REMOTE LEARNING

SCHOOL leaders responsible for droves of Barnsley’s 11 to 16-year-olds vowed to maintain high education standards - despite the national lockdown forcing youngsters into remote learning from home.

Horizon Community College, the town’s largest secondary school, has about 2,000 students on its roll and - like other education settings - had to act quickly after the government performed a U-turn on the day thousands of kids were due to return to schools across the borough.

For those children receiving remote learning, teachers found innovative ways to use art and creativity to support wellbeing. At Worsbrough Common Primary School weekly art clubs were delivered online encouraging creative thinking at home. Family art sessions were held online, keeping isolated families connected with school. Art packs were dropped off at homes needing them.

Very soon pictures started to appear in windows around Worsbrough Common. Amazing art was being made, each with its own personal narrative. Friends missing each other, antibullying, anti-racism and even Batman looking out for the school. A community art gallery was made on the school drive capturing the feelings and thoughts from local children and families. It is still on the driveway of the school, as a record of the time.

As soon as the third spell of lockdown was announced on January 4, Horizon leaders decided they would continue to offer a full day’s learning to all of their students from the beginning of term - and that they would do so through ‘live lessons’.

They continued to teach every student as if they were sat in front of them in the classroom - the only difference is that the students access their learning online.

Principal Claire Huddart said: “The national lockdown is not how any of us would have wished to start the new year and it has created challenges for us all.

“Lockdown is hard for everyone - what we want to ensure is that we continue to educate and support our students and their families to the very best of our ability.

“We are very proud that we’re continuing to deliver five lessons of high quality, challenging content, taught by a subject specialist, to students every day.”

And, according to education leaders, it has been a success - many lessons are achieving 100 per cent attendance and where a student has experienced difficulties adapting, support has been offered to ensure a smooth transition.

“At the same time student well-being remains as important as ever, and staff are working incredibly hard to ensure they are in regular contact with students and supporting their social and emotional needs effectively,” she added.