Edinburgh schools given go-ahead for live lessons over internet - but don't expect it all the time

Schools in Edinburgh have been given the go-ahead for live lessons over the internet when remote learning gets under way from Monday.

But education bosses say parents should not expect daily video conference-style classes from teachers to be the norm.

During the first lockdown last spring, some parents complained the level of online learning was poor and there was no interaction with teachers.

At that time the city council did not allow the use of the camera function on the Microsoft Teams system used by schools to link up with pupils because of safeguarding issues.

But that policy has now changed and both camera and microphone can be used, which allows teachers and pupils to see each other.

However, remote learning arrangements will vary from school to school and the authority expects live teaching over the internet to be limited.

Education convener Ian Perry said not every pupil had their own device and access to the internet and although the council was in the process of supplying families with laptops, there would still be a problem with siblings having to share.

And he added: "This type of teaching is different - there needs to be training because there has to be an interactive element. Some schools have done that, but not every school in Edinburgh is in a position to deliver this type of teaching."

Teachers and pupils are now allowed to use the camera function for online learning

Cllr Perry said the decision to allow use of the camera function – which applies in both primary and secondary schools – was a clear change in policy.

Cllr Perry said: "The teaching profession and the council realised one of the deficiencies in the last lockdown was teachers did not have direct contact with pupils. Everyone now agrees that is necessary."

He said there was now a guarantee that teachers would contact pupils one-to-one at least once a week, though schools might do this in different ways.

Most remote learning this time is expected to involve pupils in online activities, rather than worksheets, and pre-recorded video lessons.

Cllr Perry said: “There is no substitute for children being in schools with the teacher in front of the class, but we are all working hard to try and find ways to give as good an education as possible given the restricted circumstances."

Alison Murphy, Edinburgh secretary of the teaching union EIS, agreed live lessons would not be a regular occurrence for most pupils.

Ms Murphy said: “Our understanding is it can be used where appropriate and there are protocols and guidance around it, but it also needs to be used carefully.

Teachers are not going to deliver lessons over video as if they were in the classroom, because that's useless for the kids. The camera tends to be more useful with smaller groups and on short check-ins.”

But Sarah Chisnall, of parents’ group 50-50, said many parents would be hoping there could be a significant amount of live teaching via Teams.

She said: “We've not been asking for a whole day of live lessons because we know that's almost impossible to deliver. We think that even if a certain amount every day is interactive that has to be better than simply being sent out worksheets which is what happened last time.”

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