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

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

Can you explain this?

Private school holidays are longer anyway.

Aside from anything all children have been cooped up indoors. The last thing they need over the summer is school. They need to be able to get out, get some exercise and enjoy the freedom that has previously been denied. It’s a long time until the next holiday.

@MarshaBradyo that’s the difference. Private schools are a business. Many will go under (parents not paying fees or having to pull out). Many parents won’t be able to take time off work over the summer (my husbands company had already requested people don’t take leave if lockdown is lifted for a couple of months to try and get them back on an even keel), so if the schools stay open this will be a big incentive to parents (save on holiday club fees etc). If some private schools do this there will be a big push by parents to do this.

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

Can you explain this?

*Sure!

Pp said
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.*

When really
Teachers are also having a difficult time. Teachers are being flexible ( hugely)
Teachers have lost out on booked holidays and have done stuff they don't want to do.

So pp either lacks critical thinking outside of her own bubble or has a huge chip on her shoulder regarding teachers.*

Some of the views on these threads are so boring now. People are clearly unwilling to change their entrenched views.

Just because some state schools aren't doing much, and two private schools have been reported as opening, then why must that mean the hardworking teachers should be punished accordingly by working through their how many times must this be explained unpaid holiday.

If people have a problem with what is being set, contact the individual school.

Finally, working from July-December with only a couple of weeks' break (presumably that is what is being suggested) will be pretty educationally invaluable: kids are dragging themselves through by mid-November at the best of times and learning/behaviour significantly deteriorates in the last two or three weeks of term because they're tired, overworked and ready for a holiday. Far better to let them enjoy their freedom, get out into the fresh air and see their friends over the holidays, than make them come into school to meet some arbitrarily decided educational point by a certain time of the year.

You can be rest assured that teachers will work their hardest to plug any "gaps" come September.

The boarding element of our school has remained open for kids who couldn't go home, and for key worker children who need overnight care. For kids from abroad it is tricky as they have had to commit to being in the UK indefinitely, or go home and not know when they can return. Online learning resumes for the rest of the school next week, and they have extended the summer term by two weeks, though still earlier break up than stayed schools normal end. This is not helpful if the kids are now in a completely different time zone!
They started online learning before Easter break and they have fine an amazing job under the circumstances. It runs to slightly shorter than normal day, with five rather than six hour long lessons.
Retention of students is important and schools will have to weigh up all the options. Our school has come up with a very workable, though of course not ideal, solution.

RigaBalsam

Sorry-I misunderstood, I think. We are singing from the same hymn sheet here!

I was confused by what you were saying and who you were quoting.

So what will this do for grade boundaries for the y10 and y12 classes next year? The private schools will be caught up and the state schools won't. Seems very unfair for those 2 year groups.

@Suburbanwar

This is one of the most sensible posts I’ve read, that is child focused rather than parent focused.

I have a 15 year old son. It’s been hard to motivate him, but after our daily routine nagging session, he does work hard for 3 or 4 hours and has produced some fantastic graphics and media coursework. Yesterday afternoon he fell asleep on his bed around 4pm. This is all very mentally draining for him.

I look forward to giving him a well deserved summer break and have my fingers crossed for some sort of holiday. Hopefully then, he’ll be fresh and ready to learn in September.

@suburbanwar but I don’t think it’s a question of punishing teachers in the private sector. The private sector is in a precarious position. You only have to see threads with people giving notice on independent schools. So private schools, like so many businesses in this country are going to have to consider what they are prepared to do to get through this crisis.

My DH has had to take a 20 per cent pay cut and is doing more work. Teachers are entitled to say we are not prepared to work through their holidays.

The issue you will have is when people are deciding can they manage to keep their kids in the private sector, if they have had to take pay cuts, not take holidays etc, and schools don’t appear to be sharing the burden - then people will just think what’s the point and move to the state sector- particular if there is a risk of another lockdown in the winter.

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.

Where did you get this idea? There are a lot of businesses that will simply fold if they get up and running again and employees take their holiday.

@Titsywoo

I am a teacher and I am teaching live lessons via Teams to Yr 10 and Yr 12. I teach in a state school. My friends in other schools
(Again state) are doing the same.

And before anyone asks why this last workshy teacher is on Mumsnet, it would be my PPA and afternoon lessons don’t begin toil 1.40. (I am teaching to normal timetable)

@Letseatgrandma

I thought so. I usually agree with your posts.

Step away, teachers!

Yes agree re getting through it as a business. Particularly so with boarding schools. If children are home and not in them they won’t pay those boarding fees presumably. Even if revert to day fees only.

And then there’s the extra strain of parents giving notice and arrivals possibly lower for September.

It's not just about YOU, it's about being able to provide the best education for the majority of children, and that will be in a school setting rather than at home. So moving the holidays will benefit the children who are not fortunate enough to have the funds, equipment and support that your child is lucky enough to have

You’re missing the point. Given a number of schools are working as normal now, when are they getting their holidays?

*so many typos. Here’s me trying to type on my phone, email and eat lunch at the same time!

Where did you get this idea? There are a lot of businesses that will simply fold if they get up and running again and employees take their holiday.

Are they working from home?

My children's school have been fantastic,we have had plenty of online stuff.
But also are told to do how little or how much we are able to
They keep in contact weekly by phone and they are there if you need them.
They certainly have been working so they definitely deserve a break so will not be expecting them to be open in the summer holidays.

Fairly sure we will not be doing this in Scotland, be surprised if we are back in August as normal tbh. We shall see I guess.

The education minister stated schools will not be opening in the summer.

HTH.

Ds's school has been closed one day only so far- Easter Sunday.
I think teachers are being flexible, and they are stepping up.

@NeurotrashWarrior that’s the state sector. Private schools are entitled to open whenever they want.