Column: with North Primary School headteacher Alan Garnett

Monday, March 8

WEEK ten of Lockdown 3 and day one of the full re-opening. Well, it was lovely to see so many happy, smiley faces at the gate this morning. The children looked happy, too! The parents were very pleased to be bringing the children back to school. There is the relief of not being cooped up and the reality for many that they have not been able to work. “I will be able to earn some money again,” said one mum. Let us hope that infection rates do not spike and step one out of lockdown is a success.

There is no inevitability of success as demonstrated by the Government’s publication of an updated contingency framework today. This document sets out what would happen if infection rates spike in an area and there has to be a local response. Infants would get priority over juniors for school places if it was a partial opening.

Secondaries are phasing their full return as they are administering the testing of all (voluntary) their students. The take up rate in Essex is about 70 per cent.

After school I met with the senior leaders and reviewed the operational arrangements. Staff are happy and the children have had a great day. They will be tired tonight.

Tuesday, March 9

RECEIVE an email from a friend who lives round the corner. “Have you set a new fitness regime at school? So many parents and children seemed to be running to North this morning!” Perhaps the children struggled to get up on day two. Good to know they are keen to be punctual.

All schools received a letter from (Education Secretary) Gavin Williamson today singing the praises of staff. Here is a quote: “Leaders, teachers, support staff and all those who are essential to the running of schools and colleges have worked tirelessly to provide both face-to-face provision for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers, alongside remote education for those who have had to stay at home.” For once I am able to agree with him. Not sure his letter will tip the scales back in his favour with teachers. An ITV poll in January revealed that 92 per cent thought he should resign. Oh dear.

Gazette: Secretary of state - Gavin Williamson

Thank you letter - Education Secretary Gavin Williamson

In conversation with Laura Davison, the CXXV history project co-ordinator. We finalise the arrangements for the book launch on the 15th. Her press release includes these words from the project historian, Claire Driver: “CXXV has been a very special project. We’ve reached people whose connection with the school stretches back over 100 years, enabling us to tell the story from the very beginning. Researching, sharing and celebrating this history with today’s pupils and more widely with the people of Colchester has been a real pleasure.” Claire did a brilliant job. And last year’s Year 6s learnt so much about how to be an historian from her. They will all get their own signed copy of the book.

Wednesday, March 10

BUSY day for governors. Finance and premises committees met back to back. Draft one of the budget is close to being balanced. A few savings will need to be made. Premises committee are told they will have to prioritise their priorities as we may not be able to afford every project in the coming financial year.

There is no need to include a pay award for teachers in the budget as the Government announced a public sector pay freeze last December. Perhaps teachers will feel the nice letter from the Secretary of State is reward enough.

In the evening, parent governors met to review the lockdown experience. I am sent their minutes at 11.45pm. That is dedication. The two pages were incredibly detailed and showed they had considered every aspect of the experience from the child, the parent and the staff’s point of view. The minutes concluded: “It was wholeheartedly and emphatically agreed by all parent governors that all staff at the school have done an amazingly great job over the past 12 months, in extremely challenging (and at times, difficult and un-predictable) circumstances and it was further agreed that a letter of appreciation and acknowledgement of their hard work and unwavering dedication is to be drafted and presented to the school.”

Thursday, March 11

I WAS informed today by the director of children’s services that the most up to date figures show the infection rate is 70 per 100,000 in Essex. This number is low and falling which is encouraging. So far there are seven Essex secondary school students reporting positive lateral flow test results. Let us hope the figures next week are going in the right direction.

Friday, March 12

SCHOOL attendance this week is just over 97 per cent - in line with the average for Essex primary schools. It is confirmed today that children entitled to free school meals will get food vouchers over the Easter holidays. Good news to end a good week.

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