- Title: British boy starts virtual lessons amid coronavirus lockdown
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEADMASTER AT ST. JOHN'S BEAUMONT SCHOOL, GILES DELANEY, SAYING: "They identify themselves as being at St. John's. And of course, they're no longer in the building. So trying to distinguish for them that St. John's isn't a building, it's a community. So how do we help them contribute to that community? They're used to coming in; the teachers giving them something, and therefore they have to be the bricks now to this, they have to be able to support each other. They need to better listen, understand how each other are feeling and support. So that's something we've spoken to them about. And what can we do to maintain that identity? So we've insisted the boys wear their uniform because that's something that's routine. We've kept the morning prayer. We've kept the start of the day as much as we can." SURREY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2020) (VIDEO OBTAINED REUTERS) TERRINGTON LISTENING TO MORNING ASSEMBLY ABOUT CORONAVIRUS ON COMPUTER SURREY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) 11-YEAR-OLD PUPIL AT ST. JOHN'S BEAUMONT SCHOOL, HARRISON TERRINGTON, SAYING: "Yeah, so I think it's fine, for my benefit, because I won't really get affected but my grandparents will, so I don't want that." BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEADMASTER AT ST. JOHN'S BEAUMONT SCHOOL, GILES DELANEY, SAYING: "As it became clear that schools across Europe were starting to close and countries are starting to lock down, a number of them [pupils] became understandably anxious that 'is this going to happen to us'? What if, what if, what if? We were getting a lot of 'what if' questions and trying to be pragmatic and say to the boys, 'Oh, it won't happen here' - well, it probably will. So how do we gear the boys up. And I think there's a wonderful, wonderful opportunity here if we can grasp it. The situation, it is what it is. And we all we can do is look for the benefits in it. And that's what teaching children resilience is; that yes, there's an awful lot that we've lost. But I strongly suspect that out of this period, however long it lasts, there are going to be some inspirational teachers that will come to the fore that have made the most of the opportunities given to them." SURREY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2020) (VIDEO OBTAINED REUTERS) MORE OF TERRINGTON ON COMPUTER DURING VIRTUAL LESSON
- Embargoed: 7th April 2020 19:50
- Keywords: Britain in lockdown coronavirus home schooling lockdown virtual school
- Location: SURREY & BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK
- City: SURREY & BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA004C6EXLC7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Just like on any other school day, 11-year-old Harrison Terrington got dressed in his uniform on Tuesday (March 24). But having dressed and carefully styled his hair, Harrison logged on for his second day of home learning amid the coronavirus lockdown that has closed all schools across the UK.
Harrison is one of 290 boys from St John's Beaumont preparatory school in Old Windsor, Berkshire, who are now taking part in virtual lessons taught by teachers also confined to their homes.
Key to the school's approach is keeping tabs on the children's mental well-being during the unprecedented measures that have been taken to try and curb the spread of the coronavirus.
"They identify themselves as being at St. John's. And of course, they're no longer in the building," headmaster Giles Delaney told Reuters via a web interview.
"And what can we do to maintain that identity? So we've insisted the boys wear their uniform because that's something that's routine. We've kept the morning prayer. We've kept the start of the day as much as we can."
Wearing his school uniform while not actually at school did seem strange to Harrison. He said the prospect of this way of learning going on for weeks wasn't ideal.
"I wouldn't mind it, if I had to do it I would. But I'd rather be at school than do it this long," said Harrison.
On Tuesday, the death toll from coronavirus in the United Kingdom had jumped by 87 to a total of 422 - the biggest daily increase since the crisis began.
In a televised address to the nation on Monday evening (March 23), Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered people to stay at home, told nearly all shops to close and banned social gatherings including weddings and baptisms.
Under the curbs on movement, people should leave their homes only for very limited reasons such as going to supermarkets for vital supplies or for exercise once a day.
(Production: Matt Stock) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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