At the start of this school term, Covid-19 infection rates soared and schools once again had to close their doors to students except those classed as vulnerable and the children of key workers.

At Farnham Heath End School, the majority of its 987 students are now at home being taught remotely, using the online platform, Google Classroom.

Up to 145 students are in school, based in their designated year group zones, completing the same learning under the supervision of the school’s associate staff.

Five weeks in, and in the second and final instalment of our look behind the school gates (and webcams!) at Farnham Heath End, we hear how families are faring.

Cathy Green, a resources manager at a local exam board, is mum to Charlie in Year 11 and Owen in Year 9. She is working from home full-time, while husband, Jon, an electronics engineer, goes into his workplace.

Cathy said: “I was quite disappointed to hear the news about these school closures as Charlie has had quite a lot of time off as he has been poorly. As he is in Year 11, I was worried about the effect on his exams although they’ve been cancelled now.

“This time, because the boys have a full-time timetable, it has kept them both occupied. Owen got bored over Christmas so it is good for him to be busy. They like the school’s approach of providing a mixture of live lessons and work that they can do by themselves. 

“I am working at home full-time and while I occasionally get a request for something like art materials, they are well aware they need to get on with it and if they are stuck they ask their teachers for help and they get it pretty quickly. 

“Having the live form time starts the day off nicely, particularly with Y11s as at aged 15/16, they can take a while to get going in the mornings! 

“Owen misses contact with his friends and teachers. He loves going to school and is missing the extra-curricular sports opportunities. Charlie is missing Computer Club and they both miss using the school library. And it is such a shame the trips have had to be cancelled as they are a big part of the school experience. 

“Going forward, I really hope Charlie feels like he gets the GCSE grades he deserves and I would like to see Year 11 be able to have a prom. For Owen, I just want to see a return to normality. I think there have been a few positives of the lockdown arrangements the school has put in place and I hope they can take the best of the things that worked and carry on with them in the future.” 

Darren Malone is a commodities analyst, working full-time from home, and supervising Year 7 daughter Orla, and her two siblings. Wife Vicky is LRC manager/careers co-ordinator at FHES and is in school full time, supporting key worker provision.

Darren said: “During the build-up to Christmas, I don’t think anyone expected the schools to be closed so suddenly in January, especially not the primaries. It came as a surprise to be back home-schooling all three again this term. We had to adapt to a new routine very quickly but the schools have more robust online learning systems compared to the first lockdown. 

“I am really busy during the day and the children have had to become independent learners and solve problems by themselves as I’m not always available to help them. Orla has coped really well.

“The FHES teachers have supported her and she has been very engaged with the remote learning and has been working very hard. I have been impressed. If there’s one positive we can take from these lockdowns, it is that home learning has encouraged them to be more independent learners and use their initiative to solve problems.

“My worry is the children’s lack of outdoor exercise. They’re so busy during the day with their school work that it’s difficult to get out together and walk the dog. They were all doing different sports clubs and of course they all stopped again. Even though the online learning is now broadly positive, I can’t wait for them to go back to school and have the all-round benefits of an in-school education.” 

Mum Caroline Munday is a critical care unit nurse, and dad Jason is general manager for a company contracted to deal with decontamination and reprocessing of equipment used in the NHS. Caroline works 12-hour shifts while Jason is full-time on site. They rely on the FHES key worker provision for Year 8 daughter Ella. Their younger daughter is at primary school. 

When it started last March, Ella was in the first school care club which was across many other year groups at that time. She was anxious at first but found a nice group of children and they supported each other through a difficult time.

Caroline said: “In May half-term, there was some centralised provision and students from Weydon School came to FHES. They did some really fun activities. The teachers should have been on holiday but were there for the children, providing something that not only allowed us to work but was great for the children’s health and well-being. 

“By summer, my job was less pressured as we moved our focus from Covid patients to business as normal, which was more manageable. And grandparents were able to help out with childcare again.

“When the news came that schools were to close again, I felt worried for our kids but our attitude as a family is to try to develop confidence and resilience so the children know we will get through whatever we face. But I was concerned about the experiences they will lose as a result of this. They can’t do their clubs and Ella loves sport. 

“At work, I am concerned and overwhelmed that we’re into another wave when we hadn’t reconciled the first emotionally or practically. I’m not sure I felt ready for a second wave. There’s a sense that we’re more prepared in terms of how to look after patients as we understand the disease pathology better but the numbers are so much greater this time and as such, the pressures are far worse.

“Although I would normally work part-time, I’ve worked more hours to provide cover and to support the team I lead.

“We’re very grateful to have had Ella at FHES and her sister at the primary school club where they have had educational and emotional support, and been safe through such a pressured time for us.

“I’m very aware all the staff at schools feel they are at risk. I know I face this risk every day but I went into a job expecting to face some risk. It’s a risk school staff don’t normally face. 

“I worried about the fact my kids are at extra risk because of my job. Our whole family came down with Covid-19 in the first lockdown and to know I had brought that home from work was hard but we got nothing but empathy from the staff and the school. 

“I feel lucky the girls have been able to go to school and see other people and have had a strong sense of being part of a community through this pandemic. I don’t feel like the end is in sight as we know we haven’t reached the peak yet and when it comes, the peak is likely to be more prolonged this time. But we just have to take it a day at a time now because it’s hard to predict when this is going to end.

Penny Hardcastle, is a Spanish teacher with a son in Year 9, and daughter in Year 7. Both children are now doing remote learning at home alongside Penny and her husband Ben, who works in digital marketing.

Penny said: “When I heard the news that schools were going to close again, my heart sank. I didn’t really want to have the children learning from home again because it’s difficult when we’re both working. Having had a taste of schools being open, I didn’t want that to be taken away. I think it’s better for everyone if they are at school.

“But over the past few weeks, I have been pleasantly surprised. I think the school has prepared them really well so the children knew exactly where to find their work and understood the expectations of their teachers. I felt confident that on that first Monday morning the information would be there waiting for them, and it was. 

“I like the daily live form time that gives them something to get up for. They are expected to be there online and that is a natural progression into their lessons. It also gives them a chance to see other students in their class and so it won’t be like going back into a completely strange group of people when they do eventually go back into school.

“I really like the variety of learning formats FHES is providing as I think that is keeping my children interested in the work. And I like the fact work has to be submitted by the end of the day. I am impressed by the amount of interaction and feedback they have had with their teachers. My children are pretty much working all day from 8.30am to 2.45pm. I think it’s important to keep those hours of school because that is what they will have go back to.

“Communication to the parents has been good. I like the weekly messages from the principal which are positive and encouraging.”