Learning during lockdown

Learn how we delivered the full and normal timetable through our innovative and exemplary use of technology (an average of 7 zoom live lessons per day) and how our status as an Apple Distinguished School ensured there was no loss of learning during the lockdown.

Park Hill in Lockdown

At Park Hill Preparatory School and Nursery we are very proud of the way we have managed to maintain our very high academic standards during lockdown.  

From 0815 to 1530 every day, pupils from Reception to Year 6 have enjoyed Maths, English, Science, Humanities, French, Performing Arts, Religious Education, PSHE, Sport, Sport Science, Computing, Coding, Dance, Music and we have continued to prepare our pupils for 11 +.  

As soon as we heard about the impending pandemic, we started to plan and prepare for remote learning.  We were determined not only to teach a full timetable to all our pupils, but also to maintain as much normality as possible, to protect our children’s mental health. 

As an Apple Distinguished School, our children are technologically literate.  Every pupil from the age of 4 has their own iPad and we use technology across the full curriculum.  This meant that they already had the skills and digital literacy to continue their learning online, without disruption. 

While other schools emailed lesson packs for parents to teach, we concentrated on teaching our children directly via Zoom and video links.  This enabled them to manage their work independently, which in turn allowed those parents working from home to get on with their job. 

Our small class sizes have proved invaluable.   At Park Hill School, no class has more than sixteen pupils, so that we can give every child individual attention in every subject.  During lockdown, we have continued to set differentiated work appropriate to the ability of every single pupil.    

We have studied the Tudors; carried out scientific experiments to discover which substances dissolve; we have learned how to order food in a French restaurant.  Our pupils have learned grid multiplication, fractions, punctuation.  They have written beautiful poetry and the most amazing, imaginative, creative stories.  

Our pupil progress data confirms that all of our children have met or exceeded their targets. 

Every Thursday morning, the whole school community has come together on Zoom for a full school Assembly.   We have explored the themes of resilience and perseverance under lockdown.  We have celebrated birthdays together, awarded certificates for achievement, and it has been a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate and celebrate that at Park Hill School we have a strong, caring, supportive community.  

Many Park Hill parents have been key workers during this pandemic.  We made the decision to provide whatever we could to support their vital work.  The school has been open to key worker children every working day since the Prime Minister announced lockdown and we have provided flexible after school care until 5.30pm. 

If there is a second wave of COVID-19, we know we are very well prepared to provide our children with an excellent Park Hill education, even if it has to be at home again for a while.  We have learned from the experience and have a strong foundation to build on in the future. 

During these last three months, our pupils have been challenged, encouraged, motivated and inspired.  We have watched them grow, learn, develop new skills and become much more independent.  

We have shown we are a strong, supportive, caring school community.  We have resilience and we will persevere! 

Example of the full timetable delivered to Year 3 during lockdown –

Year 3 Learning During Lockdown Timetable

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