- Title: British boy starts virtual lessons amid coronavirus lockdown
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: SURREY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2020) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) TERRINGTON AT COMPUTER AS HEADMASTER GILES DELANEY GIVES TAKES ASSEMBLY
- 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: LVA003C6EXLC7
- 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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