Education Secretary John Swinney spells out the Government's schools strategy

John Swinney has also revealed the Scottish Government is “actively considering” a suggestion by Edinburgh University public health specialist Professor Devi Sridhar that schools could re-open full-time if new cases of Covid-19 drop below 20 by August 11.

Figures from last week show the number of new daily new cases varied from 11 on Wednesday to 27 on Thursday.

With schools set to move to a blended model of learning after the summer break due to coronavirus restrictions, Swinney said a “one size fits all approach” cannot be taken across the country.

But he pledged arrangements drawn up by schools and local authorities would be closely scrutinised, with councils asked to reconsider and revise plans if “we conclude that all possible steps have not been taken to maximise face-to-face teaching and learning”.

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The Sunday National asked the Education Secretary a series of questions on schools returning in August, which are answered below.

QUESTION: With calls for schools to fully re-open in August, could you explain what the concerns are around this – both in terms of staff/pupils and the wider spread of the virus?

Answer: Our plans for the re-opening of schools are guided by scientific evidence and public health advice.

We have been clear that we do not intend blended learning to be in place a moment longer than is necessary to protect public health – and we want a return to full-time learning in all schools as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government’s regular three-weekly reviews of the coronavirus (Covid-19) regulations will also now include specific consideration of the evidence and data relating to transmission within schools and amongst young people. Where that suggests safety restrictions can be lifted or eased without putting pupils and teachers at undue risk, we will do so.

Some have raised concerns around a lack of consistency from local authorities in the approach to returning to school, for example in terms of time/days in school. Is it possible to take a national approach to this issue? And if not, why not?

Every school is different, with, for example, variations in size, geography and local circumstances, so a one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate.

That is why local authorities, in discussions with schools, have been asked to draw up their own plans, subject to clear Scottish Government guidance.

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We will closely scrutinise those plans and, where we conclude that all possible steps have not been taken to maximise face-to-face teaching and learning, we will ask councils to reconsider and revise their plans.

Is it possible to say how long schools might have to operate on a “blended” basis?

As we have said, we don’t want blended learning to be in place a minute longer than necessary. We will continue to be guided by scientific evidence and public health advice and if that suggests safety restrictions can be lifted or eased, we will do so.

Some parents have raised concerns about, for example, a lack of online lessons during lockdown and lack of virtual contact with teachers. Can you outline what practical steps will be put in place to help parents and pupils with the “blended” learning approach in the new school year?

Our teachers have been working incredibly hard to deliver online learning during the lockdown and we can’t thank them enough.

Education Scotland has been working closely with local authorities and teachers to support online learning. This includes encouraging use of the online nationally available digital platform Glow.

They and other partners will help to ensure learning materials are available on a national basis both to support in-home learning and augment schools’ own arrangements for children and young people.

The Scottish Government is investing £9 million for 25,000 laptops – with internet access provided – for disadvantaged children to support learning outside school. This is the first phase of our £30m commitment to support digital inclusion.

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Public health professor Devi Sridhar has said schools could reopen as normally as possible if cases of the virus could be brought to under 20. Is there specific criteria for the point at which schools could fully re-open and if so, could you advise what this is?

We have published the scientific evidence and public health advice that is guiding our plans for re-opening schools. As we’ve said, the Scottish Government’s regular three-weekly reviews of the coronavirus regulations will also now include specific consideration of the evidence and data relating to transmission within schools and amongst young people.

Where that suggests safety restrictions can be lifted or eased without putting pupils and teachers at undue risk, we will do so. Professor Sridhar’s comments this week are being actively considered as part of our ongoing assessment of the scientific opinion around schools re-opening.

Do you have concerns about the widening of the attainment gap as a result of the impact of Covid – and if so, can anything be done to address this?

We are committed to closing the poverty-related attainment gap, despite the huge challenges and disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are providing local authorities and schools with flexibility to redirect resources aimed at closing the attainment gap to help mitigate the impacts of the crisis on our most disadvantaged families.

This includes the recent announcement of £250m for Pupil Equity Funding over the next two years.

In addition, we are investing £9m for 25,000 laptops – with internet access provided – for disadvantaged children to support learning outside school.

Learning hubs for vulnerable children and key workers will stay open over the summer and meeting the learning needs of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds continues to be a priority as we plan for the safe re-opening of schools.

What would your message be to parents who are worried about their child’s education in the coming academic year?

Of course parents are anxious about the impact of the crisis on schooling. We want to assure them that we will do all we can to make sure our young people do not lose out on education or have their life chances damaged as a result of this. We expect that, by the time schools return on August 11 – and obviously within necessary safety guidelines – councils will have put in place arrangements that maximise the time that young people spend in a school environment having face-to-face learning.

We will be scrutinising council plans closely – and where we conclude that all possible steps have not been taken to maximise face-to-face teaching and learning, we will ask councils to reconsider and revise their plans.

And, as we’ve said, our absolute aim is to have young people back having face-to-face teaching for 100% of the school week as soon as it is safe for them to do so.