Broughton High: Edinburgh parents left confused after school announces reduction in S1-S3 online learning time

A secondary school in Edinburgh has announced that younger pupils will have their online learning time reduced later this month.

Broughton High School said Scottish Government plans to allow pupils between S4 and S6 to return to school from February 22 to complete practical coursework for national qualifications meant teachers would be unable to “simultaneously” supervise in-person and online classes.

On Monday, John Wilson, headteacher at the school in Comely Bank, told parents the changes would mean a reduction in “some online teaching time” for pupils in S1, S2 and S3, but did not give further details.

In a letter to parents and carers, Mr Wilson wrote: that the delivery of practical sessions for senior phase students in school” would “inevitably” cause “a reduction in some online teaching time for S1-S3 pupils.

“Teachers will not be able to simultaneously oversee practical sessions for senior pupils while also providing live lessons for their other classes.”

Mr Wilson added that the changes were necessary to meet “the requirements of the government announcement.”

The new guidelines, however, are still yet to be confirmed by the Scottish Government, with local authorities expecting to learn how they will be asked to implement the changes next week.

If approved, the plans would mean that, at a school with 1,000 pupils, only between 50 and 80 would be called to in-person classes to help complete coursework for practical subjects.

The new guidelines are still yet to be confirmed by the Scottish Government's Education Secretary, John Swinney, with local authorities expecting to learn how they will be asked to implement the changes next week. (Photo by Andy Buchanan - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

One parent at the school, who asked not to be named, told the Evening News they were angered by the “scant information” from Mr Wilson.

“We still don’t know by how much face-to-face online teaching will be reduced - or in what way.

“It’s not fair on the children, and puts the onus for their education on parents,” they added, “and there are those who can manage that, and those who can’t.”

The parent warned that, by focusing on the needs of older pupils at the expense of younger ones, the school was “just delaying the issue”.

“It’s a huge worry. There will be a cohort of kids who will really struggle in future.

“The attainment gap will be huge. It’s just not on.”

The City of Edinburgh Council insisted that it was still waiting for more detailed information from the Scottish Government before it could confirm exactly how the plans would be implemented.

A spokesperson for the Council said: “Our teaching staff are doing a fantastic job delivering home learning for pupils and we all want to see our young people back in school where they belong in their familiar learning environment.

“The Scottish Government are due to confirm next week that their plans for the phased return of pupils from February 22 are going ahead as it is dependent on the virus continuing to be suppressed.”

“Their plans include that senior phase pupils should, on a limited basis, be allowed to complete in-school practical work necessary for the completion of national qualification courses.”

They added: “The Scottish Government has stated that no more than 5-8 per cent of a secondary school roll should be in school at any one time for this.

“We are awaiting more detailed guidance from them on their recommendations to implement this and we will do everything we can to limit any potential impact on other pupils’ education.”

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