go back to face to face teaching. However, Jerry Glazier, secretary for the Essex branch of the National Education Union, has raised concerns there will still be bubbles of infections in schools. He said: “The union is committed to schools opening and children being back to face to face teaching but it’s got to be safe.
THE GOVERNMENT must set a firm timetable for schools to re-open to avoid “yo-yoing” children around, leaders say. Neil Houchen, principal at the Eastwood Academy, says the Government needs to be confident that once schools reopen, they will not be sending large numbers of children home to self-isolate. Jerry Glazier, secretary for the Essex branch of the National Education Union, has also called for schools to only return once it is safe to do so - warning of the damaging impacts a spike in infection resulting in further school closures could have on families. It follows continued uncertainty around when children will return to school, with Dr Paul Hayman - headteacher at Westcliff High School for Girls - not anticipating that schools will fully reopen this term.