Terra Nova school delight at having all pupils back for final week

“Lockdown has been an extraordinary time,” said headmaster Philip Stewart.

“We have faced immense challenges as a result of going into lockdown, but I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved.

“The school leadership planned for the eventuality of lockdown and rolled out a timetable of online learning for the last week of the spring term.

“This stood us in good stead for the summer term during which all pupils from nursery to year 8 have been able to access live virtual lessons until their physical return to the classroom.

“We began a phased return to school straight after half term with nursery, reception, years 1 and 6 returning first, followed by years 2 and 3 the next week, years 4 and 8 the week after that, culminating in years 5 and 7 returning to school for the final week of term.

“Accessing up to five lessons a day has obviously been of enormous benefit academically, but the daily interaction with teachers and classmates has proved to have been vital for our children’s wellbeing.

“In addition to academic subjects children have enjoyed the usual breadth the Terra Nova education offers, including virtual lessons in sport, music, art and even how to cook healthily.”

Christabel Westall, deputy head said: “Our teaching team have excelled themselves in delivering the online learning and our pupils have responded brilliantly by adapting to virtual school life. However, we are so excited to all be physically back together again.”

Terra Nova School has been able to open its doors to its pupils by maximising its 35-acre site in using different spaces for PODS of children to learn in.

The school has adhered to strict health and safety guidelines, with frequent handwashing in newly-installed basins around the campus, daily temperature checks and keeping children and teachers in small class bubbles.