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30 June 2020
St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing Catholic independent school for girls, has embraced blended learning with a creative drive during these ‘new normal’ times. Since the beginning of lockdown, classes have continued in all subjects even though pupils and teachers have been absent from school and, now that some classes have returned to school, blended learning continues. Learning has not stopped, progress has been rapid, education has thrived.
St Augustine’s Priory is delighted that all of the skills learned by staff and pupils are replicable and available for the use of other schools. To access, please contact Ms F Hagerty, Deputy Head Co-Curricular, Community and Development at the school.
In the mornings at St Augustine’s Priory the classes which have returned to school – Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 – divide into their bubbles and, from their classrooms, join together with their classmates who remain at home in learning all the subjects they would normally all study together in class. Year 1 has even welcomed classmates who are in Japan and South Africa. Distance is no object!
Classroom technology has come into its own as teachers have embraced the opportunity to continue children’s education. Different teachers use different applications and engage the students in Science, Maths and English, History, French, Art and even PE. All the subjects normally covered in the school day take place.
Along with the subjects in the curriculum, St Augustine’s Priory has also held Sports Day, their Summer Concert and their Sports Awards Evening. There has also been time for celebration as different classes have spent a day in school to mark the end of the academic year joining with their classmates at home via computer to enjoy socially distanced gatherings.
These are strange times, but St Augustine’s Priory demonstrates that teachers and pupils adapt and thrive, learning new skills, relishing new challenges and refusing to accept that education stands still.
Photographs: Simon Jones: Bonjour School Photography.
