May 28, 2020 12.22 pm This story is over 60 months old

Lincolnshire schools trust delays re-opening primary academies

The trust felt June 1 would be premature

Pilgrim Academy in Immingham will be among the trust's schools to re-open on June 15.

A multi academy trust in Lincolnshire will begin a phased re-opening of its primary and secondary academies on June 15.

Over 200 schools in Lincolnshire will re-open on June 1, including academies.

However, the Tollbar Multi Academy Trust felt this date was too premature for opening any of its eight academy schools (primary, secondary and sixth form college).

The trust will begin a phased re-opening of its academies to a small number of year groups, with some on a part-time basis.

Primary Academies

The trust’s board met on May 21 before deciding to open its Primary Academies to Nursery, Reception and Year 1 children from June 15.

The Primary Academies are Reynolds Academy in Cleethorpes, Pilgrim Academy in Immingham and Theddlethorpe Academy in Theddlethorpe, Mablethorpe.

However, this will not include Year 6 students at this time as the trust feels it is impossible to socially distance more than the above groups as there is not sufficient room within the schools.

Primary class sizes will be between five to nine, with children in each class remaining together to reduce mixing with others.

Secondary Academies

Tollbar Academy and Sixth Form College, as well as Cleethorpes, Louth and Somercotes Academies – will open on June 15 with Year 10 and 12 students returning on a part-time basis.

They will return in small groups to ensure social distancing. There will also be significant modifications of individual student timetables to facilitate this.

All of the Trust’s Academies will continue to remain open for vulnerable students, Education Health Care Plan students, and for children of key workers.

Philip Bond, Chair of Tollbar Multi Academy Trust, explained: “We feel the date proposed by the government of June 1 is premature, as even though extensive risk assessments have been conducted, it is vital the environment for both staff and students is as safe as possible.

“The later date gives us an extra two weeks to ensure that the trust can ensure as safe an environment as possible exists.

“An awful lot of work has been done by our executive team in order to best protect staff and students, and parents will be made aware of the preparations we have made in letters from each of the academy principals.”