Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unicorn Schools

44 replies

Moonflower12 · 15/07/2021 10:13

AIBU to ask if anyone has heard of this concept? Apparently they are schools that haven't had to close any bubbles due to Covid? Or had to report a case? ( I'm not sure about the last part?)

My DD's school is chasing this status ( almost obsessively) but I can't find anything online about it? Does anyone know anything about this?

OP posts:
0None0 · 15/07/2021 10:15

Weird. I would question their record keeping

NeverMetANiceOne · 15/07/2021 10:15

I sounds like a stupid made up thing, but there are schools that haven't had covid - small schools in rural communities for example.

PeterPomegranate · 15/07/2021 10:15

It sounds like it incentives covering up cases to be honest.

Sirzy · 15/07/2021 10:17

Sounds like they are more interested in that than keeping everyone safe.

Whinge · 15/07/2021 10:19

I work in education and haven't heard anything about it.

I'm not sure how or why it would be a concept. The school cannot control Covid, and no matter what systems they put in place they have no ability to prevent it from entering the school community.

Any school who hasn't closed a bubble stupid term or reported a case is in that position due to luck and nothing else.

Cocomarine · 15/07/2021 10:20

How do you “obsessively chase” a status that is completely out of your control?

If they’re that into it, then you don’t need to search on line - ask them.

Orf1abc · 15/07/2021 10:25

Any school who hasn't closed a bubble stupid term or reported a case is in that position due to luck and nothing else.

Luck and privilege. There's a strong correlation between deprivation and high case rates.

Sirzy · 15/07/2021 10:27

This is like an extension of the stupid 100% attendance system

TooMinty · 15/07/2021 10:28

I don't know about "chasing this status" as that sounds weird and pointless but my kids' school has made it to the summer holidays (Scotland) without having to send any bubbles home. But the assistant head described it to me as "lucky" when I was discussing it with her (showing her the negative test result so my DS could return to school). I don't think they have a strategy or are consciously aiming for it! It is a small school in an area with a low infection rate.

CoffeeWithCheese · 15/07/2021 10:29

Sounds like something my 9 year old would have thought up.

The kids' school has only had one class close all academic year - but they've fucking decimated the kids' mental health to achieve that... kids are all now terrified of catching covid and it's been horrendous for them - to the point that tonight it becomes my kids' ex-school.

ScatteredMama82 · 15/07/2021 10:31

I've not heard this term before. My DS2's school is a little rural school and hasn't had a bubble close yet. Cases are pretty low here compared to some areas.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 15/07/2021 10:32

Neither of my children have had a 'bubble closure'. In fact, they've had 100% attendance all year (except the lockdown).
I've just presumed it was more luck than anything.
Other classes within the schools have closed though.

(Stupid idea... a school with less than 100kids is less likely to have had cases than one with 2000. Simple maths)

mrsm43s · 15/07/2021 10:35

I've not heard of the term, but we had no bubbles pop at my children's school (although one requirement to isolate, but it was notified after the end of term, so isolation was during the holidays).

That said, its a small school. It's also an independent, which means small class sizes, large airy buildings and plenty of grounds and extra spaces and funds available to make any changes that have been required and provide gel/masks and extra cleaning etc. Also, I'd suggest, a relatively compliant school population,and teachers seem perfectly capable of teaching the class from behind the 2m line. So they are as well placed as any school could be to keep Covid out.

rainbowunicorn · 15/07/2021 10:35

Sounds like pointless made up shite along the lines of 100% attendance awards shite

PinkyU · 15/07/2021 10:36

2 separate schools this academic year and my dc have never had any alerts or been asked to isolate (since the beginning of the pandemic). One inner-city school, one small market-town school, both primary level.

PumpkinKlNG · 15/07/2021 10:38

I always find this odd when I hear it as we’ve had 8 isolations at my kids school.

CoffeeWithCheese · 15/07/2021 10:45

@PumpkinKlNG

I always find this odd when I hear it as we’ve had 8 isolations at my kids school.
Think a lot of it is the luck of the draw about the layout of the school you're dealing with and the demographic of families. We've got a lot of NHS staff who were early jabbed and do a lot of tests - so cases get picked up when it's just the parent having it, the kid goes off as a contact - and if the child comes down with it, it's after they're already at home isolating so the class stays OK... the other school near us has more military families and when there's an outbreak on the base - the way the houses are and the way the lads are crammed into the gate house on shifts tends to mean it goes around a lot more - they've had a lot more bubble closures.

Layout of the school has been a big win for some - ones with every classroom having its own external door and toilet area versus ones with shared entrances and shared toilet blocks as well.

It's not some path to supreme virtue - it's largely luck, architecture and demographics really.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 15/07/2021 10:46

I think by using a mythical animal they are seeking a mythical status.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 15/07/2021 10:48

The school can do everything under the sun... but a child or teacher can still catch Covid outside of school and bring it in.
Which is where the luck comes in.

Original poster
Moonflower12 · 15/07/2021 10:50

It is a tiny rural school in an affluent area with very compliant parents who are able to either wfh or can afford to isolate, so very lucky in that aspect.

The 'chasing' is by the retiring head. Very very stringent measures etc.

I agree it is purely luck and very akin to the ridiculousness of 100% attendance.

I just wondered if anyone had heard of it? Was it a countrywide ' initiative' or a county led one?
I am purely curious.

OP posts:
CoffeeWithCheese · 15/07/2021 10:55

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

I think by using a mythical animal they are seeking a mythical status.
Either that or they're trying to market at my unicorn obsessed daughter!
bjjgirl · 15/07/2021 11:00

Norther of my dds have had a single day off school for the past 2 years, no bubbleS have burst and a a a key worker then attended all the time.

We are rural and the primary school have classes max 18 kids, when everyone attends. The only kids who attended were key worker kids so under 10 kids in premature school
In the first lock down etc

RowanAlong · 15/07/2021 11:00

Sounds a bit lame, to be honest! Lots of primary schools round here (rural) have been untouched and no bubbles shut. Just luck, and living in a low risk area.

Hallyup6 · 15/07/2021 11:10

Whichever wet lettuce came up with the term 'unicorn school' needs a slap and possibly removing from their influential job in education. How utterly idiotic.

ConstanceGracy · 15/07/2021 11:26

Never heard of it but my DD’s primary hasn’t had to send anyone home since last school term and even then it was only year 6, nothing since.
They’re not covering anything up as they follow guidelines almost obsessively

Swipe left for the next trending thread