Joyful return to school for millions of English pupils

Hundreds of thousands of pupils returned to school with a spring in their step this morning after months of remote learning. The hangovers from lockdown were visible: lopsided home haircuts; September’s school uniform now looking a little snug; masks. But as laughter, singing and football filled the playgrounds, these reminders of months cooped up paled in comparison with the relief at the school gates. As one parent put it: “There was an air of happiness around this morning, helped by the feeling of spring”.

Many schools had gone out of their way to put children at ease on the first morning back. A primary school in Hampton, South West London, set out a beautiful balloon display on the school gates, while Howard Junior School in Norfolk bought each of the children a teddy bear to welcome them back to the classroom. Others ditched the curriculum in favour of wellbeing check-ins with returning pupils.

Pepe Di’Iasio, headteacher at Wales High School in Rotherham told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “We’re taking advantage of that moment where they’re coming through in a more phased and staggered way to try and help make sure they’re okay, welcome them back and make sure that we’re checking on how they are and trying to reassure them”. He said that getting children straight back into catch-up lessons in period one was the “last thing on our minds right now”.

For many teachers, it was the most basic joys of being back in a classroom that made this morning special. Toby Seth, headteacher of Pocklington School, tweeted: “We’ve done a great job but we cannot wait to be back in the classroom, in the library, on a sports pitch or just wandering down the corridor with the sounds of school around us”.

Clementine Stewart, senior head of preps at Surbiton High School told Reaction: “The early signs are overwhelmingly positive with children slotting right back into school life, relishing the togetherness of the community. They are quite used to the enhanced safety protocols and are taking them in their stride, getting on with the real business of learning, exploration and fun”.

Stewart said the school would be on hand at all times to support and encourage those pupils who might struggle in the coming months, but that the first day back has been a step in the right direction: “We will take each day in our stride but it is safe to say the first day back has been utterly joyful, and has given us a real boost from being together, being back in school and focusing on the fruitful opportunities that lie ahead”.

Although many pupils had to get up early for mass testing and don masks to enter the classroom, they were just as excited as their teachers about getting back to school. One student at Wales High School told the Today Programme: “I really definitely want to get back and I think most people do because it’s really hard to teach yourself at home and it’s way better to be in that classroom environment with all your friends”.

As the chime of the school bell marked the end of the day, London’s South Park, sandwiched in between three schools, witnessed a mass exodus of squealing children. What a day they had had – time to tell the parents. Red book bags lay abandoned across the grass, playground-style antics began and mums were regaled with stories of the Covid classroom. “It was amazing!” exclaimed one boy at lightning speed, “we talked and talked and talked, and then we watched Frosty the Snowman!”. To top it off, an ice cream van sat at the park entrance serving Mr Whippys to children after a long day in the classroom.

Further north in London, one pupil from Eversley Primary said that his first day back was “great fun!” Primed and ready for another day in the year five classroom after months of Zoom lessons, he said: “It was so nice seeing my friends, I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

As for the parents, one took to Twitter last night to ask: “Is it wrong of me to admit that it feels a bit like Christmas Eve in our house tonight? Ohh the excitement!” Forget the mince pies and last-minute wrapping, it was time to dust off the book bags and dig out uniforms from the back of the cupboards. At last, the school run was back.

Mel England, mother of 10-year-old Austin, who returned to North Cadbury primary today, spent her Sunday evening being quizzed on the location of sports kits and pencil cases hiding about the house. “I am overjoyed,” she said: “My son needs to be around children his own age – mummies are boring!”

Homeschooling had become very tiresome, she said. “Trying to do year five maths – I just couldn’t!” With children, and a sense of normality, flooding back through the newly opened school gates, now she doesn’t have to.

This relief is best accompanied with something out of children’s reach. Richard Osmon spoke for many when he tweeted: “Wishing all kids a happy ‘Back To School’ day today, and wishing all parents a happy ‘Drunk By 11am’ day.” It’s just a shame phase one of Boris’ roadmap didn’t include the reopening of pubs.