Schools

[belay]

What does everyone think the chances are of schools closing and the implications?

GCSEs and Alevels could be completely buggered up

Let's hope it doesn't come to that

I can't see it happening personally. It's only 40 cases so far in the whole of the UK. It will start to tail off I reckon, by summer we'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

I’m keeping a very close eye on developments and may decide to keep my dc off of it gets any worse due to one having serious health issues

Some have closed and I predict there will be many more

In a lot of ways it would almost make more sense to close all schools now way before exam time’s etc and try to contain and delay the spread if at all possible but they’ll likely do it when it’s too late

I work in a school and we are gearing up for the possibility of closing. All teachers are required to have google classrooms set up for every class by the end of this week so that they are ready to set work for classes if we close.

All other local (secondary) schools are implementing similar procedures. I don’t know about the primary schools.

Various colleagues are pretty certain that we will close at some point, but how long for no-one can really guess.

I don’t know that I would say I’m “certain” but I can definitely see it happening. I’m not scared of the virus itself, but the impact is terrifying - economically and educationally. I’m glad none of my DCs are in exam years this year. DH and I have quite a lot of shares through his work and their value has tanked in the last month - we’ve wiped off about 20% of their value. This could genuinely cause a global recession. I hope I’m wrong.

I think it depends how much it spreads - hoping not but wouldn't rule it out as CMO said it may happen and happening in other countries. Am expecting an international school trip ban - France has started one today:

www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Covid-19-in-France-Events-cancelled-and-schools-shut-as-epidemic-continues

SlayingDragons what is a Google classroom?

It’s just google drive for schools. You can share resources with students.

I have Google classroom set up for my primary class as it's a convenient way to set pieces of work or assignments for pupils to compete. They automatically get their own copy and I get to see if they've done something and can add feedback too.

My DD is super excited at the idea of no school for 2 months but not sure how much learning would be going on during those months so would prefer school continues. Glad mine aren't in exam years.

I work at a school in inner London and nobody has even suggested we might close. I’d be really surprised tbh.

Will businesses permit parents and carers to be absent from work for the time that schools are closed, do we think?

Our son does his homework at school, so nothing would get done at home unfortunately

Suspect almost nothing would get done here too, well probably both would do loads of maths and zero other subjects and DD said 'there will be lots of arsing around but everyone will do that so it's fine'.

Will businesses permit parents and carers to be absent from work for the time that schools are closed, do we think?

Chances are a lot of kids would be cared for by grandparents- who are more likely to be at risk of complications if they do get the virus than children or younger adults.

I work at a school very close to a hospital and the majority of children have parents who work at the hospital. There's no way they'd be able to close as their parents will be at the hospital.

Slaying impressive that your school is taking this seriously.

Individual schools are already closing if they have links with the outbreak- so bear in mind that schools are gearing up for that possibility too, as well widespread closures.

The school where I work is stepping up hygiene procedures e.g. providing more soap, asking us to encourage handwashing and teaching good handwashing, no handshakes in school, hand sanitizer and wipes for touchscreens.

We already have various online set ups to enable us to set homework, so we haven't been asked to set up anything new to enable us to teach remotely. We were asked to remind Y11 of exam contingency dates, and not to book any holidays before this date.

The big implication of secondary school closures is the affect on exam results, of course. If they are rolling closures, rather than all schools closing, they will affect some children more than others and there might need to be special consideration given if an individual school has to close for a long time.

For primary schools closing obviously the big impact is childcare. Nurses in South Korea have actually been leaving their jobs due to the combination of 12 hour shifts and schools being closed. School closures in South Korea don't seem to have had that much of an impact on the spread.

Personally (not a teacher) but I can't see the schools closing anytime soon. The message coming from the cobra meetings seems to be that they are changing the law to allow bigger class sizes.
That signifies that if staff are absent with the illness then the message is to carry on regardless?

Most of the schools are only closed for a few days so they can be 'deep cleaned'. It's not like they're in permanent shut down.

Trouble with schools closing is childcare. Parents still have to work.

The Government's CMO has talked about the possibility of schools closing for 2 months:

www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m806

It's happening in other countries like Japan now, all schools closed until Easter. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-51663182 Japan has 274 cases.

Would imagine it's a last resort if it spreads widely but it's definitely being considered.

Parents in China have had to stop working with the exception of essential and medical workers. I imagine if one parent works for the NHS then the other would have to look after the children if schools were closed.

So if the teacher in the room next to me is off with the virus I'm meant to carry on and teach their children as well? My room is set up for a max of 30. If anyone else comes in they could have a chair but not a desk.
I would want to be able to continue teaching exam classes as long as possible.