Pupils at an Andover school have taken part in a digital detox as part of their return to the classroom.

Harrow Way Community School pupils were challenged to have fun away from their screens as one of their final pieces of remote work, as well as not using the word ‘Google’. This was to reflect the heavy use of technology throughout the pandemic, especially for learners.

Headteacher Michael Serridge said that it was important to have a human element in learning, saying: “Now students are back in school they will get to enjoy face to face learning and just as importantly is all the other hands on and enrichment activities which are all part of a meaningful curriculum and education.”

Most students across England had spent nine weeks out of the classroom after a third national lockdown was imposed. During this time, classes were conducted over a variety of platforms, such as Zoom and Teams.

Harrow Way school was no exception, with teachers, staff and students all back on site for the first time since Christmas.

Michael said that he “couldn’t be prouder” of how the school responded to lockdown.

He said: “The whole school community has embraced home learning but nothing beats having students back in school. The building feels alive again and we are ready, resourced and have everything in place to build on the great work, students and their families put in during lockdown.

“I am determined that these students will not be a ‘lost generation’ and will receive a quality education which stands them in good stead for successful futures.”

To ensure it was safe for students to return, 1,600 lateral flow tests were carried out on staff and students. Pupils will take two further tests during their return to school before continuing with a twice weekly testing schedule, which they will do at home.

The digital detox day was one of the last tasks before they stepped back onto school premises, with students taking part in a variety of activities before they got back into class.