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?

The government could have produces weekly plans for all schools to follow from R through to Y9. Each examination board could have provided weekly plans for Y10 - Y13. Every school could have been forced to follow the same weekly plan. The government could then have produced a number of free TV channels on the BBC providing lessons to go with these plans. Work could have been put online, with printable versions for schools to send home, along with mark schemes. Ex-teachers and other qualified people could have volunteered to man help-lines.

Then, when schools closed, every child in the country would be provided the exact same level of home support.

The thread title is misleading but the OP is talking about a standard back up plan, and together with very little SD in schools we are probably looking at a disaster for some pupils.

I am a school governor in an area where the rate is very low so we could be lucky. Schools have got a remote learning back up plan, but unfortunately not all students have access to a laptop. The great laptop provision heavily publicised by the Government for all disadvantaged pupils was crap, excuse my language. So local schools are running a fundraising program to try and ensure all pupils can have access to a laptop if required. This really should not be for schools/parents to sort.

If our area escapes another lockdown etc our Y11s may have done enough for their GCSEs.

However, if you are in area where lockdowns occur and no back up plan so Y11s can’t catch up, surely it will not be fair to carry on with GCSEs because these students will be so disadvantaged (and probably disadvantaged to start with)

I think Delatron is determined to not understand what the thread is about.
Best to leave it there, probably.

I get it but you are talking about all the things the government should have done. Only they haven’t.

So what are your ideas now? Or are you just having a moan. If so then yes I’m definitely on the wrong thread!

Thing is @Delatron this is possibly going to impact many students and their families, it is not as simple as just saying open schools

Ok, still waiting for the alternative idea.

And no blended learning isn’t good enough.

@Delatron we are suggesting the government should do something about it. I haven’t been elected to do that, so I’m not sure why they require my ideas. They wanted to run the country - I think they should get on and do it.

@Delatron

Ok, still waiting for the alternative idea.

And no blended learning isn’t good enough.

I strongly suspect it may come to this by November though.

Given the utter shit show that this year's A level results have been, I would prefer my 17 year old to finish her A levels off properly in school and get the results she deserves. This impacts on the rest of these kids lives, not to mention their mental health if they can't see their friends. So I'm bloody glad they're opening.

@Delatron

Ok, still waiting for the alternative idea.

And no blended learning isn’t good enough.

Well, if they can’t all be in all the time because Covid keeps shutting schools, blended will have to be good enough, won’t it? The choice I between disjointed bits of home learning between bits of all in together or some system where blende learning is properly planned and resources so all pupils have some direct teaching. For most of the time, and if the worst happens and they/their bubble have to self isolate they already know what to do to access it and make the most of it. I’d like to, but I can’t decree that nobody in a school, staff or pupil, or anyone theY know will come into with Covid. As soon as one of those things happens, someone will have to self isolate. There will be occasions when your child’s teachers will be off, when their class will be off, when their school has to close for a deep clean...you can’t just say ‘well that’s not good enough’. It’s the situation we are in. Now, are we going to stick our fingers I. Our ears and look away, or are we going to plan like grown ups. And for avoidance of doubt, by ‘we’ I mean the various governments.

Yes, @chocolatesaltyballs22 we all are glad they are opening. We’d really like them to do it in a way that means they can stay open. How about you?

^Ok, still waiting for the alternative idea.
And no blended learning isn’t good enough^

It might have to be for a while.

I favour trying to stop the virus spreading in the first place. Not by not opening schools but by making masks compulsory (unless there is a medical reason a child can’t wear one).
Increased budget for cleaning including extra staff sanitising whilst lessons are happening if needed.
Random testing of teachers and kids to try and pick up asymptotic cases.

@chocolatesaltyballs22 and if they have to close again what would you like the Government Plan B to be? I have Y11 DC I obviously want the schools to be open and stay open. Under the current guidelines I don’t think that will be what happens. My DC’s school has a robust Plan B in place, but if there isn’t a standard Plan B across the country the shit show of this years A-levels will pale in comparison to next year’s shit show

@Delatron

I’m happy with the safety measures my school is implementing though?

If you’re not then do something about it rather than whinging and arguing on an Internet forum.

My ds has left this year.

He'll be off to college.

But I'm not a "I'm alright jack" type person.

I appreciate my ds went to an amazing school and is going to an outstanding college where o have already had the precautions taken bit and plan B sent.

There are students 5 miles down the road who won't get this.

I also care about them.

Thing is if Covid does get into a school you will have to shut it and use distance learning.

@Delatron

I get it but you are talking about all the things the government should have done. Only they haven’t.

So what are your ideas now? Or are you just having a moan. If so then yes I’m definitely on the wrong thread!

If you advance search me you can see I've made loads of suggestions on various school threads.

And that are all around equalling and levelling the playing field, having safety measures in schools that are equal to the safety measures required out of schools and are based on longevity or remaining open.

Have you seen the absolute debacle of the A level results?! No doubt same with the GCSEs next week.
We can’t possibly carry on like this.
I’m not equipped to homeschool A level biology, physics, history and politics. Are you?

pink

Please please read the thread. This isn’t about not opening schools in Sept. It is about opening them in a safer way. To try and prevent future closures due to local outbreaks.

YABU, massively. Children should all return to school in September, no matter what.

@enigma16

YABU, massively. Children should all return to school in September, no matter what.

You are right.

And if you had read thread you'd see everyone agrees.

But without safety measures in place there is a risk they may close in bubbles, as whole schools and nationally.

I'd the issue there is no national back up plan B.

We can't keep schools open with no teachers (if they have covid) and pupils who are all testing frequently as positive as it passes around.

I don't get why people really cannot or refuse to see buying 9am on day 1.

It doesn't matter what schools have in place when kids are walking to and from and spending time during breaks in mixed groups outside their bubble. Apart from a few masks and some hand sanitiser it's just business as usual now.

Schools should open.
Cancel the cheque.

@CallmeAngelina

@user8558

It doesn't matter what schools have in place when kids are walking to and from and spending time during breaks in mixed groups outside their bubble. Apart from a few masks and some hand sanitiser it's just business as usual now.

Absolutely. If things do go wrong it’s for Borris to sort out. If teachers need to take time off due to being ill or their own children so be it. We cannot keep on dreaming about what we would like the ball must start rolling!

@Bananabread8 don’t you think a plan to make it less likely schools/classes will have to close would be better? Like some form of distancing and PPE at least?
And some national system for what happens if they do shut?
This is what we are discussing. We all want the ball rolling, we just don’t want it to roll down a storm drain or get squashed by a passing car before we’ve had a proper game.