Schools Reopening?

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When do you honestly think it will happen? And when do you want it to happen?!

I'm a primary teacher and I would be really happy to see the children back before the end of the school year. My year 6s could visit their new schools as planned, have a memorable final week etc etc. None of this is 'essential' of course, but it would be such a shame for them to miss all the post sats fun that we planned. We're open on a rota now for keyworkers until the schools reopen. Not weekends yet, but we would if we needed to.

The three in our school currently self isolating may well be back after the Easter holidays. But who is to say at least 1 more of those remaining may, by then, be taking their place on the self isolating list?

You can feel reasonably comforted by the plans taking place to open early summer, as we have now been instructed. It is very unlikely our school will be the only one planning to reopen! I expect most schools will hope to reopen then realistically

With respect, Cornish I don’t think you know enough about the wider picture to “reassure” anyone. Particularly not as so many other teaching colleagues on this thread have been given very different messages.

You’re also very wide off the mark saying that teachers who think it will be September are “looking at it as an extended holiday”.

Perhaps in the independent sector you feel your head has more power than they actually do - I too would really like to see the email, just to see if my reading of it tallies with yours.

And let's not forget the valid point made by someone upthread, that it's not inconceivable that a private school might have a vested interest in "reassuring" people that they are hoping to open earlier than any other school in the country, when they are probably also intending to charge the full term's fees.

And let's not forget the valid point made by someone upthread, that it's not inconceivable that a private school might have a vested interest in "reassuring" people that they are hoping to open earlier than any other school in the country, when they are probably also intending to charge the full term's fees

I suspect that has rather a lot to do with it!!

I'm really noot so sure, fedup.

Do you have children at any independent schools?

I do.

Noot? Hmm. Not.

Mine are at rural English state school and their school just issued refunds for UK/international trips and events in June today above deposit including day trips. Impression is September but they certainly have no special information sources.

I think I can guess what school yours is at EtonianMother What are they saying?

Part of the reason for refunding trips is that transport/venues etc are still likely to be affected even if the schools have reopened.

How can you possibly guess that, Koalas?

I don't want to speak for the school, but I am absolutely blown away by their response to this.

The mechanisms of the school are so completely seamless that they switched, literally overnight, to a virtual school. The boys obviously can't do any of the extra-curricular stuff, and so they have immediately pre-empted queries and reduced the fees across the board, with additional help for people who need it (I am one of these).

Some very fortunate and generous parents have chosen to ignore this and are in effect now paying for other people's children (not at the school's behest: it's just that kind of generous, kind, giving place where people feel strongly about helping other people out).

The physical school is now open to the children of local key workers, and their virtual programme is available online.

I cannot describe how grateful I am to every single member of the school staff for all they are doing.

I can't say I'm so enthusiastic about the response from my other children's local independent school, though.

Why do you suppose Eton was able to do that, Etonianmother? “Seamlessly switch”?

What do you suppose the difference is between Eton and the local urban comp where I teach?

I think I probably know, but do you?

I can feel the gap between rich and poor widening with every day of this. It’s tangible.

Obviously there's a difference, Smile. There's a difference between Eton and an 'ordinary' day/boarding school, so there will be an even greater difference between Eton and an urban comp.

However... whatever the resources, and whatever the demographic, I firmly believe that all teachers are trying to do their absolute best for all their pupils in a really horrible and unforeseeable situation. Eton, as it happens, has the resources to switch seamlessly. But that doesn't change the fact that the vast majority of teachers are in the profession because they care, desperately, about their pupils.

I have digressed a fair bit from the reason I responded to this thread, namely someone suggesting that independent schools only take action because they're afraid of losing the fees, one way or other.

I would say that the overwhelming majority of teachers in both sectors aren't thinking about funding, and are thinking only about how to do the best for their pupils.

A lot is (rightly) being said about the NHS, but I think teachers deserve their bit of recognition, too.

I am hoping for after may half term. The works won't work while we kids aren't at school, so they can't relax all business and social restrictions without sending kids back to school

I agree re teachers doing their best.

I just....your comment re Etonian parents “helping each other out”... Eton reducing fees...

Our school spent most of last week delivering food and vouchers to vulnerable families. Some of them won’t eat, without school support.

The impact of this will be much more far reaching for poor families.

I’m not blaming you personally- although I disagree wholeheartedly with the concept of private education- but the inequality makes me want to weep.

I love how some mnetters don't have a clue about what the end of term involves.

I love how some teachers don't appear to have a clue about what the real word involves 😬

I love how some teachers don't appear to have a clue about what the real word involves

Where do you think we live?

All teachers and other staff at my school have had to fill in a redeployment questionnaire as we are, at the bottom line, council staff and may, apparently, be redeployed into other areas if needed. Which is understandable. But if and when the area is harder hit by the virus (still very few cases here at present) then they will find it harder to staff even the hubs on a rota.

I love how some people think homeschooling their own DC is difficult but slate teachers

Because many parents are also working from home and have different aged children? It's really not comparable.

Selfishly I’m hoping September, hubby has just managed to get into a teacher training course to teach high school English, I’m really hoping he’ll be able to do it as we chose this year because I’m on maternity leave and wouldn't have to pay for childcare for 2 children...

Because many parents are also working from home and have different aged children? It's really not comparable. No not comparable, the teachers are doing it with up to 30 kids not one or two or even 3 or 4.

I think it will be September

I hope it’s safe to sooner but I know it won’t be

I cried leaving ds today as he is the only in his year attending ☹️ I’m glad he went in with children in the junior school yesterday he was isolated from the others apart from lunchtime and was really sad

I’m very thankful teachers are still working they have been great at ds school

They are at higher risk as the children they are teaching will likely be at higher risk as their parents will more often than not be at higher risk through their work

Teachers aren't teaching as well as doing another completely unrelated job at the same time.

I have had it on good authority today from someone senior in the Civil Service, that schools will not reopen until at the very earliest September and that nobody will be going on holiday until after that either. It is also very possible that the current lockdown will continue until then with very little change to it. This is a best case scenario.