Borders pupils head back to school

After 144 days of lockdown due to coronavirus, Borders pupils returned to school today, with a new normal in place.
Kelso High School head teacher Jill Lothian and Lesley Munro, service director, with head pupils on the first morning back to school.Kelso High School head teacher Jill Lothian and Lesley Munro, service director, with head pupils on the first morning back to school.
Kelso High School head teacher Jill Lothian and Lesley Munro, service director, with head pupils on the first morning back to school.

Scottish Borders Council arranged for the local and national media to be present at the 600-pupil Kelso High School as kids returned for their first full day since schools were closed in March.

A lot of work has been done to alleviate parents’ concerns over the safety of their children mixing with no social distancing and no masks.

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Lesley Munro, the council’s service director for children and young people, told us: “It’s terrific to see the pupils back.

First day back to Kelso High SchoolFirst day back to Kelso High School
First day back to Kelso High School

“I’ve really enjoyed standing at the doors to the school watching them walk in with their smiling faces.

“The young people seem so relaxed about coming in ... you’d think they’d been doing this all their lives, in terms of routine, sanitising, finding their way to their rooms immediately ... they’ve done a really good job of coming in in a positive way.

“They’ve adapted so quickly and they have really made us proud of the way that they have adapted to new ways of learning at home, but I think they are absolutely thrilled to see familiar faces, real people, and to see their friends again.”

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Ms Munro said the council hoped to reassure parents that it’s safe to send their kids back, after the Southern reported last week that some had said they were scared to do so.

Lesley Munro, service director for children and young people, with Kelso High School's head team, Susie Robson, Luke McKinley, Jonny Duffy and Liberty Barber.Lesley Munro, service director for children and young people, with Kelso High School's head team, Susie Robson, Luke McKinley, Jonny Duffy and Liberty Barber.
Lesley Munro, service director for children and young people, with Kelso High School's head team, Susie Robson, Luke McKinley, Jonny Duffy and Liberty Barber.

She said: “We understand that things are different and there is bound to be some anxiety.

“We want to work with any families who feel they don’t feel comfortable yet and we want to identify what the barriers to that are, and how we can support families to bring their young people back into school.”

The school’s parent council chairperson Gemma O’Brien said: “It’s fantastic to see them all back, and they look very cheery and happy to be here.

“I thought this day would never come.

Gemma O'Brien, chair of the Parents Council, with head teacher Jill Lothian.Gemma O'Brien, chair of the Parents Council, with head teacher Jill Lothian.
Gemma O'Brien, chair of the Parents Council, with head teacher Jill Lothian.
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“Just a few weeks ago, I didn’t think this was going to happen.

“Lockdown has been really emotional.

“I have four kids at home, ranging from one-year-old to 13, we’ve had three birthdays and a wedding, we’ve been making ponds in the garden.

“It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions ... we’ve had some really low days, but we’ve had some absolutely fantastic days as well.

Gemma O'Brien, chair of the Parents council, with Ian Aitchison, Borders Rep for the National Parents Forum of Scotland.Gemma O'Brien, chair of the Parents council, with Ian Aitchison, Borders Rep for the National Parents Forum of Scotland.
Gemma O'Brien, chair of the Parents council, with Ian Aitchison, Borders Rep for the National Parents Forum of Scotland.

“Things have changed so much in the past few months, and I have goosebumps that they are back today ... it’s what everybody needs right now.

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“Until recently, I was really super0nervous about all the kids coming back and mixing again in such large groups.

“But knowing what the council and all the school staff have been working for in the past few weeks, I’m actually 100% positive that this is all going to work out.”

And Ian Aitchison, the Borders representative on the National Parents Forum, said: “I’m very happy the kids are getting back ... I have a daughter who was up at 6.30am this morning, so excited she was to be returning to school.

“The preparations seem rushed, as it’s a live pandemic and people have had to work very hard, very quickly.

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“We’ve spent a lot of time talking to the council , having Zoom meetings, so that we can try to reassure parents.

Deputy head Lynne Milligan with head teacher Jill Lothian.Deputy head Lynne Milligan with head teacher Jill Lothian.
Deputy head Lynne Milligan with head teacher Jill Lothian.

“Last week, we had a meeting of all parent councils who were invited across the Borders region, and all the questions were addressed in a newsletter that came out last week.

“As for parents who are concerned about sending their kids back and everyone has to come to their own decision, but for me, you do what you can, you take the best advice, and I think the council has done everything they possibly can and can be reasonably expected to do.

“For my side, I am happy that the risks are balanced.”

Mr Aitchison said he had sympathy for children who had to handle lockdown alone.

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He said: “I’m very lucky, in that I have three children who were able to entertain themselves.

“But some kids have been very much on their own ... you don’t know what environment they are living in.

“Mental health is key. I know my daughter was delighted to finally be able to meet up with her best friend who she hasn’t spoken with for a couple of months ... social interaction is very important to them.

“So for the kids’ mental wellbeing, going back to school is a great thing.

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The school’s head teacher, Jill Lothian said: “We are very excited about the return of the kids.

“It’s March since we saw them all ... originally as lockdown happened, I thought they’d only be off for a couple of weeks, but five months later, we’re back.

“We do have the whole school back today, which is going to be a challenge, but we are prepared for it, we have put lots of measures in place.

“We know some are very excited, but some are anxious, so we are looking to balance that out today.”

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Mrs Lothian said the preparations included looking at exit and entry points, ensuring there is social distancing where possible, hand sanitiser and wipes are available in every classroom, with handwashing facilities also available, a one-way system to limit contact in corridors, placing teachers’ desks further away from the pupils, staggered lunches and break times, and trying to limit pupils’ movement by keeping them in the same classroom as much as possible.

She added: “Although we have got them all back, this will be a transition week. We are going to take our time to make sure every young person knows what the processes are.

“Especially the first years who have had no transition at all, no tours of the school, so that’s going to be a balance for them as well.”

Council leader Shona Haslam said she, too, was delighted to see schools return, although it had been an “enormous task” and said she felt the roll-out of i-pads to pupils before the lockdown – a move not universally welcomed by Borderers – has proved “an absolute godsend”.

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She added: “Between March and the summer we have had 92% engagement with our pupils, continuing with their education, logging in every day and meeting with their teachers.

“But it’s not the same as being in school. We knew that, and we were really keen to have our kids back, which is why today is so fantastic.”

The Jedburgh intergenerational campus is the only school in the region to have a staggered reopening, but all pupils are expected to attend full time from Thursday.