VIEW FROM THE TOP Finally, schools are open and our children are back to some semblance of normality (for now!), so we thought it was a good time to sit down with the Headmaster of Hurst College, Tim Manly to find out what this new normal is like for schools and how the college fared during the pandemic and the debacle over recent exam results With the current pandemic causing havoc around the world, with education especially hard hit, can you tell us how the school is coping and what measures are in place to keep the students safe and the school open? Back in March, we switched to a full live online academic timetable thanks to the technology which was already in place at Hurst, the staff and their training. This proved to be successful. If we find ourselves heading back in that direction again, either with parts or indeed the whole school shutdown once more, then we can go back online. However, currently our primary aim is to ensure that as many, if not all, pupils remain at the school and that there is continuity of education for everyone. We have introduced small bubbles as well as regular hand sanitising, facemasks for Year 7 and above when indoors in the company of other nonbubble pupils along with social distancing. Our aim is to minimise the risk of infection and then transmission of the virus. I suspect that it is inevitable that members of our community will contract Covid, whether asymptomatic or not, and that this will result in some pupils having to spend time at home. We are ready for this but hope to minimise any impact.
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There is much debate around the subject of co-ed vs single sex education – can you let us have your opinion on this subject? I have never held strong views on the issue of co-ed versus single sex. At a previous school, I remember gently querying why the then Headmaster, who had been a great advocate of
co-education, was off to the most famous all boys school in the country. His wise response was that excellence in education comes in many shapes and forms whether single sex, co-ed, state or private, Grammar school or Academy. What was more important was that a school would enable the children within its community to thrive. As a parent of two boys and two
