Disappointed secondary schools are reopening

[wovengrass]

I'm hoping for a sensible exchange of ideas on this.
I understand the importance of children missing out on learning, but I can't help but feel that a full reopening of all secondary schools in the UK at the same time is madness.
I strongly feel that it would have been better to spend time/money on making home learning a realistic and standardised solution, as well as putting plans in place for the children that need further support. That way if any future outbreaks happen we aren't just hoping for the best and blindly following this idea that "schools must be the last place to close no matter what."

I also can't get my head around the logistics, locally. The local secondary that my nephew attends (there are several large ones near to me) has over 1000 students, many rely on public transport to get there. With reduced space on transport due to social distancing, I wonder how children will actually all make it to school on time? Many schools are also not allowing children who are late to enter, to avoid the crossing of year group bubbles.

Throw also into the mix that many adult will be relying on the same transport to return to work. I'm genuinely wondering how on earth it is realistic?

I think primary and nursery schools are a different thing entirely, and obviously childcare is a factor then also. But putting 1000 teenagers/young adults + teacher staff into a building with no masks and no country-wide home learning plan if things go wrong, seems absolutely nuts to me.

Just wondering what others think about this?

Homeschooling is available to every parent. The materials are available and free. If anyone wishes to homeschool they can.

Both options are being made available. What’s with folks being adamant schools should close and everyone stay home.

Why remove choice?

@LaurieMarlow

Callme suffice to say that if I was honest about what I think about some of your comments, I’d be banned.

I’ve supported my sons learning to the absolute best of my abilities. I’m very content with what I’ve done. The provision he got from school (two worksheets a week, no feedback) was absolutely abysmal. Continue to stand up for that kind of delivery if you want. It says a lot about you and the profession.

Angelina is right. You have taken every opportunity to try and put the boot in. When will you understand that just because YOUR school didn't live up to your expectations, that doesn't mean ALL SCHOOLS and ALL TEACHERS were doing nothing? The 'two worksheets a week' thing is a problem at your school. I am sure you will be telling them how you feel about it when schools go back in September. Nobody is standing up for that.

When will you understand that just because YOUR school didn't live up to your expectations, that doesn't mean ALL SCHOOLS and ALL TEACHERS were doing nothing?

I have categorically NEVER said that. Only a few posts ago, I said that the other school in our neighbourhood delivered very well.

Remote learning was delivered very poorly by some schools. Denying that gets nobody anywhere.

LaurieMarlow you have spent many hours for many months expressing your unhappiness with the provision made by your ds's school since lock down.

You seem to be so focused on criticising your school and comparing it unfavourably to the other local school (have you looked into moving your child btw?) that it's preventing you from engaging with the bigger picture.

The government suspended the curriculum, told teachers not to mark work and not to teach the children who were permitted to go into school as this would disadvantage other children.

If the government had provided a set of standards/expectations/ requirements that schools should provide, you would be perfectly justified in being aggrieved that your child's school didn't meet them.

Same going into the autumn term. If the government provided a Plan B and the necessary resources to support it ie tech and broadband, schools would know what was expected of them and parents would have a point of reference.

The other part of the bigger picture is that your child, with an engaged and motivated parent, living in an affluent area with plenty of resources at home will be fine. It honestly sounds as your resentment and anger towards your child's school has made you lose sight of that.

Speaking from my point of view, my DD has to go back to school. At the moment her mental health is far more a risk than coronavirus. We are both keyworkers so she could have been in school before, although DH was working from home so not actually necessary. I now massively regret not sending her. If schools do not open fully, she will certainly be going back at as keyworker student as DH will no longer be WFH so will not be here to support her.

In answer to questions ...

Yes I’ve looked into moving my child

Suspending the curriculum was a disgraceful move and quite rightfully, self respecting heads/teachers refused to go along with it. They have my respect.

My child will be fine educationally (no thanks to his school) but badly needs the additional things that a school environment brings. The vast majority of children need school. Which is why we spend an enormous amount of money on class based education and why they need to go back in as normal a fashion as possible.

That absolutely doesn’t negate the need for a plan B if closures have to occur. Which I’m told on here that some schools are working on.

Which I’m told on here that some schools are working on.

Yes, "schools" are working on. No guidance yet from government. Again.

But all the one way systems and staggered starts etc etc are all very well. It useless standalone when children then sit in a room for 6 hours a day with poor ventilation, next to friends with no SD etc.

It's like queuing for a pub to get a table all at SD and in masks and then being okayed in a table with a other 2 people and only 1/2m away from the next table.

@CallmeAngelina

Which I’m told on here that some schools are working on.

Yes, "schools" are working on. No guidance yet from government. Again.

So therefore no national plan that is equal for everyone.

So the divide will grow between rich and poor because they'll get different plan Bs when they are all taking the same exams.

Yep, itsgettingweird, and guess who'll get the blame for that?

The government suspended the curriculum, told teachers not to mark work

Out of interest where do schools pick up in September? Will some cover this curriculum? Is it up to the school what to do

• obviously not necessary for those who’ve ignored this guidance

They need parents in the workforce. That is why! Even though I agree with everything op. They don't want kids at home where parents can't work.

I understand the importance of children missing out on learning, but I can't help but feel that a full reopening of all secondary schools in the UK at the same time is madness.*
What is madness to keep children off any longer .
The long term affects of all this will last for a long time .
Never mind the mental stimulation but not schooling for 6 months will effect next year and yes many haven't done anything since March .
We all have own opinion on what is safe to do but the reality is this virus will not be gone next month or the month so it needs to be managed.
Safe or not they need to go back to school, the risk is low .
For me staying home any longer is a none starter .

Well soft play centres are open now.

I don’t think anybody can argue that kids lose any more of their education whilst everything else is open.

So the hundred threads a day claiming schools shouldn’t open will finally stop!

It really is a case of deregistering and home schooling if you don’t like it. There’s no argument to be had anymore.

@CallmeAngelina

ODFO, Laurie. You lose no opportunity to slate teachers and schools and have been the same right throughout this. You are one of the prime suspects in directly contributing towards a mass exodus of teachers from the profession by Christmas. If you put half the effort into supporting your own kids' learning that you do slagging off schools, there'd be much less of an issue.

I hope that your post isn’t deleted-it was spot on.

Some people on here have posted prolifically since March about their hatred of teachers.

I blame coronavirus and the government for handling it badly-not individual teachers who had very little power or away over anything.

LaurieMarlow
I like many parents, would support teachers in any measures they need to maximise safety while providing for all children.

And yet there as many vocal parent groups that won't support teachers going back with measures in anyway shape or form.

Luckily it’s not just this. Secondary it wouldn’t be as much as an issue and in primary it only effects 8%

Tg the bigger consideration of educating children hasn’t been forgotten (well longer than a term anyway)

God damn lost quote to go with that

Re getting parents back to work

LaurieMarlow
That absolutely doesn’t negate the need for a plan B if closures have to occur. Which I’m told on here that some schools are working on.

Do you not see the issue is exactly the same.

Schools are planning for another shutdown
Why are the government not doing so?
Where is the investment that schools need in IT to be able to adequately support the children, when the government says that it must come from existing budgets.

By all means blame the schools but you are letting the real culprits get away with it.

Well soft play centres are open now

This is a thread about secondary school and I don't think the availability of soft play is terribly relevant.

Ditto parents in the workforce, because although there might be some issues for some of the younger year groups, for most of secondary pupils it's not a consideration.

It is relevant if everything else is open and people are arguing schools stay shut.

Safe or not they need to go back to school, the risk is low.

For whom?

islockdownoveryet
Safe or not they need to go back to school, the risk is low .

Will you stop posting this rubbish or at least quantify it

Seriously did you hear the announcement today? They are opening up more and more. Toddlers can go and roll around in a germy ball pit. Ice rinks are open. Beauty salons.

The schools will all open and there is no argument to keep them closed. Children need to be in school and be educated. Home schooling is an option you know!

It is relevant if everything else is open and people are arguing schools stay shut

Disagree - what is safe for the under-5s is simply not relevant to teenagers who are approaching or already have adult patterns of the disease.

There is no one-size-fits-all if one is going to use the risks to that sector of the population, as well as the nature of the activity proposed, to decide what opens and with what precautions.

I'm not arguing that schools should remain shut. Never have. But do agree that there are some considerable hazards (such as public transport to school) that do not seem to get discussed much

And that there needs to be more contingency planning covering at least a fortnight if a school bubble bursts