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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The government have fucked up the re-opening of schools

637 replies

noblegiraffe · 15/09/2020 18:34

They have, haven't they?

Back in June their five tests for reopening schools were:

First we must protect the NHS’s ability to cope, and be sure that it can continue to provide critical care and specialist treatment right across the whole of the United Kingdom.

Second, we need to see daily death rates from coronavirus coming down.

Third, we need to have reliable data that shows the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels.

Four, we need to be confident that testing capacity and PPE is being managed, with supply able to meet, not just today’s demand, but future demand.

And fifth, and perhaps most crucially, we need to be confident that any changes we do make will not risk a second peak of infections.

I'm pretty sure I know the reason for not reminding people of those five tests this time round, but particularly test 4 - capacity within the testing system.

I was listening to the radio today about how the lack of testing is damaging the NHS's capacity to reopen services as nurses with symptoms cannot get tests and therefore cannot return to work. The same goes for schools - if teachers cannot get tests, either for themselves or for family members with symptoms, then they cannot go to work. This has been the case even with priority referrals.

There also seems to be utter chaos around who gets sent home when there is a positive test. Some schools are sending home a year group, others close contacts. Teachers often have no idea if they'll be sent home if one of their pupils tests positive.

But surely the government are tracking cases in schools carefully? No, it turns out they're not even storing that data. schoolsweek.co.uk/its-official-dfe-doesnt-know-how-many-schools-have-covid-cases

And a survey suggests that covid protection measures in some schools are poor. www.tes.com/news/third-teachers-lack-soap-and-water-school

So with an abysmal test and trace system, less than adequate measures to prevent the spread, and a department that isn't on top of its brief we can expect more disruption to come.

Even if your own kids' school is fine so far, parents really shouldn't be happy with this state of affairs, particularly the lack of testing capacity that will mean children will be out of school or missing a teacher unnecessarily.

YABU: The government have done a sterling job
YANBU: The government have not done a sterling job

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
ProperlyPdOff · 17/09/2020 17:07

It seems impossible for a cabinet member or head of a government scheme to be sacked, no matter what the level of incompetence.
Remember these people now all owe BJ and DC a favour and will be extra-loyal.

ProperlyPdOff · 17/09/2020 17:22

photoshoot with his whip when the A-level fiasco was happening
In retrospect I now think that was actually Gav's threat to the wider Conservative party who were calling for his resignation, not a threat to BJ. I think BJ will always support the Brexiteer Cabinet members who will be loyal to him no matter what incompetence and corruption is exposed about them. It will probably be his downfall.

HoldMyLobster · 17/09/2020 18:39

@Scottsy100

Blimey might aswell rename this thread LabourNet because if anyone thinks things would be any different if any other party was in power you are all dreaming. As a country we can only physically work with what we’ve got, we are basically testing MORE than any other European country yes that’s why results are taking longer etc but what did you expect to do. Without actual magic what do you really expect to happen during an unprecedented global pandemic. Seriously?
If only there were other countries who'd been through this more successfully that the UK government could have learnt from...
rwalker · 17/09/2020 18:57

@holdmylobster
If only there were other countries who'd been through this more successfully that the UK government could have learnt from...

And if there poluation refused to comply like ours they'd be fucked like us.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 17/09/2020 19:01

refused to comply like ours

Following the example set by one D Cummings, you mean?

I remember the original complaint about lockdown was that the public had complied more than expected.

OP posts:
WokesFromHome · 17/09/2020 19:02

I voted Tory and am happy to say they have done a shit job. We have no decent politicians, not one of them.

We may as well be governed by an idiot like Burlosconi or that ex Greek PM who took his mistress everywhere with him or someone who spends millions on shoes whilst children starve. They'd probably do a better job.

Veryverycalmnow · 17/09/2020 19:07

It's an absolute shambles OP.

BelleSausage · 17/09/2020 19:11

I see the DfE bots are out in force today.

Tell Gavin to pull his bloody finger out with the new exam guidelines. He’s probably too busy trying to desperately search for another job. He must know he’s for the chop soon.

Butteredtoast55 · 17/09/2020 19:13

I think they are waiting for the second wave to sack Hancock and Williamson - then they only have to do it once!

itsgettingweird · 17/09/2020 19:42

@BelleSausage

I see the DfE bots are out in force today.

Tell Gavin to pull his bloody finger out with the new exam guidelines. He’s probably too busy trying to desperately search for another job. He must know he’s for the chop soon.

I know where he was today!

My son had a lovely chat to him at college as his class is one of the first nationally to do the new T level.

The presenter did ask him about COVID tests because they have a bubble closed due to a case.

Noble and other teachers who were very kind to me when ds has his breakdown and was bullied years ago. My ds was one of the children speaking. You can see now why I'm forever grateful to you all.
Bursting with pride Blush

itsgettingweird · 17/09/2020 19:43

It's on south today.

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 17/09/2020 19:59

I find it incredulous that anyone can defend Gavin 'the muppet' Williamson and the goons at the DfE ...... the mutant algorithm and exam day fiascos will not be forgotten. The documents they produce have done so many U turns that I am suffering from whiplash.

New exam guidelines will probably not be ready till Easter. In the meantime we will be beaten for not marking in a three colour system and failing to measure the amount of vitamins that each child consumes over the term along with being issued orders not to use paperclips as they promote the spread of Covid in teachers cars

MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 17/09/2020 20:53

Aw @itsgettingweird that's lovely 😊

HoldMyLobster · 17/09/2020 21:11

[quote rwalker]@holdmylobster
If only there were other countries who'd been through this more successfully that the UK government could have learnt from...

And if there poluation refused to comply like ours they'd be fucked like us.[/quote]
I keep forgetting how special people in the UK are.

Zandathepanda · 17/09/2020 21:20

noblegiraffe You probably got my Dd an 8 in maths. It was the first year of number grades and I told her what you said on here - that it would be hard and grab any points you can as the boundaries would be low. Lots in Set 1 were in tears and giving up but she got her head down and kept working.
I know you and your colleagues are going through a hard time at work. Thank you. YANBU.

middleager · 17/09/2020 21:23

Noble once gave me advice at a time when I was pretty desperate and my son was being bullied. I will always be grateful to her.

NotDonna · 17/09/2020 21:41

@middleager

Noble once gave me advice at a time when I was pretty desperate and my son was being bullied. I will always be grateful to her.
Smile thank heavens for people like noble. There’s a good amount on here to be thankful for!!
CallmeAngelina · 17/09/2020 21:59

"thank heavens for people like noble. There’s a good amount on here to be thankful for!!"

It's just a shame that there are one or two posters who persist in abusing her, and like to suggest she should resign if she has an issue with the way schools are being forced to operate.

akerman · 17/09/2020 22:05

noble also gave lovely advice and help to me when I was having to home-ed my son because he was bullied.

And she's spot on on this as well.

akerman · 17/09/2020 22:08

Well it may be an unprecedented global pandemic, but it's bloody ridiculous to be sending people from Devon to Scotland for their Covid test. It really is very tiring to see people attempting to defend the government's performance on Covid.
We are the worst-performing country in Europe.

bumbleymummy · 17/09/2020 22:18

@ineedaholidaynow the vast majority of people don’t have long term effects from Covid either.

ineedaholidaynow · 17/09/2020 22:31

@bumbleymummy I know, but it needs to be looked at, as it seems to be the healthier people who get that, so can't be ignored.

Mintychoc1 · 17/09/2020 22:34

I would like to see a breakdown of ages of the new Covid cases before I blame schools. As far as I’m aware it’s mainly young adults currently affected, which would suggest that all the school closures are largely due to non Covid “scares”.

ineedaholidaynow · 17/09/2020 22:37

School bubbles only burst when there are positive cases.

There are issues if too many teachers are off with symptoms as there won't be anyone to teach the pupils.

bumbleymummy · 17/09/2020 22:54

@ineedaholidaynow It is being looked at. I still think continuing along the lines that we are is an overreaction at this point given the figures - particularly when you factor in asymptomatic cases as well.