It has come to our attention as students that the University of Leeds plans to continue with a blended teaching approach for the coming academic year 2021/2022. It is our opinion that this approach is unacceptable, considering the quality of teaching and assessment that is expected at a university of such a high standard.

The University should emphatically not be planning for a blended teaching approach, considering the freedoms that will be allowed in other parts of society come the start of the next academic year. Instead, the University should, considering the advice of the UK Government and UK Chief Medical Officers, be planning for a return to complete normality in terms of teaching. A blended teaching approach should be a last resort in the event that the UK’s return to normality is delayed.

Online teaching is in no way a substitute for in-person learning and it is ridiculous that the University would expect us to agree with or even accept their decision on teaching for the next academic year. We welcome discussion with the University over this issue, but our aim is clear: Normality must return in all areas of society, and most importantly we demand a complete return to in-person teaching for all students at the University of Leeds.