Headteacher has posted this to facebook

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The headteacher at my DCs school has posted this to Facebook. He says that social distancing is impossible and unless we would be happy to let our DC play in a supermarket for hours to 'not even think about' bringing them to school. I have 2 expected back on June 1st. AIBU to keep them off after this?

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10222994594279008&id=1403891361

Mmmh I'm glad he's not our headteacher. I personally find it wholly inappropriate to be sharing such views on Facebook.

He's approaching the whole situation with a completely negative perspective. His whole section on how he doesn't have enough classrooms/staff, it's pretty obvious the kids are going to need to be part time! He comes across as whiny and not looking where there are in fact solutions.

The situation is extremely difficult and many issues to work through. Though he's completely forgetting the number of children in his school who are living in poverty or difficult home situations. In an area like North Manchester in a large problem, there will be many children in that category.

And yes I'd be happy to take my child into a supermarket at the moment! The risk is minimal.

I understand that schools will have a lot to do to comply with any guidelines - my concern here with this message is the emotional blackmail and the implication that if you as a parent see the overall risk as something you are happy with you don't care about your children. Yet again something to pit parents against each others - the ones who "care" and the ones who don't.

If be really disappointed if my child's school headteacher struggled so much to effectively risk assess.

Is it unprofessional or is he whistleblowing?

There are formal whistleblowing systems which he will be well aware of. It is unprofessional.

I'm more disappointed with his spelling.

Not impressed. Transmission from children to others is very rare. I'm.sending my kids back as soon as the school gates open.

if it's the same Rob Partington then head teacher is his secondary job. He has a company to run and promote. I expect a bit of publicity is helpful there.

I agree that it is 'pretty obvious' that children will have to go back part time- BUT that is not what has been announced or planned for. He is responding based on what is known - that this is the plan.

I’d be a little bit horrified to find out my child’s school was being led by someone with either a very poor grasp of science and evidence, or was happy to play fast and loose with the truth for rhetorical effect during a pandemic.

This.

It is going to be difficult to get even a limited number of children back to school, and I understand that . I also understand that some Teachers and school staff are very frightened, and some will have conditions that place them at higher risk.

But professional Teachers should be able to apply critical thinking and can take measures to reduce risks.

For all the hyperbole about small children with runny noses, other adults are most likely to spread Covid 19. Schools need to be thinking about how to protect themselves from parents and the adults in school as a priority,

@LangClegsInSpace @crustycrab

Yes it’s perfectly possible to bleat a diatribe. I don’t think either are particularly “big words” but I’ll try to use smaller, simpler ones next time for you guys at the back.

Fair comments from him. I wondered the same. Classroom sizes and space make it impossible to social distance without the space to open up new ones. Corridors between classes are not wide enough, loos, door handles, common areas, tools, equipment, it is a nightmare for schools who will be blamed if a child falls sick. The risk assessment issues can be mitigated to an extent but not completely. I just cannot see how they will do it. Multiply that by ten for the colleges and universities.

I think he just looks pig ignorant.

The Monday announcement said NOTHING about what schools are supposed to do on the 1st June. That date was given as a date by which maybe there could be some sort of phased return for some children.

It was a loose proposal.

Our head sent a parent mail stating what the Monday announcement said and that she'd keep us informed as she was given more guidance with which to work with.

Your main man Rob seems to be running a tight ship. His pupils have only been in headline worthy danger twice in the last few years. Compared to oh, no headline worthy incidents at any primarys near me...

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/boy-five-who-crushed-gate-12290365

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/parents-demand-answers-school-after-13301754

Top stuff from such a seemingly risk averse man.

Wow so wrong for posting that on social media. As a nurse, if we posted anything of the sort or about our working conditions on social media we would be in big trouble.

Still the bile against teachers continues. Some very spiteful people here.

But the unions are backing the head and telling teachers not to engage with going back to school on June 1st. Maybe they know better how schools are than random idiots on MN.

He is probably loving the time off, sounds like he is in the wrong job

@GinDaddyRedux Maybe i should have included the word recently. Still incredibly unprofessional though.

His job is not to panic and spread panic and fear on social media.

Very few people are doing their normal jobs at the moment. The hospital dh works at rearranged a lot in anticipation. Reassigned buildings and staff. Constantly changing to accommodate patient needs. Did people really think qualified itu Drs and Nurses appeared from nowhere to staff the Nightingale?

Of course it's not ideal. Very little is at the moment. Defeatist scaremongering is not the answer. Working out what his school could do, risk assessing it, would have been a first step.

At least they have 3 weeks before this might be needed.

everyone has said good points, i will send my child in anyway

but for a head teacher he should at least learn how to spell queued

But the unions are backing the head and telling teachers not to engage with going back to school on June 1st.

But why are they telling them not to engage - surely engagement is the first step in discussing how to move forward in an adult way

This will be spun as unions holding the UK to ransom in a time of crisis. I’m afraid it will end very badly for teachers.

There are people who can and will always seek solutions. And there are others that delight in being part of the problem.

Unions are generally in the latter group.

Schools are reopening overseas so why not here?

@ohso Schools have had the guidance now. It lists hundreds of contradictions for schools to sort out. Such fun.

Anyone on here ever made a typo? I’m guessing not.

I am a teacher and I’m sick of the negative, obstructive attitudes of the unions (including my own) and of people such as this head. The focus needs to be on looking for ways to make it work and on getting students back into school. My own head, fortunately, is taking a much more positive and proactive stance.

I don’t know anyone who is sending their children in if it opens on1/6 and I know a lot of young families.