Phased reopening of schools will see Leighton Linslade students return to the classroom in a safe environment

The easing of coronavirus lockdown measures means Nursery/ Reception and Year 1, plus Year 6 (who would be transferring to high school in a two-tier system) are in line to resume on June 1, with secondary pupils taking exams next year possibly getting at least some time with their teachers before the summer break.

Both Cedars Upper School in Linslade and Vandyke Upper School in Leighton Buzzard want to see pupils getting face-to-face learning time as soon as it deemed safe to do so.

In a joint statement, headteachers Tim Carroll from Vandyke and Steve Palmer from Cedars said: “Students need to be back in school and we are putting arrangements in place so that this can happen in a way that keeps everybody safe.

"We consider a phased return to be the best way forward bringing into school small groups of students for some short sessions initially.

"The government has rightly identified as a priority those students who will be sitting public exams next summer so we are making plans for students in Year 10 and Year 12 to return first.

"These are challenging times but having missed several months of school already, we hope that we can soon begin the return to some face-to-face learning. It is important to do so in a way that reassures students and parents.”

Both schools have written to parents again in recent days outlining their plans and there will be further communication before arrangements and a possible start date are finalised.

Last week we reported how Leighton Buzzard's MP Andrew Selous was calling on the Government to recognise the three-tier education system in the town when it came to determining which year groups return to the classroom on June 1.

Mr Selous is pointing out that the key transition years in the three-tier system operating in the Leighton Buzzard area are Year 4, when children leave lower school, and Year 8 when children leave middle school.

And Mr Carroll agrees, but says plans are being developed locally to help Year 8 pupils adjust to their step up to upper school.

He said: "It is disappointing that the government has chosen not to recognise that in some parts of the country we have schools with different points of transition. In Leighton Buzzard we very much wished that priority would be given to pupils in Year 4 and Year 8 to help these children prepare for transition to the next stage of schooling.

"The government’s explanation about wanting “parity for pupils across the country” really does not make a lot of sense in our context.

"If, as appears to be the case, Year 8 pupils do not return to middle school or have the opportunity to visit their upper school, we will be taking steps to work with parents and pupils to smooth the transition and to ensure that the start to Year 9 goes well. These plans are well advanced."

Central Beds Council says it has been supporting schools as they work as quickly as possible towards a safe reopening for certain year groups next month.

A spokesman said: "The Government announced on May 10 that, on a limited basis, schools may reopen from June 1 at the earliest, with phased return of particular year groups (e.g. reception, year one and year six).

"Since then the council has been supporting schools as they plan to get more pupils back to school as soon as it is safe to do so, with the first priority being the health and well-being of all pupils, their families and staff.

"All schools are looking carefully at any risks they may face in re-opening and will be sharing this information with the council, together with their plans about which year groups they will be able to safely accommodate and when they plan to welcome pupils back.

"We recognise that this has been a challenging time for children and their families, and that schools are greatly looking forward to children returning. Schools are working as quickly as possible to make the arrangements."

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