Since the outbreak of COVID 19, schools in England have jumped between on and off starts throughout the months. We were met with our first lockdown back in March, which dragged on into the summer and lifted momentarily and allowed for schools to reopen in September. Tier Four, however, was only around the corner and since we saw Christmas roll round and through into the new year, students have been sat at home on Google Meets and Zooms ever since. Although, recent government announcements say that we will be back in the classroom on the 8th March - but will school life be even remotely the same?

 

It’s important to note the morale of many teens when thinking about this question; with the 2020 spring-summer lockdown, the popular social media app TikTok played a huge part in lifting spirits. ‘For you pages’ were filled with workout guides, healthy recipes and tips on productivity and positivity. We approached the first lockdown as a strange, unknown creature to overcome together, and as with any new experience, attitudes seemed higher.

 

Now, however, the scene has considerably changed - we’re more accustomed to the lockdown and it still feels like a chore; there’s seemingly nothing to be positive about. This approach may stem from the rough start to 2021: many people were unhappy with Christmas and much hoped for family gatherings getting ‘cancelled’. Coming out of lockdown now, young people, especially teenagers, seem to have one of two opinions; either they are excited to socialise and see their peers again, or nervous, having spent so long sitting at home behind a computer screen where the pressures of school life are undoubtedly far more relaxed. 

 

Chiara Boglione, a Year 10 student at Latymer Upper, shares her thoughts on this topic: “ The second wave of lockdown was easier in terms of adapting to online learning, but still difficult. Going back to school will be hard, especially for GCSE and A Level students due to the added pressure and bigger workload.” On the brighter side, Chiara added that “It will take a while to adapt back but it will also be good in terms of socialising and learning better, and giving many of us an excuse to go outside more regularly.” 

 

So how different will going back to school be, now, after we have experienced two lockdowns and only four months of ‘real-life’ classes? Some students may feel less confident coming back, having spent the last term with online lessons - and some may be coming out of lockdown with a refreshed, productive mindset after realising that quiet study sessions at home proved to be more effective than expected. Whether your approach be positive or negative, its important to remember that returning to school will feel strange for us all! Schedules and workloads may seem off but this will be just as normal as any sudden change to your environment - the majority of students will be adjusting as well and together this will all seem much easier.