Teachers: happy to be back at school
Year 7 Mason Dain gives an insight into how teachers are feeling at HCC following the return to school in September.
On 4 September, HCC opened to students with Covid-19 arrangements put in place. These measures involved staff reorganising the classrooms, recording video content and taking precautions in case we get put into another lockdown, not to mention implementing the new social distancing measures.
Staff are delighted to be back in school teaching students face-to-face. Head of Year 7, Mr Richardson said: “I'm definitely happy to be back. It’s brilliant to be in school. I really missed the day-to-day job of teaching and seeing lots of people, interacting with students in the classroom. Online learning means we lose a lot of the human aspects of teaching, which in many ways are the best aspects!“
To make students, staff and others safe, the school has made a one-way system around the site so there is no cross contamination. Mr Richardson explained, “ The biggest changes are to the way we move around the college, like the one-way system and year group social spaces that I am still getting used to.” When students come into lessons they sanitise their hands and wipe down their desks; they cannot share their equipment as this risks cross-contamination.
All members of staff wear visors and face coverings in the corridors to protect themselves and others. English teacher Ms Boote said, “We have a lot to think about when we come into school for the day. The safety of our pupils has always been the most important thing - but it is more important than ever. Making sure everyone is following the government guidelines, like wearing masks and using hand sanitiser, was not something to consider before.”
Geography teacher Mr Messetter is relishing being back in the classroom, he said, “For me, the teaching aspect is not really any different. I am very impressed with how focused the students have been since returning. However, I never thought I would be saying “sanitation station” at the start of every lesson.”
Staff advise students to wear face coverings and to keep two metres apart in the corridors and communal areas as these areas become very busy and students are in contact with other year groups which are not in their year bubbles. Members of staff patrol the corridors at break and lunch time to make sure that all students are where they should be and only entering the corridors for an exceptional reason, like going to the toilet, as the school is trying to make different year groups adhere to the new rules.
With all of these measures in place, the biggest worry for students was the idea of catching up with work after missing six months of face-to-face teaching. Science teacher Mrs Harker is confident that HCC will have everyone back on track in no time, “Absolutely! Remember that students were actually working at home so the time wasn’t ‘lost’ as such, just taught in a different way. Also the staff at HCC are incredible professionals who will tailor lessons to ensure everyone gets to where they should be and - last but not least - the students have a huge amount of determination and resilience. We know they will take on the challenge of being the best they can.”
Heathfield Community College continues to follow the government guidelines and keep students and staff safe. We can all just hope there won’t be another lockdown, but we know that, even if there is, our teachers are prepared and ready to take us to where we need to be, safely and effectively.
By Mason Dain, Year 7
On 4 September, HCC opened to students with Covid-19 arrangements put in place. These measures involved staff reorganising the classrooms, recording video content and taking precautions in case we get put into another lockdown, not to mention implementing the new social distancing measures.
Staff are delighted to be back in school teaching students face-to-face. Head of Year 7, Mr Richardson said: “I'm definitely happy to be back. It’s brilliant to be in school. I really missed the day-to-day job of teaching and seeing lots of people, interacting with students in the classroom. Online learning means we lose a lot of the human aspects of teaching, which in many ways are the best aspects!“
To make students, staff and others safe, the school has made a one-way system around the site so there is no cross contamination. Mr Richardson explained, “ The biggest changes are to the way we move around the college, like the one-way system and year group social spaces that I am still getting used to.” When students come into lessons they sanitise their hands and wipe down their desks; they cannot share their equipment as this risks cross-contamination.
All members of staff wear visors and face coverings in the corridors to protect themselves and others. English teacher Ms Boote said, “We have a lot to think about when we come into school for the day. The safety of our pupils has always been the most important thing - but it is more important than ever. Making sure everyone is following the government guidelines, like wearing masks and using hand sanitiser, was not something to consider before.”
Geography teacher Mr Messetter is relishing being back in the classroom, he said, “For me, the teaching aspect is not really any different. I am very impressed with how focused the students have been since returning. However, I never thought I would be saying “sanitation station” at the start of every lesson.”
Staff advise students to wear face coverings and to keep two metres apart in the corridors and communal areas as these areas become very busy and students are in contact with other year groups which are not in their year bubbles. Members of staff patrol the corridors at break and lunch time to make sure that all students are where they should be and only entering the corridors for an exceptional reason, like going to the toilet, as the school is trying to make different year groups adhere to the new rules.
With all of these measures in place, the biggest worry for students was the idea of catching up with work after missing six months of face-to-face teaching. Science teacher Mrs Harker is confident that HCC will have everyone back on track in no time, “Absolutely! Remember that students were actually working at home so the time wasn’t ‘lost’ as such, just taught in a different way. Also the staff at HCC are incredible professionals who will tailor lessons to ensure everyone gets to where they should be and - last but not least - the students have a huge amount of determination and resilience. We know they will take on the challenge of being the best they can.”
Heathfield Community College continues to follow the government guidelines and keep students and staff safe. We can all just hope there won’t be another lockdown, but we know that, even if there is, our teachers are prepared and ready to take us to where we need to be, safely and effectively.
By Mason Dain, Year 7