School children in Morecambe 'nervous and excited' to return to the classroom this week

With one way systems in corridors, no break or class change bells, and lunch delivered to pupils at their desks, Morecambe Bay Academy opened to more children in years 10 and 12 on Monday, June 22.

The secondary school can accommodate around 94 pupils per day under the current government coronavirus guidance, with children attending for part of the week, meaning around 300 individuals can attend school each week.

Headteacher Vicki Michael said she was "really pleased" to welcome more students back after months of the school being "strangely empty".

Around 25 vulnerable children and children of key workers have been attending the 1,200 pupil academy in Dallam Avenue since the end of March, when the country went into lockdown.

"This is the beginning of recovery," she said, "but life is a long way from normal."

Year 10 pupils said they were glad to be back in school, but described the environment as "weird and strange" due to all the restrictions in place.

Tess Cooper, 15, from Morecambe said: "It's nice to be back in and see people I've not seen in a while but it's very strange."

Mrs Michael said that while she was heartened by the government's pledge that all students will return in September, in order to plan, she "needed to know how".

"We are four weeks from the summer and school leaders do not know if they will need extra space, or extra staff to facilitate a full return," she said.

"For today however, I am delighted to see Year 10 and Year 12 with their lockdown haircuts, nervous smiles and genuine pleasure at seeing their friends and teachers in person for the first time in nearly three months.

"I look forward to welcoming every student back through our doors in September."

Josh Shackleton, 15, said he was nervous but excited about returning, adding: "I just went with the flow about what I needed to do each day while in lockdown, and took it day by day."

Jade Intas, 15, said: "It's really weird, the school is a very different environment, but it's been alright.

"The classrooms are very different, and being two metres away from eachother.

"It's been hard, but I've just been trying to get on with the school week at home.

"I'm glad to return now as I feel like it would have been even harder in September."

There are now around 30 staff in school each day, including 15 teaching staff.

Mrs Michael said that if the social distancing rules were changed from two metres to one metre, this would allow around two thirds of pupils to return.

She also said there had been 151 young people at the school without access to technology at home.

She added: "The young people in Morecambe are really resilient, and have engaged well with learning at home, but it is not the same.

"We have developed the capacity of our on line system, Synergy, so that students can now submit work online, and speak in real time to their teachers.

"Lancaster University has co-ordinated a project to provide laptops and 3G wi-fi for every student and we have been stunned by the generosity of local businesses.

"Our teachers have enjoyed the videos and pictures students have posted of their work over lockdown, but in September, we will need to thoroughly assess any gaps in their learning to make sure Year 11 and 13 are ready for their examinations.

"We are also finding creative ways of making sure students do not miss out on school life milestones.

"We have made a transition video, as we can not have any transition days; will have Zoom meetings with year 6 and their primary schools, and are exploring an Outdoors results day, so that students can receive their results together.

"I am heartened by the pledge that all students will return in September, but as in all these things, in order to plan, I need to know how."