Longer lockdown or shut secondaries ?

[Coffeeandteac]

YABU - keep open
YANBU- Go to online for 4 weeks to reduce spread for secondary.

I know they say lockdown may be extended now. Though it is clear from today that the lockdown will be longer while schools are still open. It is also clear older children spread the virus like adults from watching Marr and news channels today.

Which would you prefer? Which do you think is right?
In my opinion I would shut secondaries as I think it may not take the R below one anyway.imo.
However if I had a choice I think it would be better for business to have a shorter lockdown and close schools.

AIBU?

They could cancel the fines for parents who wish to keep theor DC home, then the ones that wish their DC to continue would be in smaller classes.

Lockdown should have started at the beginning of half term with a 3 week school closure.

As it is I think year 7 should stay in schools, years 8-13 on rota.

A short lockdown would not work because the incubation period is up to 14 days. You could catch it just before the start of a 2 week lockdown and still be infectious at the end of the lockdown, meanwhile the rest of your household would then start to catch it. A month is probably the absolute minimum and realistically 2 months would be better.

Keeping schools closed for more than 2 weeks during term time, in addition to what they've already had, is an unacceptable trade off in terms of education, especially as young people are not really affected by this disease. (I know someone will pipe up about them passing it on and killing grandma, but (a) that is unlikely in any individual case and (b) a good education is more important for a child's future).

@SnackSizeRaisin

A short lockdown would not work because the incubation period is up to 14 days. You could catch it just before the start of a 2 week lockdown and still be infectious at the end of the lockdown, meanwhile the rest of your household would then start to catch it. A month is probably the absolute minimum and realistically 2 months would be better.

Keeping schools closed for more than 2 weeks during term time, in addition to what they've already had, is an unacceptable trade off in terms of education, especially as young people are not really affected by this disease. (I know someone will pipe up about them passing it on and killing grandma, but (a) that is unlikely in any individual case and (b) a good education is more important for a child's future).

This slide that I’ve seen posted several times recently suggests three weeks would work well.

Doing it over the half term would have been really sensible.

The online provision for many secondary children was utterly shit or non existent last time. Another shut down would be no better. They've already been screwed over once.

How about people actually follow the rules instead rather than looking for loopholes and saying that they are so special that they don't have to bother with rule A, B or C?

I'm with @BeigeFoodLover let's just deal with it....

Also, schools are not childcare .... 🤯🤯🤯

@jamimmi

Oh yes to the poster saying you cant send years 10 &12 home. That's exactly what they did in the spring to current year 11 & 13's. They have had to cope and in my opinion are in a far worse situation than last years exam groups. Less than an academic year in college and trying to.decide if uni x is better than y by video. Then exam issues have also been looming fo them for almost 12 months too

Exactly and for the year 13’s they have had essentially no adjustments made to the exams tgey are taking next summer. There is no way tgey should be sent home - send every other year home if you want but not the exam years.

Year 13 are going to have to compete for university places with all the deferrals from last year’s fiasco too.

These two years have been treated by far the worst during the pandemic.

We need schools to risk assess every child for impact on their learning. Kids who can learn effectively at home do so and let teachers concentrate on the ones that can’t in small classes, perhaps part time.

As it is I think year 7 should stay in schools

Why? Y10-13 are more important as they are studying for exams.

I think at least shut at least secondaries, maybe all, for last 3 weeks before Xmas. Not much learning will happen in the last week before Xmas, gives 5 full locked down weeks. But only worth it if combined with no fanciful easing up of rules to allow a 'family christmas' because that will not be safe or responsible whatever happens beforehand.

I fear if they don't do something like this, schools will end up shut throughout spring term.

I don't know what the answer is, but I agree with you OP that that simply is the choice : either close secondaries or lockdown will be longer.

But of course, this fantasist government reckon we can have a short(ish) lockdown with secondaries open. Won't work, so they'll change their mind too late (again) resulting in closed schools AND a long lockdown.

I’d rather have schools open and no lockdown at all but you didn’t give that option

Some counties have moved secondary to online already and I think we should follow for a month.

@nosswith

I would shut post 16 education and universities before any other education.

What?? Shut universities? And have all those infected students (hundreds of them) travelling about all over the country to get home? Absolutely not...keep the students where they are.

@millymollymoomoo

I’d rather have schools open and no lockdown at all but you didn’t give that option

That’s because that isn’t an option.

@SoupDragon

As it is I think year 7 should stay in schools

Why? Y10-13 are more important as they are studying for exams.

I think due to their age. Although if I said year 11 and 13 parents would shout be down saying you can't expect 11 year olds to be home all day.

Everything I am currently teaching year 11 and 13 I can teach remotely. Also year 11 and 13 have the highest transmission rates.

YABU. I would take a 2 month lockdown if it meant DC can keep going to school.

Somewhat of a tangent but I think a good and robust online learning policy and system in place to move year 9-13 to remote learning for a month is not a bad thing.

In a strange way it allows for more creative teaching. So many schools have simply become exam factories, spoon feeding students with only results in mind. An important skillset for students in this digital age to learn online.

Funding needed to support students with on it access.

Somewhat of a tangent but I think a good and robust online learning policy and system in place to move year 9-13 to remote learning for a month is not a bad thing.

In a strange way it allows for more creative teaching. So many schools have simply become exam factories, spoon feeding students with only results in mind. An important skillset for students in this digital age to learn online.

Funding needed to support students with on it access.

noswith I would shut post 16 education and universities before any other education.

This ^

clopper Sun 01-Nov-20 22:49:46
“ I would shut post 16 education and universities before any other education.”

So you would send 100,000’s + of uni students back home again. Dispersing people all over the country - how would this help ?

I would not mind blended learning if it was efficient. Last time my ds school had no on line learning at all dispite being in an affluent area where every child in his class has their own laptop or tablet. A few work sheets that never even got marked and returned was appalling. He already missed 4 months. Many other children in similar situation. I don't trust his school now. I would much rather he went in to school. He is having to have tutors 3 times a week to catch up from last lockdown.

I keep reading comments about remote learning but what about kids with.mo laptop or tablet? What about s hooks that refuse to teach virtual lessons and just send a few work sheets printed off internet and not marked? What about these kids falling behind because we are told exams will go ahead.

@caringcarer

I would not mind blended learning if it was efficient. Last time my ds school had no on line learning at all dispite being in an affluent area where every child in his class has their own laptop or tablet. A few work sheets that never even got marked and returned was appalling. He already missed 4 months. Many other children in similar situation. I don't trust his school now. I would much rather he went in to school. He is having to have tutors 3 times a week to catch up from last lockdown.

Completely agree, very similar to many peoples experience. Also many children do not have access to laptops, WiFi, correct home environment for home learning. Such a disparity between pupils and schools is unacceptable.

This lockdown is to reduce the R rate so as to not overwhelm NHS which is always under pressure at this time of year even without COVID, it is not to eradicate the virus which is impossible without a vaccine and I personally think / hope the proposed restrictions will do this without having to close schools.
I do think schools pupils and teachers should be allowed to wear masks and following correct hygiene recommendations though.