A lot of this ‘thinking’ about lifting the lockdown in our schools is being informed by how our European neighbours have responded to the school dimension of the crisis. The big problem is, however, that no two countries are doing it the same way!
Do we prioritize the opening of primary schools as in Denmark, Finland or Sweden (where they never shut) based on the unproven theory that young children are less affected by the killer COVID19 virus and may not be important vectors in its transmission?
Or do we risk prioritising Year 10 and Year 12 secondary pupils on the basis that, as obedient and rule observing teenagers, they will respect distancing and hygiene instructions to stay safe and reduce infection to others?
The big divide
This is the big divide across Europe; send the younger children back first, or the older children needing to sit important exams before all others. At the heart of this divide is an argument about the science of disease’s contagiousness via young children.
Countries such as Italy and Spain, whose tragically high COVID19 infection and death rates are likely to be overtaken by the UK, have not hesitated to declare that schools will not reopen for all children until the new academic year in September.
Our counterparts in Europe have already taken tough decisions on school lockdown exit strategies. (See the table below which Teachingtimes.com will keep updated). Where countries have not already opened schools, timetables and detailed plans are in place for the return of hundreds of thousands of children to school and face to face lessons before the end of the summer terms. It has not been easy.