Students at Dixie have not only returned to what has come to be expected in schools at the start of the 2020/21 academic year, but also to what may prove to be a significant step into the future.
In line with government guidance, the Dixie has thought carefully about how to keep the whole school community as safe as possible. Gathering for whole-school assemblies and staff meetings, mass movements around the school and mixed year groups eating together are all on hold for now, whereas one-way systems, face coverings in corridors, anti-virus cleaning and hand-sanitisers are very much commonplace.
With an eye on the current situation and on the future, the school has also invested in making all classrooms accessible online within the school community, which means that even from home, pupils can play a full part in their timetabled lessons. With a couple of clicks, pupils can connect to the smart boards in their classrooms: whatever the teacher is explaining to the class can be seen from a pupil’s home computer, laptop or phone. Pupils no longer need to actually be in the classroom to watch experiments, listen to what their teacher is saying, to ask and respond to questions and to take part in discussions.
Headmaster, Mr Richard Lynn, commented:
“The whole school, and the teaching staff especially, had to adapt very quickly during the first week or so of the national lockdown. We were determined to maintain both the pastoral support and academic progress of our pupils and had to learn how best to deliver this online and remotely. There were huge challenges both for this and in keeping the school open for key workers, but the feedback we had from parents and pupils was hugely positive. Upon returning to school, we felt we had to be prepared for as many eventualities as possible and that includes the likelihood that some pupils will be unable to attend school for a period of time for a variety of reasons. With the work we have done and the efforts of all of our support and teaching staff, these pupils can join their lessons and can get a learning experience almost as good as being in the classroom.”
The approach has already allowed two Sixth Form students new to the school to make a flying start to their studies, even though they have been unable to complete their planned move from Africa to the UK. Daniel and Kanyin have met new friends, their tutors and teachers solely online as they begin their A level study.
Richard Thirlwell, Head of Modern Languages
Headmaster @ Dixie Blog 