John Swinney says Edinburgh's plan for pupils to get an average 1.3 days a week in school is not good enough

EDUCATION Secretary John Swinney today criticised Edinburgh’s plans for schools reopening – which will mean that some weeks pupils will get only one day in the classroom – as “not strong enough”.

And he said councils should be looking to take over leisure facilities, church halls and other available venues to make sure children got as much face-to-face time with teachers as possible.

Schools are due reopen on August 12, but the Scottish Government has made clear there will have to be a system of “blended learning” which involves learning at home as well as in the classroom. And Mr Swinney has indicated that is likely to remain the situation for the whole of the school year.

On Friday, Edinburgh announced its plans for reopening would mean only one-third of pupils would be in school at any one time because of physical distancing. Pupils will only ever be in school for full days, rather than any part days. But the average time they will spend in class in 1.3 days per week. Some weeks they would attend two days, other weeks just one day. Fridays are being set aside for teachers to support learning from home.

Asked in a radio interview today about some Edinburgh pupils only returning to school one day a week, Mr Swinney said: “I don’t think that’s strong enough.”

He said the Scottish Government and councils had agreed to work together to maximise the amount of time children and young people spent in school.

“I’ve made it clear trying to get to 50 per cent of the time being able to be spent by a young person in school should be our objective.

And he said the Education Recovery Group – a body including council and union bosses, which he chairs – had agreed on the need to be innovative and use not just school buildings, but also leisure facilities, public halls, church halls and other vacant accommodation to maximise pupils’ opportunities.

“What I don’t know yet – but my officials are scrutinising this point and they will do it in relation to all of the plans of all of the local authorities – is whether, in Edinburgh, for example, they have sought every opportunity to use other accommodation to maximise the amount of time children and young people can be in school.”

The city council has been approached for comment.