Pupils returned to school yesterday, mostly in staggered stages as they adjust to new Covid-19 guidelines, while distancing measures are set to be in place in schools for the foreseeable future.
Education Minister Tracey Vallois said she was delighted that schools had reopened for the start of term.
‘Schools play a pivotal role in our young people’s lives, not only through education but also, just as importantly, through their mental health,’ she said.
‘I’m aware many young people have understandably felt anxious about the upheaval the Covid-19 pandemic has had on their education but now they are all back in class hopefully they will quickly settle into their new term routine.’
Last month, Senator Vallois said that the coronavirus precautions that schools had put in place should mean that further closures were unlikely during the winter months.
And Les Quennevais head teacher Sarah Hague – who yesterday morning welcomed students to the new school building for the first time – said it is critical for students’ mental health that they returned to school.
‘It’s been a challenging time for everyone and disruptions to schooling leave a massive gap in pupils’ lives,’ she said. ‘School is about so much more than exams – it’s about relationships, values, interaction and many other things which are key to a child’s development.’
Mrs Hague said she was delighted to have started the term in the new state-of-the-art Les Quennevais facility.
She added: ‘It’s been a long time coming but this is a historic day for Les Quennevais students, teachers and schooling in the west of the Island.’
Haute Vallée secondary school head teacher Stuart Hughes said it was vital that students returned to education and some form of normality.
‘Lockdown was a really difficult experience for students’ mental health,’ he said. ‘Kids don’t always have the mechanisms to deal with the difficulties that life throws at them. Returning to school means they now have access to the support systems they need.’
Mr Hughes said the most essential support system for kids was the interaction they had with their peers.
The school undertook a wellbeing survey during lockdown and Mr Hughes said results found the majority of children were anxious because they missed the interaction with their friends.
‘Numerous students I spoke to this morning said they were so happy to be back ,as they hadn’t seen their friends in such a long time,’ he said. ‘The atmosphere in the yard was buzzing and it shows just how important a small conversation with their friends can be for their mood.’
The school contacted families once a week throughout lockdown to check up on students’ wellbeing and Mr Hughes said it was crucial that students got a full year of uninterrupted schooling.
He added: ‘It is essential to students learning that they remain in school. We cannot create an education poverty within certain pockets of our society because of the situation.
‘We need to give more time to individuals and understand our students better on a personal level and most importantly always be kind to each other.’
Haute Vallée is now working to identify students who might need extra support in making the transition back into school life.
For Year 11 students who will be sitting their GCSEs this year, Mr Hughes said he hoped exams would be pushed back later into the year.
‘I hope the relevant bodies in the UK make the sensible decision to postpone 2021 exams to further in the summer so we can give students more support and time, which will reduce their anxiety.’
Year 11 Haute Vallée student Megan Pratesi will be sitting her GCSEs in 2021 and said exam disruptions had made her ‘extra nervous’ for her final year.
‘I am excited to be back in school and see my friends but this year is going to be really stressful because of the pressure of exams,’ she said.
Fellow student Wiktoria Nowak said she was ‘stressed’, as the year group have an English exam in October, which ‘will come around so quickly’.
And head boy at Haute Vallée Cristiano De Sousa said the thing he missed most about school was spending every day with his friends.
‘I got to hang out with my friends occasionally in lockdown but I missed seeing them every day and having a mess-around.’
Senator Vallois has urged any student who is concerned about Covid-19 or any other issue to access support through their school’s pastoral team.
