School closed until September.

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That’s it for us. Everything was normal Thursday morning. It all started to go pear shaped Thursday afternoon. Friday the school was half closed. We were told earlier today that after a sudden flood of confirmed covid cases, the school is now closing fully. We won’t be reopening until September

I also think the Government need to get ventilation in schools right. Windows that open, circulating air, vents etc. They managed it in Victorian schools so I'm sure we can do it too!

Although I reckon winter is going to be a pain.

[quote BustopherPonsonbyJones]@Bagamoyo1
Let’s plan ahead and make sure that teachers receive the booster jabs so that schools can stay open (as teachers being sick mean closed schools). I think most schools are hastily RESUMING mask wearing when the delta variant strikes. Yet again, we shut the stable door after the horse has bolted.[/quote]
What’s the point of them being offered booster jabs? They seemingly haven’t had the first jabs, or if they have, they apparently don’t work in teachers!

They should get vaccinated then.

They are. All teachers I know have appointments booked.

@Nicknacky I meant longer ago than that - I feel like I remember this person making a thread in the Coronavirus section about there being loads of cases in her school and how they'd had to close, maybe a month or two ago. My search function isn't working though so I'm not totally sure it was the same poster, that was why I was asking.

@Bagamoyo1 there are people on this very thread who are vaccinated and positive and sick. Vaccination is age dependent, some teachers have just had their first. And vaccination stops you dying not being sick enough to work.

Based on how the young people are acting out of school, I can't see the point of closing schools unless it's insufficient staffing. When the local school closed 2 year groups they were on the beach, in the shops and causing havoc skateboarding around Sainsbury's car park in groups of 20+

What’s the point of them being offered booster jabs? They seemingly haven’t had the first jabs, or if they have, they apparently don’t work in teachers!

Two I know have first jab booked
Most have had one jab
Older ones have two jabs
You can still get sick anyway, just hopefully not hospitalised. So staff sickness in some schools hit by Delta is a big problem.

And will be worse in a few days time, there's 10's of thousands crowding in just our local city, police doing nothing (insufficient numbers to be safe to act).

@Bagamoyo1

I can’t believe we’re back here again, saying that teachers are all dying and the kids are killing them, due to their selfish desire to have an education. Have we really not learned anything? Vaccines are available for over 18s. And teachers are not over represented in the death stats. Never have been, despite the unions assertion that they would.

No one is saying teachers are dying. What they are saying is that they are getting ill and not able to go to work.

@WaverleyPirate

There's been walk-in clinics every Saturday for 4 weeks at least, longer in high prevalence areas.

What’s the point of them being offered booster jabs? They seemingly haven’t had the first jabs, or if they have, they apparently don’t work in teachers!

Well teachers were crying out to have the vaccine. Everyone I know booked appointments the moment they were able.
One person who was ill when my school closed had already had her first jab. She was too ill to work for two weeks.

Same happened here in Portugal. Last Sunday (during the Portugal match 🤷🏻‍♀️) emails were sent to all parents to say all schools were to shut, the next day..Monday. No summer clubs etc.
So sad for the kids

@Howshouldibehave

Our head has told us to turn track and trace off!

Ours has, too!

😳

Rural area here. First walk in clinic was only set up a couple of weeks ago was initially for older people. It probably depends on your area.

I feel like this will happen with my secondary school. We are so low on staff and cover staff that they are having to put 2 classes together.
The issue is is that when 1 person tests positive the entire bubble needs to isolate and there are about 4 cases a day. A lot of the staff have children at other schools which have to isolate and they have to stay home with them.
I can see from September (if not in the next few days) they will scrap the having to isolate if been in contact with a positive case rule.

No, @Bagamoyo1, what I’m saying is that I am delighted to have had both vaccines as it makes me feel relatively safer whilst doing my job and therefore means I am willing to teach in rooms full of Covid infected children, many of whom don’t display symptoms. I don’t know any teacher who didn’t get the vaccines as soon as they were offered! Covid obviously spreads in schools (witness bubble closures) and unvaccinated teachers (many of whom are still only partly vaccinated NOT through choice but because they’ve had to wait) are at a risk.

I am saying we should plan ahead and ensure all school staff receive BOOSTERS in the autumn as we are going to need them by the looks of it. Teachers can’t teach if they are sick with Covid, can they? That means schools will close. And supply teachers are not desperate to come into schools which are rife with Covid so that’s not a solution.

Yes, teachers can’t teach if they get sick or have been told to isolate. All workers are in the same boat. Lots of reports of bars and restaurants closing due to this. Etc etc. It’s not just schools.

Lots of teacher blame. Very sad.

@Bagamoyo1

Kids and education getting thrown under the bus again. I’m not sure who they’re being sacrificed for this time though, as the at-risk people have been vaccinated and will soon be enjoying the lifting of all restrictions. Vaccinated adults are jetting off to green countries and going to football matches, whilst school children are being treated as if we’re back in December.

If only teachers were vaccinated maybe there wouldn’t be so many off. I hold those posters who were bashing teachers for calling for earlier vaccinations responsible. Hey…wait…I think I recognise your username…

@Bagamoyo1
School staff weren’t left unprotected. Kids have worn masks since schools reopened in March. And anyone over 18 could have been vaccinated weeks ago.

What protection have school staff had exactly? Primary school staff do not wear masks in class and the children certainly don't either. Many secondary children aren't wearing masks. Many staff, including those aged around 40, have only had one vaccination at the moment.

They should keep the children in school as the vast majority Sent home to isolate in my area are not isolating and the streets, parks, shops etc are full of children during weekdays that are supposed to be isolating. I know of a family who went on holiday for a few days.

"All the while pubs, squares and gardens are currently rammed with exhilarated football fans and f* all social distancing"

Schools have been rammed with fuck all social distancing all year.

Masks were only even recommended since march and when the government said they were no longer needed in may, most kids use them as chinstraps and their use has never been enforceable.

Covid secure guidance didn't work for the Wuhan variant never mind the Kent one and has no chance against delta. There is no point blaming schools for sending bubbles home or close contacts as is more usual. Schools are obliged to follow guidance. It might have been implemented and interpreted in different ways due to it changing so often and so many different situations in terms of building set up etc.

Letting cases rip is one thing but I've seen plenty of articles where other industries like bars and restaurants complain how isolation makes staffing difficult.

I've yet to see anyone in my school get reinfected yet ( albeit I gather it happens ):but we have had fully jabbed staff get infected and have to stay off. Staffing issues will probably get worse in the next few weeks.

However much people claim kids do not stay at home and mingle outside of schools infection rates in school age children always falls when they are not in school

Bizarre all these ‘whole year groups sent home. In my school we have had a handful of children isolating waiting for PCR results, no staff cases and all the reachers who want one have had one dose and most, including 32 yo colleague have had two.
We are in London.

When the local school closed 2 year groups they were on the beach, in the shops and causing havoc skateboarding around Sainsbury's car park in groups of 20+

Some headteachers seem to be keener to close schools than others and if their pupils are like this you can see why that is…Guess if you are getting paid even if your workplace closes not a lot of incentive to keep it open, and deal with those pesky kids., unlike small businesses going under when they don’t deliver a service.

"When the local school closed 2 year groups they were on the beach, in the shops and causing havoc skateboarding around Sainsbury's car park in groups of 20+"

At least they are outdoors so still better than indoors in groups of 30. In secondaries, a whole year group would of only be sent home if there were multi ple cases or where the school was unable to contact trace. Back in sept PHE advised schools to close it there was a single case but their advice changed after a few weeks as it happened so often.

Nothing to do with kids behaviour of kids or it being an easy option. Depends on whether it is a primary or secondary too. By their nature, most primary bubbles need to be sent home kit there's a case as they'll all likely been in close contact. Senior staff have had to contact trace over holidays including Xmas so it's a bit insulting to imply they just want an easy life.