All classes return to Queensland schools on May 25

Queensland’s Education Minister has confirmed all students will return to school on May 25, with extra cleaners and hygiene measures in place, and with the possibility of smaller class sizes.

QUEENSLAND’S Education Minister Grace Grace has confirmed that all students will return to school on Monday, May 25.

Ms Grace said the Queensland Disaster Management Committee yesterday agreed all students could return to classrooms.

“We’re very happy that we can welcome back students from 25th May,”she said.

She said there had been a successful staged return of Kindergarten, Prep, 1, 11 and 12 students.

“I’m pleased to say we’ve had a very successful return to school for our preppies, year 1 and of course our kindergarten students as well and year 11, and year 12,” Ms Grace said.

Ms Grace said parents and carers had done an excellent job this week with only Kindergarten, Prep, 1, 11 and 12 back with social distancing around schools.

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“Schools have been implementing the guidelines, and there will be new guidelines now that years 2 – 10 are back from 25th May,” she said.

“Can I thank teachers and students who have worked very well together understanding that we are in unprecedented times in this world health pandemic.

“Extra hygiene and extra cleaning are still in place, we have extra cleaners coming every day to ensure high-traffic areas like light switches, obviously toilet facilities are all cleaned and kept hygienic.”

Ms Grace said social distancing wasn’t required for students but said schools were trying to implement smaller classroom sizes where possible.

“Schools are implementing a number of strategies, staggered start and finish times, staggered lunch times, and those strategies this week have worked very well,” she said.

“We’ve had two cases in Queensland overnight, one case in Rockhampton, we are not out of the woods yet and it’s very very important we maintain safe practices when it comes to our school communities.”

Ms Grace pleaded with Queensland parents and school staff and teachers to stay home if they were sick.

“Now is not the time to turn up to work or to send your child to school if they are not well,” she said.

School contact sport is still not permitted with those restrictions to be reviewed in the future and there may be hope for senior students to be able to celebrate school formal.

“We hope we can get back to normality as soon as possible for seniors and we want to be sure they’re not disadvantaged and if we’re in a position where they can have a school formal, we would love for them to experience what they should be experiencing, being in their final year of school.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this morning said there had been good attendance rates at schools leading up to today’s official announcement.

“It’s great news, our attendance rates from memory are around over 80 per cent, I think from memory it was about 83 per cent for Preps, over 83 per cent for year 12s and between 80-82 for the others, which is fantastic and I think higher than the other states,” she said.

New Farm mother Anna Antonini said it would be great to get schoolchildren back into classrooms as soon as possible to get back to routine.

“Learning from home is very different at school, the one-on-one makes a big difference because they can ask questions, even though the teachers are readily available online I think it’s so much easier with face-to-face contact,” she said.

With her daughter Lola in Year 11 at All Hallows’ Catholic School, she was able to go back to class this week, while her other children were “absolutely” looking forward to getting back to class.

Department of education figures reveal the attendance rate in Queensland state schools across Prep, Year 1, 11 and 12 was 81.4 per cent yesterday while 21.5 per cent of Years 2-10 were present.

Anna Antonini with Franki, 11, Massi, 14, and Lola, 16, at their New Farm home. Picture: Josh Woning/AAP

Independent Schools Queensland has been working closely with education and health authorities, with schools keen for students to return when possible, according to executive director David Robertson.

Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Dr Lee-Anne Perry said Catholic schools were looking forward to the Premier’s decision on schooling, with the safety of students, staff and families paramount.

A Queensland Health spokesperson said a significant consideration has been given to this phased approach.

“While the AHPPC advises that physical distancing is not required for students during classroom activities, schools may implement additional strategies including designating drop-off/pick-up points for parents in spacious areas, staggering lunch breaks, start and finish times and other activities to reduce the volume of movement,” a spokesperson said.

“If low transmission rates continue, students in Years 2–10 will be able to return to school from May 25.”