Distance learning in basic and upper secondary schools in the Czech Republic 4/22 Table No. 2 Structure of upper secondary schools involved in structured telephone interviews Upper secondary schools with a predominance of pupils in vocational programmes finished with a high school diploma (maturita) 539 Upper secondary schools with a predominance of pupils in general programme finished with a high school diploma (maturita) 323 Upper secondary schools with a predominance of pupils in vocational programmes finished with a VET certificate 211 Other upper secondary schools (conservatoires, etc.) 11 The key findings were published on Wednesday, 15 April, 2020. The thematic report, that was published later, contained selected findings and analysis and also comments on information provided by school principals. In terms of content, the findings are presented either in summary or separately with regard to the situation at the primary level of basic schools, the situation in the education of pupils preparing for entrance exams to upper secondary school fields with a high school diploma (maturita) or the education of upper secondary students who were going to take high school diploma or VET certificate exam at the end of the school year 2019/2020. In the boxes, specific examples of school work and inspiring practice, which were recorded during structured telephone interviews by the Czech School Inspectorate, are shown in italics. Although it is evident that in the coming weeks after data collection the situation in many schools developed even further and principals' awareness of various aspects of distance learning increased, based on the information obtained, it can be stated that the vast majority of schools have withstood a very extraordinary situation and were trying to make their best to fulfil their mission. This report was prepared to provide the international audience with an overview of the findings from the original Czech version of the thematic report published in May 2020. In the Czech Republic, all basic and upper secondary school buildings were closed for presence of students from March 11 until May 24. Primary level of basic schools was reopened for voluntary presence of students from May 25 until June 30 (end of the school year). Lower secondary and upper secondary students continued with distance learning from May 25 until June 30 with the only exception of regular face-to-face consultations that schools organized for final grade students of basic and upper secondary schools. 2 Summary of main findings In the period from 1 April to 14 April 2020, the Czech School Inspectorate carried out a thematic survey through a series of structured telephone interviews with the principals of almost 5,000 basic and upper secondary schools. The aim of the survey was to find out in what forms and ways schools perform so-called distance education, what they focus on in education, how they manage to communicate with pupils, what obstacles they encounter or what kind of help or support they need.