Face-to-face learning 'a priority' as Weymouth College students return
Dorset schools and colleges have the task up bringing students back up to speed after weeks of lost learning
Bosses say face-to-face lessons are a priority as pupils return to education at places like Weymouth College which goes back next week.
Keeping young people in class, and avoiding self-isolation are a key part of getting young people up to speed on missed learning in the past two years.
Over the last year pupils will have missed lessons because they were asked to self-isolate. 25 pupils have already deferred their enrolment at Weymouth College because they're required to self-isolate.
New Weymouth College Principal Julia Howe told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
"The starting point for us is about getting back to what we would consider normal and the priority is about face to face teaching.
"We know that there will be a staggered start in a way where some students are already delaying their enrolment due to COVID or due to isolation.
"We have got to just get back to normal. Students in our core curriculum do benefit from being in the classroom and we've got to make sure their progression opportunities are clear and they have aspiration to want to progress."
Pupils aren't required to test at the start of term, but the college is strongly encouraging it as they return from next week. It's hoped testing as well as improved ventilation will provide a safe space, and limit the number of absences due to self-isolation.
Testing for all students will be on offer for the first week, and subsequent testing from home will be offered until the end of September.
Julia added:
"Colleges were asked to test on return in March last year and our response to that was really good. It was much easier than we thought it was going to be, in terms of setting up that facility.
"We had about a 95% take-up from our students, which was brilliant because it isn't actually mandatory."
The college is going to focus on catching pupils up on their missed knowledge over the first term.
Julia added:
"The first really important stage for us is to identify those gaps In the first few weeks and make sure we put the support in to start to bring them up to the place they need to be to start to deliver those qualifications to them."