Classroom size - anything official?

[Fallulah]

Hi

Long story short, I’m being told to move classroom, away from my department, to support what’s being done for reopening in Sept and Covid 19.

I’m being asked to move to a much smaller space that hasn’t been a classroom up until now. I have 30 students in one of my classes next year (am secondary). I’m also clinically vulnerable so was feeling quite good about going back to my nice, big, airy classroom, and have now had this dropped on me with days to go until the end of term. The way it has been communicated is terrible, but that’s a different tale.

I can only find: there must be sufficient space in which to work with comfort. Each employee in a workroom should have no less than 11 cubic metres of space (not counting space more than 4.2 metres above the floor) as the absolute minimum. Account has to be taken of the furniture, fittings and the nature of the activity being undertaken.

But: However, the Workplace Regulations Approved Code of Practice asserts that this Regulation does not apply to lecture halls and classrooms;

So what does apply to classrooms?

Thank you

Good question.

The problem is that space is at a premium for lots of secondaries. In my past couple of schools the approach was if you could squeeze a desk in then you could squeeze in an extra student or two.

I still envy the science classrooms that always seem to have acres of space

the 02 July guidance states:

"All teachers and other staff can operate across different classes and year groups in order to facilitate the delivery of the school timetable. This will be particularly important for secondary schools. Where staff need to move between classes and year groups, they should try and keep their distance from pupils and other staff as much as they can, ideally 2 metres from other adults. "

also:
" Measures within the classroom
Maintaining a distance between people whilst inside and reducing the amount of time they are in face to face to contact lowers the risk of transmission. It is strong public health advice that staff in secondary schools maintain distance from their pupils, staying at the front of the class, and away from their colleagues where possible. Ideally, adults should maintain 2 metre distance from each other, and from children. We know that this is not always possible, particularly when working with younger children, but if adults can do this when circumstances allow that will help. In particular, they should avoid close face to face contact and minimise time spent within 1 metre of anyone."