As the school term came to an end for most pupils in the UK, the Duke of Edinburgh issued a message of support for teaching staff. The Duke is patron of the Chartered College of Teaching.
Prince Philip made his rare public statement to show his gratitude to all those in the education sector for their hard work in difficult circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It was issued as parents collected their children at the end of a challenging term which saw pupils across the country return to the classroom for the first time in six months after being sent home in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In his message, the Duke of Edinburgh said ”I commend all teachers and school staff for your professional and resolute commitment through the past year to teaching our children and young people in the most challenging conditions. As Patron of the Chartered College of Teaching, I wish to thank you all for your selfless dedication and send you my best wishes for a well-deserved break over Christmas and the New Year.”
Schools were closed in the UK in March 2020 as the pandemic began to take hold. Learning went online for the majority of pupils with schools having to quickly produce full timetables for children of all ages and abilities. In September 2020, schools opened again with strict coronavirus protocols in place to keep pupils safe and try to stop the spread of the virus.
The Chartered College of Teaching, formerly known as the College of Teachers, provides support and development for education staff and promotes the teaching profession.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s statement was issued from Windsor Castle where he and the Queen will spend Christmas this year.