Prince Charles praises teachers for ‘going above and beyond for their pupils’ in video message

Royal also commended parents who have been homeschooling during lockdown

The Prince of Wales has expressed admiration for teachers and schools ”going above and beyond for their pupils” during the pandemic.

Speaking from his home of Birkhall in Scotland on a new video message, Prince Charles also praised parents who have been homeschooling their children in lockdown.

“Parents have done an astonishing job in such trying circumstances and to see teachers and schools going above and beyond for their pupils in response to this pandemic has been, in many instances, quite remarkable,” he said.

“From finding creative ways to teach lessons remotely, and even making sure the most vulnerable children do not go without meals, we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.”

Prince Charles went on to highlight the efforts of education charity Teach First, of which he is a patron.

Teach First is an organisation that supports teachers and schools in disadvantaged communities.

“Their work to support schools to build a fair education for all, which also produces enhanced results, is more important now than ever,” he said.

Prince Charles concluded his message by explaining that the work of Teach First will become “all the more vital” in the months ahead.

“As our schools begin to open again and the first students return to the classroom, their job will present further challenges,” he continued.

“Helping children to get back on track with learning, and supporting them to come to terms with all they have been through.”

While some schools have started reopening, a group of independent scientists has warned that it is not yet safe to do so.

In a new report, the Independent Sage group said the proposals risk “a new surge of cases of Covid-19 in some communities”.

Speaking about the plans to reopen schools on 1 June, Sir David King, a former government chief scientific advisor who set up Independent Sage, said: “Whilst we totally understand the imperative to get the nation’s children back in the classroom as soon as it is safe to do so, the evidence clearly shows that the government has jumped the gun here.”

He added: “Crucially we conclude that the best way forward cannot be one size fits all. It requires localised case by case responses to ensure that the risk of flare-ups is kept to a minimum.”​