Teachers hoping for brighter future after tough year
After the most turbulent year many of us have ever been through, teachers are hoping for a brighter 2021.
From online teaching to cancelled exams, the country’s education system has undergone a number of drastic changes to continue educating children.
The pandemic has also meant there is a lot of added pressure placed on staff, often working late into the night, over weekends and throughout school holidays.
Matthew Carpenter, principal at Baxter College in Kidderminster, said: “Return to school in September was completely unique and it’s nothing like we have ever done before in school.
“I couldn’t describe the intensity of being in school now.
“There is a lot of pressure of not knowing who or what was physically around the corner.
“Although a lot of planning has been done, most of it has ended up being useless, it’s such a unique situation you can’t really plan ahead.
“However the kids have coped really well and the teachers have done an outstanding job with all of the changes they have made to run the school safely.”
A number of changes have been made in schools to try to make the learning day as smooth as possible.
These include; teachers staying at the front of class, using a camera to project a students work on the board, changes to assessments meaning they are small but frequent to identify any gaps in knowledge and longer lesson times. Lesson and break times are also staggered to ensure that each year group has their own space to go to, which is deep cleaned daily.
Online lessons are still being delivered when students are self-isolating, they can also listen in on classes at school through a chat feature.
Mr Carpenter praised his staff for all of the work they have put in to their jobs to support students. He said: “Every single teacher is truly a hero.
“The amount that they have had to to adapt –before for some teachers sending an email was a challenge and now these same teachers are hosting online lessons.
“Workload for teachers has definitely gone up, but they really don’t mind, they just want to teach the kids and get into school.”
Despite the praise, there is growing concern about the mental health of staff, students and families.
Nicola Mason, headteacher at Chase Terrace Academy in Burntwood, Staffordshire, added: “Our staff have put so many hours in and have worked flat out since Easter and summer to do what is best for the children.
“There has been a significant increase in the number of mental health issues for students and staff, I really think teachers have been forgotten about.
“Students are so worried too, especially year 11 and year 13, they just want to be back at school to learn and also for the social aspect too.
“I love my job, and I wouldn’t change what I have learnt during the pandemic, it is a privilege to work with these children and lead my staff, but this uncertainty is putting good teachers off and they are exhausted.”
Looking ahead to the new year, there is hope it will be an easier year for all, however there is still anxiety due to the amount of uncertainty.
Another concern is rolling out mass daily testing in schools, which Mr Carpenter described as ‘a huge logistical challenge’.
Ms Mason added: “I am staggered, I don’t have the words, we have been let down by the government.
“It is a huge volume of work and it has not been considered, including getting consent.
“How are we going to get 1,300 children tested each day, while doing remote learning, looking after vulnerable children, children of key workers.
“I know teachers would welcome more testing and safer practises but in a better organised way.”
One of Mr Carpenter’s main concerns is that examinations are fair, to ensure what happened with grading in 2020 doesn’t happen again.
“I think we need to be as fair as possible, so I hope there is some sort of external assessment but teachers can also contribute to the grade that is awarded.”
