During the first week of the third national lockdown in the UK, the Urswick school in Hackney had just 35 out of 890 pupils present in school. Remote learning remained a challenge for many pupils who were still without laptops and clarity on how free school meals would be delivered. Despite other schools in England having to deal with too many children of key workers, at Urswick, the school was deserted, with empty classrooms, playgrounds, and canteens. Pupils were learning from home again, yet the lack of laptops promised by the government has severely restricted their learning capacity, with many pupils still waiting for their devices.
The headteacher of Urswick, Richard Brown, is still waiting for the 250 laptops promised by the government. Despite having received 150 laptops in July, it was too late to be of use during the first lockdown in March. Remote learning poses a challenge for many pupils who do not have an area to work effectively. The lack of digital devices is not the only problem, as some students face real physical barriers. The high anxiety among local families and soaring Covid infection rates locally add to the problem of why many pupils have not shown up for this week’s learning in school.
Urswick school, the most disadvantaged secondary school in London and fifth in England, deals with many vulnerable pupils. During lockdown, many students experienced difficult home scenarios, including domestic violence and substance abuse. As Martha Braggins, the school’s designated safeguarding lead noted, the last lockdown was "miserable" for some students. Pupils were stuck in houses with domestic violence occurring while others were scared of abusive parents. Many students retreated to the insides of their bedrooms and did not leave their homes for months on end.
Remote learning presents its own set of challenges with some pupils finding it difficult to engage in online classes. Despite this, students have shown resilience to the situation and have been proactive and engaged. Having one-to-one classes with teachers offers a good opportunity for students in school to learn, even though some pupils miss their friends who are not in school with them. While remote learning continues to pose challenges, the students at Urswick School remain determined to continue learning despite the difficulties.
Brown and his team dedicated tireless efforts to provide additional English and Maths courses to pupils who required catch-up assistance during the previous semester. These extra academic programs were delivered both during and beyond school hours, even on Saturdays. However, despite the tremendous efforts made, Brown wonders if the repeated lockdowns will have a prolonged influence on his pupils. He promptly replied that it’s their responsibility to ensure it won’t.
