Only 3 staff allowed in office - anyone else?

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

We have been told upon returning in September only two members of staff will be allowed in the office at once. We are a team of 5. All have a desk in the office as practical based subject means we don’t have a set classroom just teaching spaces. We have team meetings 2 times a week in Morning usually in the office. All of our PPA and lesson organisation is done in the the office when at school no classrooms. It’s where we eat dinner and have a break. How is this going to work if only two are allowed in? What are the other three supposed to do? First come first served? Are we going to have to get to work at 6.30 to get in? How will we get everything ready for the day to collect all resources and swap stuff over for lesson? Looked at the timetable and 4 PPA everyone is off together so 4 hours where you can’t complete any ppa as you can’t access your desk? (That’s all my Allocation 3hrs ppa 1hr for tlr) There’s talk of ‘work stations’ but there’s not enough space to go round for everyone. So by time you’ve managed to collect what you need and wandered round school looking for an empty work station to complete your ppa and done the mandatory cleaning of it the time will be over?! What happens if we just ignore the rule? The desks are actually 1m + apart in the office. I just can’t see the logistics of it. Am I missing something?!

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

Oops edit! Should say 2 staff not 3 in the title!

[Rosieposy4]

Sounds like a nightmare, we don’t know about offices yet. There was just a mention of we need to sort that out. But your situation is completely unworkable

[noblegiraffe]

We’ve been told that there will be a ‘spare classroom’ timetable where we will be able to find somewhere to work as no one will have their own classroom any more. I think I might end up bringing my laptop in.

[echt]

In Melbourne we do this already. All staff work/social spaces have a label on the door a la maximum occupancy. It's first come best dressed. You can come in to pick up books, etc. if the room is "full" but must leave immediately.

As a note, only 11s and 12s are in school, the rest taught remotely so other spaces not an issue.

The idea of doing this with everyone in would make my head spin.

[Rosieposy4]

That’s good if you have “spare” classrooms noble, we don’t in general ( for anyone else sims allows you to do a room search) we are currently building extra classrooms as so short on space

[noblegiraffe]

I don’t think that there will be many spare classrooms tbh, from the experience of trying to find a room where I could send a TA and a small group. That’s why I’m thinking of bringing a laptop because at least then I just need to find somewhere that’s 2m from another teacher.

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

No spare classroom due to reducing class size. Spare classrooms was an issue pre corona God knows what it will be like now. Even worse presumably as we can no longer squeeze 35 in a room due to social
Distancing. I’ve got a laptop just no space!! Maybe there will be an allocated ‘work space’ classroom? What a nightmare if you get in there and it’s full. We don’t have a staff room either. Seriously thinking I’ll be in my car at this rate. I’m dreading it.

[motherrunner]

Same as @noblegiraffe. No classroom, just a case of grabbing a free spot anywhere. We do have a work space but with the 2m rule implemented (& it’ll be marked by partitions) we can fit 2 members of our 6 team dept. Our HoD hasn’t an office so she uses 1/4 of the workspace anyway for her stuff.

Tbh with my 20 minute break all day, when it comes to PPA you’ll find me sobbing, curled up in a ball or having an very long wee.

[motherrunner]

We have a Staffroom but it’s small so have been told no more than 5 in there so it’s a space literally for picking up post from pigeon hole, making a drink or collecting lunch. No sitting.

[user1471525172]

All offices in school have been designated for occupancy. I already share but the other SLT will now be doubling up to free up space for teaching staff in their non contact periods. One dept office was designated for two but quickly upgraded to three because some other selfish sod refused to swap offices.
Like a pp, we'll be so rarely not with kids they'll barely be used. Some staff who don't habitually drive in are seriously talking about doing so in order to get some quiet space for lunch.

[mccavitythethird]

Our staff room is too small as well, we've been told that an outdoor seating area normally used for pupils is going to be reserved for staff use.

[Danglingmod]

I think going and sitting in your car during a PPA or break is going to be very appealing but some schools are banning staff leaving the buildings, even to go to their car. It's madness.

Very lucky in my school - almost everyone has their own classroom with no-one else using it during your frees. Only because our PAN was reduced decades ago and it never went back up (classrooms are tiny though, so doesn't help with social distancing.)

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

@mccavitythethird that will work well in winter!

@user1471525172 as far as I know our SLT are still keeping their massive offices incase they get disturbed from their important policy making...

@Danglingmod I hope not although I’m not sure how they would police it. We have 4 separate buildings on site

[user1471525172]

@Whatelsecouldibecalled obviously - how else can they be expected to come up with cockamamie ideas?!

Not sure how teaching staff (as opposed to those who don't actually teach!) will get a drink or have a pee during the day. I've asked and been told "it's in hand". I don't know whose hands though...

[motherrunner]

@user1471525172 I maybe you’re expected to cup those hands and wee into them???

[mccavitythethird]

[quote Whatelsecouldibecalled]@mccavitythethird that will work well in winter!

@user1471525172 as far as I know our SLT are still keeping their massive offices incase they get disturbed from their important policy making...

@Danglingmod I hope not although I’m not sure how they would police it. We have 4 separate buildings on site[/quote]
At least we will all have our faces covered

[user1471525172]

@motherrunner maybe - but how will we write our objectives on the board then?

[mccavitythethird]

[quote user1471525172]@motherrunner maybe - but how will we write our objectives on the board then?[/quote]
We should bring back WILF then we could write all kinds of amusing things on the boards on TEDs.

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

@mccavitythethird I absolutely hope not. If they make mask mandatory it might tip me over the edge.

I know some people all for it but I am dead against it. Behaviour is bad enough without not knowing who said what or who is making stupid noises etc.

[mccavitythethird]

[quote Whatelsecouldibecalled]@mccavitythethird I absolutely hope not. If they make mask mandatory it might tip me over the edge.

I know some people all for it but I am dead against it. Behaviour is bad enough without not knowing who said what or who is making stupid noises etc.[/quote]
Oh, not that, I meant we will be wrapped up in scarves to try and keep warm. As soon as this shitstorm is over I'm moving back home, I can't wait,

[winewolfhowls]

I would become very friendly with the caretakers, in my experience they are lovely, usually have offices they are never in and lots of creepy storage spaces that you can make a base in. Best thing is senior staff would never go there to check.

[Phineyj]

I'm going to buy a laptop and inhabit the music practice rooms I think! As sadly the rules make it nearly impossible for music to run in a normal way. We are on a city centre site and all come in by public transport. We have been discussing moving the dept office to the nearby pub...

[Pennyxk]

We're allowed 5 people in the office, as long as we're all wearing masks. It seems to be working but some people forget

[SeasonFinale]

Our rooms are all labelled for maxmium capacity of adults but we do have a large area usually used for exams and seminars and drama that is now an overflow work station area for teachers