An East Lothian headteacher has issued an apology to parents after children at the school were forced to remain outside for PE and break times in 'torrential rain' due to social distancing measures.
Parents of children at Preston Lodge High School in Prestonpans were shocked after pupils came home 'soaked' after being told to eat lunch outdoors on Monday's downpours.
One student said: "Today at school at break we were all drenched my hoodie never even dried between lessons to lunch, then after lunch we were even more drenched and had to sit in class."
A parent added: "They only got in if they needed the toilet then out again as a teacher was making sure they didn’t stay in."
Now headteacher Gavin Clark has issued a letter to parents and pupils apologising for the situation.
In the letter, provided to Edinburgh Live by a parent who wishes to remain anonymous, he wrote:
"We very much regret the fact that many of our students got wet at break, lunch and/or in PE lessons on Monday and we have worked hard over the last 24 hours to reassure a number of parents/carers who raised understandable concerns about that.
"In truth we were perhaps working too hard to meet national guidance, and on this occasion our desire to maximise student time outside and prevent large gatherings of students indoors, as per government advice, negatively impacted on student wellbeing.
"Our approach to wet weather at breaks, lunch and in PE classes has now been refined and I am confident we are in a better place, with indoor spaces set to be used more quickly in wet weather, and a new approach to PE classes in such conditions.
"Our original approach was adopted by all East Lothian schools, but we accept that too many students got wet on Monday and our approach needed to change."
New measures are now in place at the school, including indoor lunchtimes if the weather is too heavy for pupils to eat outdoors.
East Lothian Council said: "All of our schools are working hard to implement guidance to provide a safe return to buildings. In particular secondary schools have to minimise large gatherings within indoor spaces and encourage small groups with physical distancing outwith.
"Our schools have been clear to all parents that children and young people should come to school dressed for the weather.
"The return to school this year has been challenging and we, and our schools, are working hard to understand and apply guidance. Where we can identify better ways of working we are doing so. The headteacher’s letter was part of this process. We are grateful to everyone in our school communities for their support."
