Remote learning 'not a substitute for being in classroom' says Scarborough Headmaster
The Headmaster of Scarborough College says remote learning is not a substitute for being in a classroom physically.
The Headmaster of Scarborough College has been giving his thoughts on school closures.
It is ahead of an announcement this week from Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on a plan to re-open schools fully.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister admitted that he cannot guarantee pupils will return to class before Easter.
Guy Emmett, Headmaster of Scarborough College, said:
"We've coped as well as possible with remote learning. Of course there's been challenges for our families who are juggling jobs and for our children who are missing their friends. It's no substitute for being in a classroom physically and being with friends and teachers.
"We all long to come back to school. We are ready to open and we're looking forward to opening but of course, we don't have access to all the science and the research that the Government has. We have to follow their guidance and judgement but there's certainly a hope that we can do everything to keep everybody as safe as possible.
"Our tutors meet with their pupils twice a day and I do feel like our teachers would recognise immediately, even over a computer, how a pupil is feeling. The impact is hard to gauge in terms of the emotional impact, but it certainly is there.
"Like many schools we have counsellors but of course, I think all we can do as a school is to make sure that we're there for our pupils, we're communicating with them and that we recognise our online provision isn't just about academics, it's about looking after the whole person.
"For our staff the big impact is they're working longer hours to ensure that lessons are ready for online and to mark all the work. They are finishing and working extremely late but for them, they're missing the children that they teach. They're missing their colleagues."