When do you think Secondary Schools will go back (Tier 4)?

Our secondary is the 18th so have pulled the primary child put of school for the 2 weeks and will see how the land lied then.

They had the tapid teats for years 11-13 at our school just before xmas and 9 tested positive in a class completely asymptomatically. Its frightening
There's so much more out there than we know and schools seem key to spreading it

Those of us in tier 4+ (Those in an area ‘on the list’) it is slightly different too. DD is in Y11 so she doesn’t go back until 11th Jan and then rest of school are on 18th - supposedly.

So so so much change and uncertainty for our DCs. It is so damaging to mental health and development. DD’s school had a few send homes of half of year groups back in September but have otherwise managed really well compared to some schools nearby, a friend’s DD had about ten days for the whole term what with various self isolating instructions.

I know of at least ten children who have tested positive but not one was ill with it (worse was a sore throat for about half a day) and none infected an elderly relative thank goodness.

How on Earth are exams going to be fair?

Same.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55502595

56000 new cases in one day.
Another 964 dead in a single day.

And remember the expected spike due to Christmas day mixing is yet to appear.

Does anyone seriously think that schools are going back in January?

Our school has just written to parents asking us to volunteer to do the testing.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55496444

Absolutely no reason except that schools have nowhere to do the testing, no staff to do the tests and the tests only identify 50% of those who are covid19+

I feel bojo hinted that the school opening may be further delayed. It really should be in light of escalating infections and hospitals filling up. Over 900 deaths reported in a single day is not a good look for bojo.

Since this is a guessing thread, does anyone have an opinion as to whether Year 12 students who are (theoretically) taking 1 year AS Levels in the summer count as being in an exam year (at least for the subject to be examined)? IMO they should be, but all the communications seem to talk about solely Y11 and Y13 (who I appreciate are more numerous and important). There's doubtless other exceptions - schools where Y10 take GCSEs early, vocational quals where there is exams in Y10/13.

DNs school are having Y12s back in with Y11 & Y13. Our school doesn't seem to be.

It is a fucking nightmare. Just had dd in a massive stress because she's just heard schools might be closed until February. Totally convinced there's no point even continuing because of how some schools have dealt with it all so much better than her college. Thinks it's such an unfair playing field.
She's dyslexic but had no input about that. No exam practice questions, self isolated x1, week in week online for the first 8 weeks, teachers isolating and to top it off an overdose during the November lockdown.
She is in danger of falling down a very dark rabbit hole because of her additional needs and mental health problems.
And I know she's not the only one, there are millions like her as well

@GuyFawkesDay our school have confirmed they will be providing keyworker provision during the (currently planned) staggered start

Of only bloody Gavin had listened to teachers on the first place about rotas, blended learning etc we would have had a more stable plan on place.

As it is, the DfE tell schools at 9pm on Friday night what the want on Monday and we have to magic up resources, lessons and plans.

I think the kids will be off til February. Yr11 and 13 will be in but I'm not sure how I can facilitate being in school for them if mine are at home and there's no keyworker provision. Also know our Yr11 and 13 were where most of our positive Covid tests were last term (no social distancing and meeting outside school!) so how it'll work is anyone's guess. Mock exams and real BTEC ones are up the swanny. We having been shouting about GCSEs and A levels for months, the changes just are not going to suffice and a plan needs putting in place now for the poor kids in yes 11 and 13 as some have missed so much of last term, others hardly anything. It's not a level playing field and it's massively unfair.

Have a dd in year 11 online provision was dreadful March to July. They did mocks in December which sounded like a total shit show windows wide open, rooms freezing (they can’t wear coats in school), for some exams the invigilators were late for one they had to wait outside in the cold in December just in jumpers for over 20 minutes, in another room the roof was leaking and they had a bucket catching water. The school was going to run more mocks in Feb but have decided to cancel these and use the December mocks. DD has dyslexia and should have received 25% extra time (but for the afternoon mocks this would take her beyond the school day and she was so cold she she left when everyone else did without the extra time.

What a mess.
I work in a primary and have a year 7 and 11.
Should be all staff- not just teachers. Remember TAs are part of the school!
Vaccinate secondary children as a priority...

My DD2 (Year 11) is supposed to be sitting a Level 3 exam in Algebra on 11 January. With all the confusion we have no idea if it will even go ahead. She doesn’t know whether to bother revising or just concentrate on her mocks which are supposed to be in February. I also have a DD in Year 13 - mocks in January. What a shit show.

Dd in yr 12 really struggles with online learning 2 brand new subjects. She doesn't need endless power points. She needs actual teaching.
She has already dropped one A level and is convinced she will fail the other 2 if online learning continues. It's heartbreaking tbh

But yet I have lots of sympathy for the teachers too.

It really is a no win situation.

Son is yr 12. Exams cancelled earlier in year. I wish they could just tell him when he is going back poor lad.

They haven’t been able to prioritise the medics working on the front line with known covid patients, as they have to prioritise the elderly. Wrong decision IMO.

However I think we are now seeing quite a bit of propaganda designed to make us favour vaccinating NHS staff (lots apparently off sick or isolating) over the elderly, so perhaps teachers will follow.

Why can't the government just prioritise all medical personnel and all people who work in schools to get the vaccine? They could have vaccinated all school staff by Jan 4th!

Then do a mass testing of children over the first week, and then allow them back if covid free.

Online school is shit. DD1 has already declared she isn't doing it this time. DD2 is not in a good place due to previous lockdowns.

Yes I wondered too if they'd open - just so there is 'childcare' available.

But unions may well say no. And to be fair, they may be right.

@talk4000 that's luckily, I know it does against logic but I think they might open as usual! I've had 2 positive cases just in my class, isolated twice so far.

Any thoughts on primary schools?

DS's school had no cases last term which felt almost unbelievable.

I'm hoping it's at least 2 weeks, preferably the whole of January.

AS results won't count towards your A-level grade so they will discount them (my guess)

I was meaning 1 year AS Levels, where getting the AS Level is the terminal qualification.

I've got one in y9 and one in y10 - y10 and y12 are not included. I think even the key worker kids who are allowed in its just bring your own laptop and do work by yourself that's online rather than any teaching in school though I presume y11 and y13 will be taught as whole years in.

We've just been told 1 week from home here and I think how long will depend on if Tier 4 can bring rates down but no-one is enforcing restrictions. In our area most people are complying but we had very low rates and they started to rise rapidly over last couple of weeks and have reached national average and so we got moved from Tier 2 to Tier 4 on Boxing Day. Old area is Tier 4 but their rates are 6 times ours. We are awaiting news on testing - we just had one message asking for parents to volunteer and school saying they were hacked off about it but would imagine no updates now until 3rd January. Saw the data that 2.5% of secondary school kids had it last week of term so if that continues and all kids are tested they are going to be closed for ages though it'll be one day in, 10 days off, 1 day in 10 days off, great. SN child is absolutely terrified by it and already at breaking point with anxiety so will almost certainly have to keep him home with me - he's spends hours at school in the rain by a 60mph road as it is as he's anxious and there's no help available.