Two independent schools to defer summer term until June - August

[BoardingSchoolMater]

I sincerely hope my DC's schools do the same.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8238469/Schools-summer.html

It would cost far too much for schools to open during the summer holidays as the staff would all have to be paid extra.

NO! You move the holidays so that teachers work exactly the same number of days/weeks, just at a slightly different time.

Obviously the small number of staff who are in school looking after key workers children should be paid extra at their normal day rate, but that is a very small number in the scheme of things.

Private school has reduced fees for the term

Are providing live lessons via 'Teams' as well as 'house' meetings, &1:1 sessions. Assembly is being done as a video for the kids to watch while having breakfast & theyre. trying to engage the kids in other online activities.

Frankly, they've been brilliant.

They're talking about going back for the Michaelmas term a week early & only having one instead of two weeks at the break.

Teachers will end up working more this way AND all staff have agreed to no pay rise this year to keep fees the same (along with other cost cutting). We have a huge number of international students so I guess they're very keen to be seen to be going the extra mile to keep all the students & thus all their jobs. Not to mention their reputation!!

I'm very impressed though.

However, I honestly think it needs to be a case by case situation for every school with a body overseeing the decisions they make to ensure both the children & the staff get a fair deal re teaching & holidays.

You cannot just swap this lock down for holidays. It's NOT a holiday. It's not relaxing & it's not a choice of how to spend your time. NO actual holiday time for kids or teachers would be terrible for all concerned!!

NO! You move the holidays so that teachers work exactly the same number of days/weeks, just at a slightly different time.

This would involve some very quick decision-making indeed. My kids return to school on Wednesday of this week.

There will inevitably be some upset plans, but surely that's true for all of us.

Parker231 our school provided iPads for any children who didn't have laptops at home. Obviously every school isn't able to do this.

Anyone wanting structure and online learning, here is the DfE’s online school.
www.thenational.academy/

Alternatively here’s the BBC’s comprehensive education package: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/dailylessons

Our staff are all in school teaching at different times then planning, in meetings and contacting parents etc. When are the 6 weeks going to happen? They worked over Easter too. You want them all to shut down now, no online learning or school for key workers?

For me, I hope all schools will do this, though very unlikely (state school). I fully understand why teachers and other parents may not want it to happen!

My DC is summer born and was already behind their peers. I'm WFH at the moment and unless I'm constantly watching what they are doing and cajoling them into doing something they are wandering off, going to play, basically do anything except school work. They are missing out massively.

I'm not doing enough of my work, they are doing enough of their work. I'm sure when they go back they will be even further behind than they were when the schools closed and there is bugger all I can do about it.

School have provided work in the vague sense of "here are some websites that might be useful"

Having them go back over the summer would be beneficial for them, at least they would have some kind of chance to get closer to where they are supposed to be. But it wont happen.

I could bloody cry I'm so worried about the long term impact this will have.

It’s important for teachers to be available through lockdown, contacting and being contactable for vulnerable families who need help and support. Schools have been a lifeline for some families in the current situation.

Also most schools are providing home learning and from personal and professional experience it is important that kids have routine so providing activities/lessons means that families can choose to use them to provide a routine and purpose for the day. I completely understand that there are families who can not for a number of reasons but that doesn’t mean that choice should be taken from those who can/who want to.

Do teachers understand that huge numbers of people are having their holidays cancelled by their employers at the moment? Doctors/nurses/police etc many, many, people are being told they can't take previously agreed leave, and need to be flexible because you know, we're in unprecedented times.

Nobody actually needs 6-8 weeks as a summer holiday, most of us manage perfectly well with a fortnight. Of course they should be paid if they have to work during a time they usually aren't, but a bit of flexibility this year isn't a big ask.

Japanese state schools are apparently going to shorten the summer break this year. Fair enough though, as they have done pretty much nothing for the kids during this period (we got a bunch of worksheets mailed to us in the post and some links to educational TV shows. Keyworkers' kids are not in school here). It's not the fault of teachers as individuals, they are powerless to do anything about the stupid system here. But yes, here it makes sense that teachers teach for some of the summer.

Teachers who have been working will need a break come summer though.

(Let's face it though, private schools are going to be hit hard by this crisis. Teachers at private schools probably realize that, unfair though the loss of summer vacation is, it probably increases the odds that they will have a job next year.)

Do teachers understand that huge numbers of people are having their holidays cancelled by their employers at the moment? Doctors/nurses/police etc many, many, people are being told they can't take previously agreed leave, and need to be flexible because you know, we're in unprecedented times.

Nobody actually needs 6-8 weeks as a summer holiday, most of us manage perfectly well with a fortnight. Of course they should be paid if they have to work during a time they usually aren't, but a bit of flexibility this year isn't a big ask.

*This is getting boring now it has been explained so many times.

Other work places can have their leave added to next year. Teachers can't.

As a parent though I would prefer my daughter to have a summer than be back at school. They will miss 13 weeks at most. Disadvantaged kids is the only concern here. I would prefer my daughter to socialise outside than be back at school.*

I’m happy to be flexible but there have been reasons sited why it is important that teachers are working at the moment Setting work, contacting families, giving feedback to children and families, making online videos, teaching keyworker children, providing routines and a modicum of stability. If staff were not available many at this time many more children would fall through the gaps. It makes sense for children to learn at home if they can and take advantage of the summer holidays when they can get out.

@edwinbear

Do you understand that many teachers already have plans for their 6 weeks holiday?

If schools and workplaces are able to run throughout the summer, then it’s reasonable to think that people may be able to go on vacation... at least UK wide.

So I’m asked to cancel and lose money I’ve paid for my vacation, that was booked over a year ago?

Will these independent boarding schools be making use of the furlough scheme to tide them over till June?

Do teachers understand that huge numbers of people are having their holidays cancelled by their employers at the moment? Doctors/nurses/police etc many, many, people are being told they can't take previously agreed leave, and need to be flexible because you know, we're in unprecedented times.

This really is getting boring now. If people think teachers haven’t been flexible over the last month, we must have a different understanding of the word flexible.

All those people with cancelled leave won’t lose their holidays-they will be postponed to a later date. This can’t happen with teachers, as has been explained countless times.

Luckily, The government have said there are no plans to open schools over the summer holidays.

but a bit of flexibility this year isn't a big ask

Which is already being displayed, do you understand that?

I see that the summer holiday could move to summer 2, and no teaching takes place in summer 2.

But will the end of July/August be any safer for attending school; and what do you do with the whole summer tourism industry and holiday club industry; what on earth do you do with the knock on effect for the next academic year. Pupils cant go from 22 July to 18 December with no break.

I think some private schools have considerably more holiday time so perhaps its easier to re-imagine the academic year. My nieces have 19 weeks school holidays!

I think when lockdown is eased children will need to be outside, not cooped up again.

Boarding schools are in particularly precarious situations wrt to staying in business.

So yes they need those fees and a way to get them.

And many parents are having to do the teachers job, alongside their own job, while teachers do very little. (Not all teachers, not all schools, obviously)

This old chestnut funny there isn't threads about any other profession doing fuck all.

I do wish all schools would do the same - whether that's shifting the Summer hols or not, I don't mind either way.

Having some children benefiting from formal teaching in the weeks running up to Sept and other children struggling to get back into school after several months off, risks widening the gap and disadvantaging poorer children even more.

Dd's school and teacher have been great, setting daily work, giving feedback etc. But by their own admission they're reinforcing topics already taught rather than keeping up with the curriculum.

Teachers really don't seem to understand that EVERYONE is having a difficult time, EVERYONE is having to be flexible, EVERYONE is losing out on booked holidays, having to cancel plans, having to do stuff they don't ideally want to do.

*Unbelievable!

That's obviously not happened to teachers at all has it over Easter?

Do you need help removing that huge chip from your shoulder?
*