School pupils in Helensburgh and Lomond are set to return to class on the same day in both the independent and state sectors.

Following the Scottish Government’s announcement last month that pupils will return to school on August 11, “subject to scientific advice that it is safe to do so”, Lomond School in Helensburgh has announced its pupils will return on the same date.

The school plans to minimise movement around the building by giving each group of pupils a 'base classroom' and area, with teachers moving between rooms instead of pupils so that social distancing rules can be observed.

Each year group will also be given a designated zone where they will enter and exit the building and access toilets and handwashing areas.

Pupils and staff will be asked to leave their uniform and work attire at home, instead wearing ‘PE type’ casual clothing that must be washed daily.

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Outdoor spaces for learning are set to be used as much as possible within the curriculum, the school says, and pupils and staff must bring a packed lunch in a labelled container, with hot food services for day pupils remaining closed initially.

The school also plans to step up cleaning and sanitisation throughout the day, and to minimise the use of paper, shared textbooks and the number of items transferred between home and school, as well as reducing the mixing of pupils across ages and stages during the school day.

Principal Johanna Urquhart said: “The health and safety of the entire school community remains our over-riding priority.

"As a small school, we are fortunate that our class sizes, flexible facilities and high staff-to-pupil ratios enable us to take precautions which allow our primary and secondary pupils to return to school full-time.

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“Ahead of August, we will continue to review plans in line with the most up-to-date Government advice and prepare for our children to return in the safest manner possible.

“We are very much looking forward to opening our doors again and getting back to some form of normality.

"However, the lessons we have learned from delivering our curriculum on a digital platform will not be lost and we will continue to embed an enquiry-based approach within our teaching.”

The school also says it's planning to reopen its boarding house in August, with plans in place to provide online learning for students and staff arriving from overseas in case 14-day quarantine rules are still in place by then.

Virtual information sessions are to be held for all parents ahead of the reopening date.

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