We value the structure that Liverpool College’s home school is providing.
Last lockdown, our child from year 7 Howson’s, was still in primary and school started vaguely during the single digits (mostly). Oak Academy was a godsend, but during the unusually sunny days of the first lockdown it was way too easy to heed the call of the back garden first. We even tried to do some schooling at our allotment on one of those days…
I can’t imagine trying to home-school now in winter with no set timetable, only basic topics to cover, and a soaked and soggy garden to avoid. We feel so blessed that he actually knows his online teachers and has quite a few actual, real-time interactions with them and his classmates! Another very tiny bonus to this lockdown’s home-schooling is the occasional (shhh…) surprise snack during a lesson, a chocolate Hero or a piece of toast every now and then, but no drinks near the Chromebook.
Lockdown is very, very, very boring and we are all looking a little like pale scarecrows, Worzel Gummage hair, hollow eyes, dodgy smudges on our jeans. I think we look like that after a long day at the allotment anyways, so not too much change then? There are charger wires everywhere, yet nothing is ever charged up all the way. Luckily, we usually have enough screens available when we need them though. I have to admit that lessons are a very welcome distraction from the long repetitive cycle of a day in lockdown, when the day seems to pass too quickly as one long hour. One morning cup of coffee later it’s already noon and nobody made lunch. Some days though lunch prep starts at 10 and we end up with a taco buffet that would feed 10 or 8 feet of foot long hot dogs and a vat of pickled beetroot salad. There’s only just the four of us.
Our child and his sister have been stars, and so have Liverpool College. Home-schooling our kids is not ideal, but we couldn’t do anything less than our best in the face of this pandemic. In that context, patiently plugging away at lessons and being as enthusiastic as possible in our support is just basic heroism.
I’ve found lockdown learning pretty rubbish.
I can’t see any of my friends properly, only by Microsoft Teams and video calls. I would much rather go to school in real-life because I would be able to chat to my friends at break and at lunch and properly interact with my teachers. I feel like I’m not learning as much at home as I would in school but I probably am. Although, my mom sometimes brings me snacks while I’m doing lessons! I don’t have to get up as early as usual, I don’t have to change into my uniform every morning and I can see my family more. I want lockdown to end as soon as possible so I can go back into school, so whenever I go out, I wear my mask and wash my hands.
Hans Broekman
Hans van Mourik Broekman is Principal of Liverpool College, an outstanding all through boarding and day school in Liverpool
