Spike in attendance pre-empted as back to face-to-face class resumes

As families grapple with homeschooling, working from home and having some children allowed back in the class, schools are bracing for influx of pupils despite only those in Prep and Years 1, 11 and 12 permitted to return.

SCHOOLS are bracing for a spike in students across all grades tomorrow despite only those in prep, year 1, 11 and 12 permitted to return.

Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) president Kevin Bates said there had been reports that parents with multiple children had told schools all of their offspring would be attending school come Monday, despite the rules.

“We urge people to not place schools in the invidious position of having to deal with large numbers of additional students because families take decisions that every child will go to school whether they’re currently entitled too or not,” he said.

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It comes as attendance figures at state schools have increased beyond the state government’s expected 10-15 per cent estimate since the beginning of term two when just vulnerable children and essential workers offspring were allowed to attend for the first three weeks.

Between 11.1 per cent and 13.9 per cent of students were present during the first week, followed by 14-15 per cent attending during the second week, increasing to between 16 per cent and 17.2 per cent attendance this week.

Schools have been sending attendance surveys to parents in a bid to estimate the number of students likely to come back to class on Monday.

Sherwood State School issued a reminder to parents to fill out the fortnightly attendance survey, saying prep and Year 1 parents needed to respond while for year 2-6 students parents, those who are essential workers should respond if their children “needed” to attend school.

Baringa State School this week sent an email to parents reiterating that only Prep, Years 1,11 and 12 and vulnerable children, essential worker’s children and those in designated indigenous communities could attend classrooms.

“Other students (Years 2-10), including siblings of students returning to school, will continue with the home-based learning model. They are not permitted to be at school,” the letter said.

The LNP has held firm on its stance that all parents should be able to send their children to school should they wish, with Opposition leader Deb Frecklington saying the new rules would split families and disadvantage kids.

“Fully opening schools is the first real step to restarting the economy and protecting jobs across Queensland,” she said.

But Education Minister Grace Grace said the back to school plan would see every student “back at school on May 25, all going well”.

“We know nothing beats face-to-face learning, but during this global health pandemic, remote learning has been required to help us flatten the curve,” she said.

“At all stages of the pandemic we have worked with Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young and I will continue to take my advice from her, not the LNP.”

Cecelia Darrah with her Year 9 sons Daniel (left) and Emmanuel (centre) and Year 11 son Joel. Picture: Mark Cranitch

QTU’s Mr Bates said in the broader community people were ready to follow the health advice in the interest of the community.

“But it seems again in schools there’s this attitude, it’s about people having a range of options that are not provided for simply because there is a frustration or inconvenience and I'm not trying to downplay for one minute how challenging this is for parents,” Mr Bates said.

“But there are very good reasons why the decisions that have been taken have been made and the fact that not everybody is able to go back to school at once is the consequence of advice that has been provided.”

While Mt Gravatt mother Ceclia Darragh said it was a relief that her son Joel in Year 11 could go back to school but having her twins Emmanuel and Daniel in year 9 prevented from returning made family life more complex even with the school’s “great support”.

She said senior school students had better ability to practice self-directed learning and study rather than younger years.

“If we could have it our way we’d have the middle schools rather than year 11.”

“If they’re all going to school you do all uniforms and lunches in one go, doing everything partially adds complexity ... I do have to drive him because obviously public transport is still a concern for me, then come back and make sure the other ones are starting and not to mention doing my own work at home, it has added complexity,” she said.

“We were already in a bit of a routine for the first three weeks and then all of the sudden this pattern starts.”

The LNP candidate for Mansfield Janet Wishart said families like the Darragh’s were like thousands of other parents who have been disadvantaged by “Labor’s mixed message on schools.”

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