What actually is going to happen with schools next week?

[KindergartenKop]

I feel like Gove's statement today was an attempt to sow the seeds of doubt about kids returning to school. Anyone got any ideas?

Yes, me too.

*I suspect the government wouldn't even consider using them if they hadn't already purchased a massive warehouse full. They need to get rid of them somehow, and look like they're making good on the 'moonshot' promise. Suspect BoJo spoke too soon on that one before the crap accuracy of the tests was know.

Oh God we're all fucked aren't we*

Agree and yes.

I suggested to my local fb group who were apoplectic that the local senior school had no plans for testing that we should just assume those with an even birthday were infected and those with an odd birthday were not. It didn't go down very well.

@daybath

I agree kids won't fall behind ... IF there is more thought and flexibility in the education system for at least the next few years to address the gaps in learning. Also if they address inequity re IT provision ASAP.

All those saying 'if only we knew' etc. Well we do know the current situation: primaries going back from 4 Jan, Y11 & Y13 also going back, with online learning for Y7-10 & 12 and then a return from 11 Jan. this was announced before Xmas, and that is the current situation (along with the mass testing in that first week back).

As with everything COVID, the situation can change quickly, but does so on the basis of data analysis. Keeping children home has enormous impacts on the whole economy, so to keep the economy open, schools need to stay open where possible.

On a personal level, I'm not sure keeping schools open is right, I think exams should have been cancelled in September along with the regions (I say this as a parent to a Y11 who luckily should be fine whatever outcome - she had decent lockdown provision, and hasn't had to isolate during the autumn - but she's very much the exception and not the rule, and I don't think it's fair for her whole cohort to be business as usual, meanwhile treating every piece of homework and the continual assessments as possibly going towards her final mark). But I don't have access to the data that the government analysts do, nor do I have to weigh up the economy with an overflowing NHS.

@LittleFir

Whatever happens with the secondaries, it’s pretty clear that the primaries will be staying open...

Please tell me where this table comes from @LittleFir ? Just having a discussion with a friend and really want to show her these figures to make my point but I need to properly cite the source.

Oh ignore me @LittleFir , I got all excited at finding the table again after losing this thread that I failed to open it and see the source is cited in the bottom of the picture. Losing my marbles! x

www.facebook.com/639638973/posts/10159787387498974/?d=n

@DayBath

I honestly don’t understand the point of mass testing school kids (even ignoring the big fucking obvious problems about reliability of the tests and lack of trained people to give/oversee the tests). No doubt they’ll discover COVID is rife among teens ... but then what? Mass isolation which (even if people comply) just exacerbates inequality. Some kids still at school, while the very same teachers are teaching the other half remotely... WTAF?

Thanks @LittleFir, hadn't seen that letter on Facebook, that's really interesting.