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Original poster

Delayed restart - private schools? SW London in particular?

57 replies

Letsgetreal · 30/12/2020 00:02

We have just been informed that our DSs school is just blindly and unquestioningly following the DofEs 'guidance' and delaying restart next term and linking it to testing.

In SW London in particular are all secondary schools (St Pauls, Kings Wimbledon, Harriodian etc) just doing this or have any decided that being independent means you get to make up your own mind and dont have have to follow any half-witted 'guidance' (which has no legal basis anyway) or decrees from the government or local council?

Can anyone tell me what other schools are doing or is it 'we will just do the same as the state sector' regardless of the consequences.

OP posts:
AveEldon · 30/12/2020 06:48

Our schools have not confirmed the plans yet - in part because they are waiting for the latest DofE guidance
They will also take advice from HMC and ISC

I expect not following the guidance risks invalidating their insurance

BlackberrySky · 30/12/2020 02:12

Covid is a great leveller. It couldn't care less how much money you have and this isn't something you can buy your way out of. Everyone is having their education disrupted, whether they pay for it or not.

Pipandmum · 30/12/2020 01:54

Our private school is following the guidelines, though they were able to get from reception to Y8 back full time last June and y9-13 part time.
We don't go back until the 12th anyway. The school also has very strict protocols and have more space which helps. Plus they invested in a rapid testing machine. Online learning was up and running before Easter too so no one missed out, and they can do that now if returns are staggered.

Adirondack · 30/12/2020 01:08

Oh yes of course, silly old us - covid only affects ‘half witted’ poor people and those wealthy people in the independent school sector have a special protective shield made from gold coins and soldered together with the tears of little plebeians, that stops them getting the virus and allows them to sally forth as normal.

SnowGnome · 30/12/2020 00:56

We’ve been told school will be following govt guidelines as before. SW London prep too.

Comefromaway · 30/12/2020 00:53

@Letsgetreal

We have just been informed that our DSs school is just blindly and unquestioningly following the DofEs 'guidance' and delaying restart next term and linking it to testing.

In SW London in particular are all secondary schools (St Pauls, Kings Wimbledon, Harriodian etc) just doing this or have any decided that being independent means you get to make up your own mind and dont have have to follow any half-witted 'guidance' (which has no legal basis anyway) or decrees from the government or local council?

Can anyone tell me what other schools are doing or is it 'we will just do the same as the state sector' regardless of the consequences.

The principal of dd’s school contacted their accrediting organisation and were told that all independent schools must follow the government’s directive.
minipie · 30/12/2020 00:28

Seriously?

My DC are at a SW London prep not a secondary, but they have followed government guidance throughout as have all the other local preps.

Imagine if the school didn’t follow guidance and a child or parent or teacher became seriously ill with Covid through a case caught at school, that could have been avoided if they followed guidance. They would be vilified. For this reason alone (never mind the more general social responsibility since secondaries are hotspots) I can’t see any private school ignoring the guidance and opening.

Also, being independent doesn’t have anything to do with following covid guidance. All shops restaurants and other businesses are independent, does that mean they can all ignore covid guidance?

If you’re going to press for anything, I would suggest pressing for the best home learning possible rather than opening.

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