Solihull Living Nov - Dec 2020

A reflection on the experience of
Coronavirus in independent school seTTings
The period from early March to the
present day has undoubtedly been one
full of experiences which we would all
have wished we had not endured. The
thousands of people who have lost their
lives to the Coronavirus are individuals who
deserve to be remembered and the loss
for the families connected to them must be
enormous. Many thousands more have,
to a greater or lesser extent, fallen ill with
Covid-19 and to all this we can add the
huge negative impact of lockdown on the
country’s economy and general well-being.
The closure of schools has disrupted the
education of millions of children. It is difficult
to claim there is anything which is positive
from this experience and arguably it’s too
soon to be speculating along these lines.
In full recognition of all the bad things that
have happened so far in 2020 I am going to
attempt to lift the spirits in an educational
context and identify some areas where
there may be a lasting gain for schools and
the educational experience of children.
Online teaching and learning in IAPS school,
both prep and junior, has been far more
positive than anyone could reasonably have
anticipated. Yes, during the first couple of
weeks of school closure, the schools were
feeling their way and there were grounds
for genuine concern that what was on offer
was a long way short of the normal service.
However, as no end of heads commented,
they travelled further with online learning
in two weeks than they had in the previous
two years. In fact, towards the end of
the summer term as schools started to
welcome their pupils back, there was much
debate about whether the older pupils in
Year 6 should be invited back when the
online learning had been so successful.
Success online come in unexpected ways
too as parents were able to look through
a window on school assemblies which
normally they did not have the opportunity
to do unless it was a special event.
The insight into assemblies was not
the only way the relationship between
the school and the parents was
recalibrated. The premium placed on clear
communication was never more evident
and the schools who got the tone right
from the start, even if they were passing
on somewhat unpalatable news, saw
the benefits of their efforts. Heads and
governors were having to take decisions
rapidly and to get them right first time
and, as they did, the confidence within the
school and parental body grew.
Many schools reduced the fees and
appealed to the parental body to honour
their obligation to pay them with many
predicting a poor response. Again, where
the communication was open and clear
- and parents felt they knew what was
happening and why - the vast majority of
parents paid the fees due.
Not every parent has been happy but
survey upon survey in IAPS schools has
shown a very high degree of satisfaction
with the decisions and actions of the
school. If anything confidence has grown
about sending a child to a private school.
Virtual Open Days and tours have proven
hugely successful and will no doubt
feature even when we do get back closer
to what we understood as normal.
by Christopher King, IAPS CEO
So yes, there has been great challenge
and the sector will be more fragile for some
time to come but the resilience of the
independent sector has been never more
evident and the quality in IAPS member
schools has shone through.
About IAPS
IAPS is a professional association for
heads with over 675 members in prep,
junior and pre-prep schools in the UK
and overseas. Founded in 1892, it is
the largest heads’ association within
the Independent Schools Council (ISC).
Schools must reach a very high standard
to be eligible for membership, with strict
criteria on teaching a broad curriculum,
maintaining excellent standards of
pastoral care and keeping staff members’
professional development training up
to date.
Christopher King is chief executive, and
supported by the senior managment
team, based at their headquarters in
Leamington Spa. Their priorities are
determined by the IAPS Council, made
up of members, elected by members.
The IAPS school directory can be found
by visiting iaps.uk
8 | www.solihullliving.co.uk