Schools in the UK are preparing online learning resources

Schools in the UK are preparing online learning resources, getting work ready for pupils to take home and cancelling events as they brace for potential closures due to coronavirus. As part of the government’s “battle plan”, schools may be forced to close if the outbreak worsens. However, Public Health England’s advice is for them to stay open unless there is a positive case. But school staff have begun discussing how to best minimise disruption to pupils’ learning and exam preparation in the event of widespread school closures to contain the spread of the virus. This follows Italy’s announcement that it will close all schools and universities for a week and a half in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, as the death toll in the country rose to 107. One school in the UK is having a training day to ensure staff can teach pupils remotely through “virtual education”. Work booklets are also being produced which can be sent home with children. Meanwhile, other schools are testing whether their email systems work and are assessing whether students can actually work from home as part of preparations for potential closures. Richard Cairns, headmaster of Brighton College, which runs three schools, has written to parents about plans to use online teaching platforms if they are forced to close for a long period of time. Speaking to The Independent, Mr Cairns said: “I hope the school will not have to close but I understand why the government is considering it because children are great spreaders of illness. “My main concern has been public exam classes because psychologically it can be quite upsetting for a kid close to a GCSE or A-level exam to be suddenly asked to leave school. He added: “Schools have got to all be doing this now just in case. Heads have got to make sure that within an hour they can say the school day carries on as normal from home.”