Schools should close for 2 weeks after the Christmas mixing

[OverTheRainbow88]

I think that schools should remain closed for face to face teaching 2-3 weeks after the end of the period in which Boris will allow families to all mix.

I don’t want to be in a classroom with 30 different kids 5 times a day who’ve mixed inside with all different family members and friends.

I say online learning until mid Jan, if Boris will allow us all to mix at Christmas

[FemaleAndLearning]

CallMeAngelina thanks for those stats. Before half term infection in both my kid's schools was very high. Most children not showing classic symptoms but testing positive for Covid. Primary head has been brilliant delivering Covid tests to homes and even sending two classes home for a week where students showed similar symptoms to previous kids. I'm a single mum I could do without catching it from my kids mixing back in class during that first week.

[BungleandGeorge]

To clarify, is that 2% of the age group testing positive or 2% of those tested?

[walksen]

"To clarify, is that 2% of the age group testing positive or 2% of those tested"

Neither. It is 2% of the age group being infected per week on average across the country, estimated from a survey of random testing. It will be higher in some areas like the north West and lower in places like cornwall

[walksen]

"And as far as I can tell, infection rates in schools are very low, so I don't think children are a significant risk."

Secondary aged school children are now are most infected age range in the country. Yet we are mass testing university students who statistically are less likely to be infected but doing nothing at all about secondary aged kids before they start mixing with relatives outside their household

[middleager]

And as far as I can tell, infection rates in schools are very low, so I don't think children are a significant risk.

Then why do three children, including my son, in one secondary school have it currently?

Why are there dozens of cases each week in individual schools here?

I don't know where you live, but it can't be in my world, where this is decimating schools and forcing many to close.

[middleager]

Sorry, one secondary school FORM, not school (so 10% of kids in one class) scores more across school over these weeks, resulting in 4 self isolations.

What a privilege!/arrogance to say that cases are low while many of us face schools rife with cases.

[FemaleAndLearning]

It is great that some areas are not suffering but in my area all the schools are affected. A couple have had to completely close. Our secondary had to close year 8,9 and 10 for nearly two weeks due to lack of teachers after half term. In September our sixth form closed after about 3 days reopened then less than two weeks later closed again.Our primary had 4 classes out of 16 closed before half term. Two classes were back in for a couple of days then back out. It is all so very disruptive for the children and very real.

[LockStockAnd2Kids]

Schools must open without delay

I have spent 2 weeks indoors with my 2 boys who go to a grammar school, they can return Virus free

Totally unfair to tell me they can’t go back and I now can’t work for two weeks which will hurt our family

Delaying schools opening is just kicking the can down the road

[PandemicPavolova]

Lock, out of interest, if your boys are a grammar that must mean they are of secondary age, why wouldn't you be able to leave them?

I'm lucky I don't work far from home so I am close by if I had to leave dd, I'm sure those who commute some way wouldn't be happy.

[Goodbye2020Hello2021]

It's going to be ok everyone!
The government says that MOD are sending support to schools!


Oh wait... WEBINARS?

[Letseatgrandma]

I have spent 2 weeks indoors with my 2 boys who go to a grammar school, they can return Virus free

What has the fact they’re are at a grammar school have to do with anything?!

[Goodbye2020Hello2021]

@LockStockAnd2Kids

Schools must open without delay

I have spent 2 weeks indoors with my 2 boys who go to a grammar school, they can return Virus free

Totally unfair to tell me they can’t go back and I now can’t work for two weeks which will hurt our family

Delaying schools opening is just kicking the can down the road

I am 'virus free' right now. When I go back to school I may or may not come into contact with 1 or 100 people who are not virus free and become ill.

See how it works LockStock?

(It's not a Grammar school though. Maybe that makes a difference...)

[AndcalloffChristmas]

I’m beginning to think secondaries should be, as rates are really high.

Not so sure about primaries - little kids need to be in school and seeing others, and they need to keep up their basic education as they forget so easily.

[GrammarTeacher]

I can assure everyone that grammar schools are just as affected! In fact, given larger catchment areas I would say that there are some ways in which we are riskier...

[OverTheRainbow88]

It was inevitable really, sadly: I can’t believe Christmas mixing was allowed in England.