A Standing Ovation in Extraordinary Times

We are currently in extraordinary and uncharted times, times that none of us have ever experienced before. Yet still schools are a target for spurious media headlines and social media criticism.

Why?

Well the answer is simple, everyone considers themselves an expert on schools and education. After all, they all went to school – right? Everyone thinks they have the experience and understanding to make sweeping statements, to judge what schools do, to comment and critique every aspect of education.

The current speculation, gossip and abuse of what schools, and those leading and working in schools, are doing is simply not helpful to anyone. In these unprecedented times we need to pull together, support each other and understand that everyone is doing the very best they can in navigating these uncharted waters on a daily, if not hourly basis.

School leaders have had to plan and deal with an ever changing situation, given little or no notice to come up with plans and assurances for their staff and community. Communication to schools has been poor; leaders finding out information at the exact time that their staff and communities did, yet expected to have the answers and plans in place within hours. Leaders staying up until midnight, the time when the DFE chose to release information on keyworkers, and arrive at their school a few hours later with plans to implement this.

At the same time, staff working in schools have put their trust and faith in their leaders, unwaveringly supportive of everything they have been asked to do.

Have all of the education experts who are commenting and criticising once stopped to consider that all of these people are ‘real’ people. People who are parents, carers, sons, daughters of others. They too are incredibly worried about their own families and friends. Some are in vulnerable groups, caring for those in vulnerable groups or supporting other family members whilst still being expected to be strong, resilient and ‘carry on as normal’.

This isn’t ‘normal’. Life won’t be ‘normal’ for a long time, and we all need to understand the stresses that those in schools are under.

Staff are working incredibly hard; trying to create appropriate learning for their pupils, keeping in touch with colleagues and families, checking in on the most vulnerable members of the school community, staff and children. On top of this, they are balancing their own life too – be that trying to home school their own children, care for other family members or just manage their own emotions during a time of such uncertainty.

There has been so much ‘noise’ around online learning, gaps widening for disadvantaged children and the role teachers are playing. Schools will have considered all of this. They will have chosen what is right for their own community. If you always put yourself in the shoes of the most vulnerable child in your school when making any decision, you will be doing the right thing.

Many communities, including the communities which my schools serve, will not have ready access to devices. The media answer is to give devices to them. What about access to Wifi? What about the home environment to support learning? And then factor in the inevitable technical issues? Schools will plan and implement what is right for the communities they serve. One size will not fit all.

Children WILL catch up with learning, schools will make sure of this- over time- because that’s what schools do, it’s our business, it’s what we care about and why we work in the roles that we do.

Firstly, we need to stop, breathe and consider what our communities, staff and leaders have had to cope with over this time. Wellbeing and emotional health has to be the priority. Leaders need understanding and support from the media and everyone that considers themselves an education expert to give their community time to regroup, to talk, to listen to each other.

They need to be given time to plan, prepare, and do what they know is right, without this constant scrutiny and criticism.

Up to this point schools have done the right thing; they haven’t needed direction or instruction – which is just as well as they have received very little. They can plan ahead, they know what is right for their communities and need to be left to continue with this – quietly being as effective, dedicated and caring as they always are.

This media noise needs to stop- we need to celebrate everything that every member of each school community is doing. They are anxious, they are scared, they are worried – but they still continue to be the best they can be in this uncertain world we find ourselves in. Surely then, the response from this country should be the same as for all keyworkers at this time? Those that work in schools should be thanked, appreciated and celebrated. Stand tall, and let’s give a Standing Ovation to all working in schools.