THE new headmaster of Abberley Hall School in Worcestershire, Jonnie Besley, has paid tribute to his staff for “going above and beyond”, during all the changes imposed by the pandemic.

While schools across the region are struggling to deliver online teaching during lockdown, Mr Besley, a keen outdoorsman, has revealed the extra measures the prep school is taking to keep its children active, happy and engaged.

“Fifty out of our 170 children including all our nursery youngsters are being supervised in school,” he said. “That’s because the criteria for critical workers has been widened to include more professions than in the lockdown last year as well as frontline NHS staff.

“We’re also taking vulnerable children and those without good internet at home. Everyone is doing the usual syllabus but online – including things like speech and drama exams, and virtual creative events.

“We’re very aware of the anxiety which Covid causes and its impact on many children’s mental health, cooped up indoors. Because of this, we make sure everyone does at least an hour a day of games or outdoor education. The games teacher will do a demonstration online but then the children put their screens to one side and go out for some active exercise.

"Those in school are in their bubbles and still playing sports like rugby and hockey or doing bushcraft and nature walks in our wooded grounds. They love making dens, playing in the treehouse, looking after the hens and enjoying the open spaces. Recently they have enjoyed making snowmen.

“We even set Saturday challenges for the whole family, suggesting activities for them to do off screen like going for a long bike ride or making models as a family and then sending us pictures to inspire everyone.

“Our staff have been great, working very long hours to give every child plenty of stimulus and supervision.”

Realising that there is less demand for full-time boarding among modern parents, Mr Besley and the Governors decided to offer more flexibility to fit in with schedules.

Once relative normality returns, children will be able to choose full-time, part-time or weekly boarding for the first time, staying at school on the nights that suit their parents. Saturday school, previously obligatory, is now optional.

While many families in the UK are complaining that Covid restrictions have put their children’s education on hold, Mr Besley insists it should, as much as possible, be business as usual.

“Last year’s leavers won a record number of scholarships and bursaries to senior schools,” he said “including valuable academic, sporting, musical and all-rounder awards and we’re still preparing this year’s candidates for their assessment days and interviews.

“The difference is that most of these will be done online and among all their other commitments, staff are even helping to video our talented children in action – in sport, music or drama – to show the senior schools the standard they’ve reached.

“I’m a big believer in not making a drama out of a crisis and I’m proud of the inventiveness and hard work our whole community has shown in keeping the children cheerful, curious and on the go.”

SALLY JONES