To be really angry on behalf of teachers

[Jessicabrassica]

I know mumsnet loves a bit of teacher bashing.
I'm really angry that once again the Department for Education has put out guidance for schools in a Friday night before a long weekend with some schools having already started and others back next week.
I cannot imagine how many iterations of risk assessments have already been completed to make schools as safe as possible given the constraints of staff numbers, building size and requirements to get every child back in school.
They are getting enough PPE to tick the box that it's been issued to all schools but not enough to be useful.
Teachers mostly haven't stopped working since the pandemic began. They have continued to teach, to support vulnerable learners, provided meals and good parcels out of school funds in lieu of FSM, they remained open through school holidays for key worker provision.
I really feel that they have been well and truly fucked over, left massively vulnerable and will be left to carry the can for community outbreaks.

I'm a parent and work for the NHS if it's if any consequence.

*so

I am concerned about the impact of localised lockdowns on subject delivery and really concerned about specialist subject teacher illness. We can all cover most things at KS3 but when you talk about KS4 and KS5 then there are issues. Therefore CAGs will be back in some form next year - exam boards will have to take delivery disruption into account.

Say for example you have only one Psychology teacher who then goes sick there maybe problems. Plenty of people say they can teach Psychology but trust me I know (as a former Head of 6th) they cant.

In the past, depending upon location and timetables, we could do some sharing between schools. That is not an option this year.

Yep. Teacher shortage is keeping me awake at night. My department are all at capacity so if anyone is out it’s unlikely we’ll have specialist supply. We can shuffle staff so that KS4 always have a dept member in front of them but for smaller depts it’s a nightmare.

And I have no idea how exam boards will square localised disruption.

CAGs version 2

Mutant algorithm version 2 - but this time it will cater for BTECs

Any specialist supply will have to be up-to-date with the assessment criteria. Finding supply who do exam board marking will be like finding hen's teeth. Granted KS3 is not such a worry but it is the exam years who will suffer.

If you’re a farmer then surely you have made your ethical peace with killing animals Not goady at all

Back for more farmer chat, derxa? It wasn’t intended to be goady in the slightest. Maybe it’s just how I think about things. I eat meat, it’s a topic up for ethical debate. I’ve gone over it in my mind and made my peace with it so all the meat-eater bashing on that thread was just, whatever.

If someone throws an insult, my first instinct is to consider whether there’s any truth to it. If not, then I really don’t give a shit. Second, it’s if I give a shit about the person throwing it. Third is, if there’s truth to it, does it actually bother me or am I fine with it.

StaffAssociationRepresentative
The problem is how to reduce the content. Some schools will have a number of teachers sharing delivery and some may just have one.

the way I see it they don't have to reduce content, just adapt the style of the exams.

If they were quick enough (LOL) they could put out
essential this will be in the exam lists
and then give option questions for the rest.

It would be easy in some subjects, not so easy in others, but if they started now they could get it done.

Talking about GCSEs

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53966943

Awful idea.

They will need to scale the AOs somehow. Maybe have more synoptic which gives the opportunity to use Year 1 content for those that need it.

My gcse is two themes with little overlap. I guess the year 10 content could be given a higher weighting

Pushing back the exams is not tricky. It means the students will be taking the exams when it gets very hot in school halls and rooms. Where will they get the exam markers who are mainly teachers?

Plenty of families use the period between end of exams and end of school year as an opportunity to have a holiday.

Later exams = later marking = later results days = more recruitment chaos at sixth forms, colleges and universities.

Ah well, whatever

Staff

Hot weather may or may not be an issue. It often hot anyway

Exam boards could pay twice as much for markers. I reckon lots of people would be happy to do it then...🤷🏻‍♀️

Back for more farmer chat, derxa? It wasn’t intended to be goady in the slightest. Maybe it’s just how I think about things. I eat meat, it’s a topic up for ethical debate. I’ve gone over it in my mind and made my peace with it so all the meat-eater bashing on that thread was just, whatever.
I'm back for more teacher chat, noble. I don't need to make my peace with anything. Your moral struggles are not mine.

If someone throws an insult, my first instinct is to consider whether there’s any truth to it. If not, then I really don’t give a shit. Second, it’s if I give a shit about the person throwing it. Third is, if there’s truth to it, does it actually bother me or am I fine with it.
Yes that makes a lot of sense.

I genuinely don't think they would smile. What that might attract is quite new and inexperienced teachers, probably young with no dependents, some of whom might be good enough markers but many of whom won't.

Who will pay to refund any families or students who have pre-booked holidays during that time (if done after the special reserve week date)?

Will it be covered by insurance?

Lots of people have moved holidays from this year to next summer. Many with exam year kids will have chosen dates during this time as it was cheaper than the sumner holiday dates.

What about exam invigilators who have do the same?

Where will the new markers come from, to try and cram and get them marked in time? Many are teachers who may be less willing to give up their summer holidays themselves. There is already a shortage of markers in a number of subject areas.

What that might attract is quite new and inexperienced teachers, probably young with no dependents

I don’t know, Piggy - maybe my school is unusual but we have lots of young(Er than me) staff with no kids who have 6/7 years experience and who have marked for a couple of years who would jump at the chance of double money!!

Meh. Maybe I’m just jealous of young carefree staff 🤣🤣

We have been told by Head to crack on as quickly as possible, not pratting about with niceties or interesting extension work just focus on specification, assessment and past papers. Sorry but my lessons may be a bit boring as a result as it will be Theme 2 section 1.1, then Theme 2 section 1.2.then ...... My kids will be delighted if their teachers take a similar approach!

Well, I'm primary, not secondary, but we've been specifically told not to do any testing or scary hard work in the first couple of weeks but to concentrate on welcoming the kids back and gently easing them back into routines and expectations, with an emphasis on PSHE and "nice" topic stuff.

It makes sense that primary would be different to secondary, especially exam years.

For the latter I hope ds’ teachers do the same, concentrate on the main elements.

We know our jobs, Marsha

Yes sure you do. Good to hear pp approach is consistent across the board.

MarshaBradyo

Year 11s will be a major concern.
Any group that has any sort of NEA will struggle to get it finished,

Tbh his school has been excellent so I’m sure they will continue to be