PARENTS and teachers of three tier schools have asked for the government to be flexible after highlighting what they say is a problem with its reopening plan.

And Mid Worcestershire MP Nigel Huddleston has said he will be alerting the Department for Education about the calls for a rethink.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced lockdown changes that included the aim to reopen schools from June 1 “at the earliest" to pupils in reception, year 1 and year 6 classes. These classes were selected as key classes - with year 6 particularly chosen so teachers could prepare them moving up to secondary school.

But, as many have pointed out in the county, for schools in the three tier school system in Worcestershire year 6 would not be a 'transitional' year, with pupils in year 4 and year 8 the ones who would need preparing for a new school.

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Suzie Bourne, headteacher at Witton Middle School in Droitwich, said: "We want to support our community, and reopen - but only when it is safe and we are ready.

"And these plans appear knee jerk, and the three tier system not taken into consideration.

"I couldn't use the government's rationale to bring year 6 pupils back (and not others) and take that case to parents. Year 6 would not be a transitional year, so you couldn't justify it.

"We need flexibility, I am keen they explore an alternative plan."

This view was shared with many parents, one writing on social media: "Makes some sense, going to new schools in September. Although here in Worcestershire we mostly have a three tier school system, so presumably it would be year 4 and/or year 8 instead?"

Mr Huddleston, whose constituency includes a number of three tier schools, said: "The government chose reception and year 1 to be some of the first to go back as they are at the very beginning of their school education.

"These first years of early education are crucial in laying the foundation for lifelong learning and social and emotional development.

"Across the board, year 6 was chosen as a key year group benefitting from going back to school as moving from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 is an important transition in a child’s education. Children in a two tier system will also benefit from spending more time with their friends and teachers to make sure they’re ready to begin secondary school.

"But in Worcestershire we still have many children in a three tier system who are in middle schools at year 6.

"In the interests of equity, middle schools are also encouraged to welcome back year 6’s to make sure there is national parity for children in this year group across the country.

"We would not want children in year 6 in a middle school to be at a disadvantage to year 6 children in a primary school.

"I have alerted the Department for Education to the requests for flexibility being expressed by some teachers and parents of children at middle schools."

"Younger children are prioritised in the first phases of wider opening as evidence shows the impact of time spent out of education is more detrimental than to older children. Older children are also more likely to have more contacts outside of school and so hold a bigger risk of transmitting the disease and, typically, older children are better able to learn at home.

"That said, the government is aware that other year groups like year 10 and 12 have important exams coming up and have asked teachers to provide some face-to-face contact with year 10 and 12 pupils starting from 1st June, and of course we want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows."

Sarah Wilkins, director for education and early help at Worcestershire County Council's Worcestershire Children First added: “We are working closely with the Department for Education, our schools, community and Worcestershire’s early years providers to plan for the phased return of some children.

"Our priority is to make sure that schools and nurseries are safe places for children and for staff.

"The government has outlined that children should be able to return to early years settings, and for reception, year 1 and year 6 to be back in school from the beginning of next month. This aims to ensure that the youngest children, and those preparing for a different stage of their learning, have time with their teachers.

"Here in Worcestershire there are parts of the county where pupils will be preparing for a transition from first school to middle school or from a middle school to a high school. We recognise the importance of these transitional stages our children and young people in Worcestershire.

"We are talking to the Department for Education and with headteachers to develop plans that are in the best interests of children and young people and are realistic and manageable through the phases of change that the government is proposing.”