Pulling children out of school...

[monkeytennis97]

In March schools started closing as parents pulled their kids out in droves and teachers and kids went off sick or isolating. Given the much higher numbers today and sadly the near 600 deaths yesterday is anyone thinking of doing this? Schools are on their knees in so many ways at the moment. I'm a secondary teacher and really think rota learning should come in now (for secondaries) to minimize numbers in schools to keep them as open as possible until Christmas. Will parents start pulling kids out again? I am only talking in respect to secondary schools.

My school Is going to a rota system from next week.

This week we had to close to KS3 due to the sheer numbers of staff absence. I know you know this @monkeytennis97 but for anyone else who hasn’t read my posts, Yr 10 have had 3 periods of isolation, Yr 12 have had 4 and Yr 13 have had 5.

First point today on the briefing was ‘take all your resources home as we have to be ready for emergency closure on a da to day basis.

These pupils will be sitting the same exams next year as schools who have few cases.

It’s unfair in so many levels.

My daughter is in y7 of a large senior school. Theve had only close contacts off (non of which developed covid) and only 3 occasions since September. I wouldnt say they are "on their knees" at all. I wonder if some of these schools which are performing better should be sharing what theyre obviously doing right (and I live in Sheffield where cases are fairly high currently).

We haven't had any bubbles close yet and actually higher attendance than normal. I guess the kids really missed us! They'd have to drag me and my dc kicking and screaming out of school this time around!

@palacegirl77

My daughter is in y7 of a large senior school. Theve had only close contacts off (non of which developed covid) and only 3 occasions since September. I wouldnt say they are "on their knees" at all. I wonder if some of these schools which are performing better should be sharing what theyre obviously doing right (and I live in Sheffield where cases are fairly high currently).

I think this is a good idea. The schools in my area are hard hit but my school is the worst and we were debating why. Some reasons being we can’t have staggered starts and ends of day as our students rely on coaches and trains, have a high proportion of BAME students in multigenerational housing, our school is old (built for a 4 form entry but now we have 6) which means year groups have to share toilets etc.

It would be interesting to see how a school similar to ours is coping.

*These pupils will be sitting the same exams next year as schools who have few cases. It’s unfair in so many levels.

this

My year 11’s are now on their third period of isolation, and will be sitting the same exam as students who have not missed one day. They are already disadvantaged as PP, some SEN, some really awful home lives. Lack of tech / reliable internet. Parents, if they live with them, who cannot help. It’s just so very unfair. They have no chance.

I won’t but I didn’t last time so maybe not the representative sample. I do think the length of time missed over the summer term plus the government continued commitment that exams should go ahead as normal will influence more parent’s decisions to keep them in school in a way that wasn’t the case last time (year 11 had nearly finished the course and in the revision phase and the exams seemed a longer way off for the year tens) plus honestly no one I know who did pull their kid out at Easter thought this would still be a problem come Christmas!

@motherrunner think youve probably found a few of the issues right there - I would say we have 90% of kids walk to school, they are year group separated, we have staggered start and finish times - the kids wear masks in corridors, they have a seating plan and I bet there is a very low number of BAME students.

Gosh I hope not but each to their own.
I think if people found home education helpful in lockdown and they're concerned, they should bite the bullet and go the home education route.
It didn't work for us so I would absolutely never choose to pull DC out of school.

Our local high schools are all moving to rota system now.

Ds is in year 6 and is back off but that is only because he is required to shield again and he is getting all day teams lessons until lockdown is over

No, I want my child to be in school every day they can be, but I do think exams in England should be cancelled next summer.

Though DC in a very academic private school so like pp above said, we may not be a standard demographic.

I wonder if some of these schools which are performing better should be sharing what theyre obviously doing right (and I live in Sheffield where cases are fairly high currently).

I think it’s mainly luck. My school is not even following its own risk assessment yet we have had few cases. We’re not in a high-rate area.

Most of my pupils have had 100% attendance so far and are definitely at a big advantage.

No we’re not intending to do this and hope exams aren’t cancelled. I know we’ve been luck so far with no cases though.

Why would I ruin my child’s education any more than it already has been ? Kids this age are not getting ill they need to be at school no matter what

No. Our school has no cases so far. And they have already missed so much, I'll keep DS in school for as long as possible.

My dd and dsd.. Two different schools both Yr 13.
Neither school sent anyone home, no teachers of sick or isolating.
One school small private girls school, huge buildings. Lots of well organised one way systems, groups in bubbles etc.
One huge London comprehensive with 400+ in sixth form.
Smaller campus, harder to sd etc.
But both not a single child sent home..
W
Not sure wide sweeping judgements that "schools are on their knees" is accurate or useful.

@Skyla2005

Why would I ruin my child’s education any more than it already has been ? Kids this age are not getting ill they need to be at school no matter what

They may or may not get ill, some have very sadly but it's more a concern for who they would pass it on to isn't it?

I hate sending my children in every day as we are a vulnerable family. I wish parents would be given the option to choose home learning. I will never forgive the government for forcing me to make a choice between our family’s safety and losing a much loved school places

I won't be because our primary has had one case all year (so clearly whatever they're doing is working) and the secondary has had very few as well, and none in Y7. My son said yesterday his taste buds felt funny, he was isolated immediately, we picked him up and took all kids and us for a test which we have back now - all negative.

I can understand wanting to do it if your school is in a hotspot or your kids are vulnerable.

@MustardMitt

I won't be because our primary has had one case all year (so clearly whatever they're doing is working) and the secondary has had very few as well, and none in Y7. My son said yesterday his taste buds felt funny, he was isolated immediately, we picked him up and took all kids and us for a test which we have back now - all negative.

If you had no symptoms there was no need for you to have a test - only your DS needed to be tested.

@CarrieBlue I'm in Liverpool where they're testing everyone so that's why we did all of us.

I one hundred percent think schools without cases are simply running on luck or a very big budget to apply the safety measures the who recommends.

Exams need to be cancelled now to take this insane pressure of the staff and students.

In areas where schools are struggling the local authority need to be given all the support from the government they need to help schools through the massive difficulties they are currently facing. Some schools are at crisis level , not all and they need to be supported accordingly.

Doing nothing is not working.

@monkeytennis97 my DS has GCSES next year so there's no way I'll be taking my DCs out of school unless forced to.
They may or may not get ill, some have very sadly but it's more a concern for who they would pass it on to isn't it?
Sorry but no. My DCs well being is my absolute priority and they thrive being back at school. They are very unlikely to pass Coronavirus onto anyone vulnerable anyway. My parents live abroad, and they only really see their peers at who they are at school with (obviously not outside school during lockdown).

My dds school is in a ‘hotspot’ in the West Midlands but there have been no cases there at all.

Taking her out would be madness.