Wrexham students delighted to return to school

As schools across the region started up for the new term last week, the Leader visited Ysgol Bryn Alyn in Gwersyllt to see what had changed and how pupils and staff were adapting to a raft of covid-19 safety measures.

Like others, the school brought pupils back in phases by year group. Friday morning saw years seven and 11 at the site.

Adele Slinn, headteacher, said: "Our pastoral support team has been amazing - every student has had a meeting and we were looking very much at how we could support them.

"The feedback was that they were very grateful for that support. "Our staff have been phenomenal. They have really pulled together.

"We know there is going to be a skills deficit and it's really a question of what we can do to support the students.

"We also know we may face some challenging behaviour after what students have faced."

Mrs Slinn explained the school has put a number of safety measures in place, including bubbling year groups, a one way system, numerous hand sanitising stations, allocated toilets for year groups and delivering lunches to students, among others.

Teachers have also been adapting the way they deliver lessons.

"It's very challenging," Mrs Slinn added. "We used to move around the classroom to give feedback but we can't do that now - we have to teach from the front of the classroom."

Mrs Slinn said while the school has been fitted out with the covid and social distancing signage and information, she was mindful about changing the environment in the building drastically.

"We didn't want to make it too different," she said. "The children have been through enough and we didn't want them to come back to a school which felt alien to them."

Jez Kent, governor and chair of the school's student and staff welfare committee, said: "When covid came around, everything happened quite quickly.

"One minute it was business as usual, then the schools had to close.

"The staff's resilience in making sure all of the children were supported was exemplary."

Speaking of the students' adaption to the covid rules, he added: "They have been very positive. They want to do the right thing and make sure it works. "It is a learning curve for everyone and it is about being able to adjust."

Friday also saw the school's new team of prefects appointed, as well as head boy and girl and deputy head boy and girl.

Newly appointed head boy Mo Al Alwan, 15, said: "Coming back here is the best feeling I've ever had.

"Being in lockdown was more difficult than I thought it would be.

"It came as a shock but it was something that we have had to adapt to."

Head girl Rebecca Watts, 15, said: "Lockdown wasn't too bad - we've done decorating and we've got a dog so we tried to look at the positives.

"It's really nice to be back here, I have missed the people and the normality of it."

Deputy head girl Olivia Sanger, 15, said: "I have had lots of work to do, especially art, but I have really missed my friends."

Speaking to other pupils due to return to school, she added: "I'd say it is fine to come back - you just have to follow the rules and it is fine."

Will Beddoes, head of year 10, said: "It has been fantastic to see the students back and they have been excellent - they have all come in with their masks on and have done what is asked of them. "We're seeing lots of smiles on faces."

Jasmin Morgan, additional learning needs co-ordinator, said: "I love being back in school and I hated being at home. "It is hard to help the children from a distance.

"My biggest anxiety was that I haven't taught for so long.

"The reality was that the students seemed more nervous than I did, but once they warmed up they were fine."

The school's newly appointed head of literacy, Jen Robinson, has joined the school after working for a year at a private international school in Thailand.

"It's brilliant to be here," she said, "I've been made so welcome. "A lot of the policies around covid are similar to what we had in my school in Thailand - the most important thing for me is making sure the students feel safe."

Year seven students Cole Richards and Lucy Roberts described their first day at the school, which took place on Thursday. "It was a bit weird," said Cole, "But it was good to come in."

Lucy said: "Our form teacher waited for us and put us into lines and it was fine.

"We made covid time-capsules which we're going to get back at our prom."

Shôn Prebble, second in faculty for science and technology, said: "Science is a lot of practical work and we didn't want to just do the theory.

"We have been looking at how to do that safely - so they will work in small groups and I will be leading a demonstration."

Amanda Noon, head of expressive arts, said: "We've taken a very strategic approach - yes it is different, and yes we are being careful, but school is still school. "It is a safe place children can come and enjoy themselves and learn.

"We've done extensive work over Google classrooms but it's just not the same as this."