Happy Returns

After a gap of more than two months, children made their welcome return to school today in the shape of  21 pupils from PP1 (Year 1) children and 30 of our 10s (Year 6) and the school was determined to make the moment a special one.

After the 50 youngsters had queued patiently for entry with their parents in a socially distanced line on Lonsdale Road they were greeted at the gates by a welcome committee including the headmaster, Mr Hooke – and Mr Smiley, of course – and serenaded in the balloon and bunting bedecked front garden by Sixth Formers Lucy, Lauren, Arabella and Bruno, as they signed in and had their temperatures taken.

The Year 1s and year 6s will be joined on site tomorrow (3rd June) and for the rest of term by Reception pupils (see pictures at the bottom) for abbreviated five-hour school days which have been planned and organised with scrupulous precision. All pupils will be taught in class groups with a maximum size of 15 which are in turn sub-divided into pods of five, each of which has its discrete area of the classroom and its separate place to play and eat their packed lunches.

Mr Hooke declared himself ‘delighted’ to see Harrodians back at school. ‘I’ve watched some playing reaction games  with Mr Proudfoot and Ms Foster and others eating their lunches in the sunshine and it’s clear from the big smiles on their faces how happy they are to be at school,’ he said. ‘It’s just wonderful to have them back.’