Let’s refresh rather than recover in September 2020

We cannot begin September by talking about ‘lost learning’ or a ‘recovery curriculum’. Nothing has been lost because it was never there. There is nothing to recover from, academically, if we review the way we deliver our curriculum. There is only the reality of the world today.

We can take a breath, see a brighter future and step forward with a ‘Refreshment Cycle’. Not only will this give us confidence but it is also a robust plan should we be hit by the storms of circumstance in the coming months.

The Refreshment Cycle

Review

Life is different. There’s no getting away from that. In education, we need to see how this has impacted upon the mental health and well-being of our students and staff. We need to review where they are emotionally and adjust our support/approach accordingly. This can be done with pathways of support dependent on need. Academically, we can look at the skills and content coverage we originally planned for to reach the aims of our subjects. What is a necessity? What can be streamlined? What can be considered a luxury for this period of time?

Revise

We will need to change our approach as the time we have ‘face-to-face’ with our students has altered. That does not mean to say that this is a problem! Many of the students I have spoken to have enjoyed spending time with their family. They have been working well at home or learning new skills. That said, we need to prioritise those students for whom this has been a very challenging time in troubled households. Whatever our review tells us, we need strong academic and pastoral systems that talk to each other and inform us as to how we can best adjust our approach to meet the needs of the school community.

Restart

Armed with information from our review and driven by the informed strategy from our revision, we need a positive approach to moving forward individually and collectively. We have all travelled this difficult path together. Some have suffered more than others. Our restart needs to build upon the examples of resilience and adaptability that we have shown. We need to carry those that need support following a return to school. As a profession, we can be confident that no obstacle is insurmountable for such a dedicated and passionate vocation.

And when the storms come again…

Future lock-downs, partial lock-downs, outbreaks are all akin to a storm at sea that returns to challenge an experienced crew. We will have been here before. We have come through a time of shock and confusion with the virtues of composure and clarity. When the storm hits again, we begin our ‘Refreshment Cycle’ once more.

At a time when we are seeking clearness and direction from leaders, nationally and locally, we can take solace from our leadership grit and resolve to gain clarity from within. Let’s forget recovery and refresh for a brighter future!