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

As a teacher I’m happy to move my holiday from school to now but that would mean I still get to go away on my booked holiday (if it is available) and that I am on holiday from school now and not preparing lots of lessons to deliver online.

Those teachers looking after key workers’ children would surely not be expected to continue doing that though? What happens to their holiday time?

Those teachers looking after key workers’ children would surely not be expected to continue doing that though? What happens to their holiday time?

And the poor key workers kids who get no time away from the institution.

DBML teachers appreciate that children like your son are trying their best in these circumstances. He therefore needs a break and to enjoy what is socially and mentally over the holidays.

For disadvantaged pupils, there are always programmes in place. I know as a school that we would work extra hard to work on any gaps caused by this time. It shouldn't be too difficult in theory as long as a sensible government approach makes the system more equitable over the next few years.

This crisis has really, however, highlighted the gaps between the haves and have nots in society, as well as the disparity in education caused by an aggressive privatisation of education that leaves it susceptible to market forces, even in the state sector. It also highlights the flaws in the current system of educational testing.

I don't wish to unnecessarily derail the thread, but I hope people remember this in the future. It is not teachers that are responsible for the problems during this time and they, but most importantly the students, should not be penalised for these decisions.

Education unfortunately never seems to be a major concern when casting a mark at the ballot box. Maybe this crisis will change that.

@edwinbear teachers ARE being flexible, just not in a way that benefits YOU.

See, I suggested that this would be the most sensible solution days ago on another thread and got immediately shot down by teachers.

But why not? It makes complete sense. Move the summer holidays to now and allow all teachers to stop working for 6 weeks (the weather is lovely anyway) and then send back the schools in August.

The October and Christmas holidays could be lengthened to allow the kids and teachers to recuperate. I don’t see what the problem is with this at all - it’s the ideal solution.

Mine came out of school a week before state schools and was online learning from day one, still handing in GCSE work up until may 1st.
Obviously online classroom lessons stopped for Easter, but they are back again now. dd is currently having her singing lesson, followed by maths. Then practice with her accompanist, then practice joint first instrument. Then science, followed by academic music, and school finished at 4.30pm. Tonight she has an ensemble rehearsal.

All schools are different, and offereing different types of learning. It's really up to the parents to provide an education, the law even states this. The fact that the default is school and the state can't provide this in some cases is just the way it is.
State education is just a gov service we pay tax for like emptying our bins. Some people have a reduced waste collection too.

I don’t see what the problem is with this at all - it’s the ideal solution

The government have stated that have no plans for this, so clearly there are reasons why it’s not the ideal solution.

@Letseatgrandma - The reason there are no plans is that the government knows the teaching unions won’t go for it.

We all know that pigs will sprout wings before teachers agree to give up their summer, so let’s not pretend that this is about anything else.

It doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t be in the best interests of everyone else however.

The government have stated that have no plans for this, so clearly there are reasons why it’s not the ideal solution.

It's like EYProvider says.

@EYProvider is your setting closed at the moment?

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

Yep I'm referring to state. As people seem to think because independents are doing it, so will state. Not going to happen.

Noone knows when it will be safe to go back. We might well find that if we give school pupils a six week break just now, they are still unable to safely return in what would have been the summer.

And if we are out and about by the summer, how many families will happily give up the chance to visit relatives and friends and maybe even go on an actual pre-booked holiday (I know mine has not been cancelled yet) as we'd all need to agree to do that.

What interests me, sitting in Australia where the timelines are different so not affected directly by this discussion, is that there isn't a push for provision of optional and funded summer-schools to be open over the summer holidays.

All the parents who would still be needing childcare would have access to that. Because it's optional it would likely be less than 1/3 of the kids. The resources created now could be reused - not all of the delivery would require teachers, it could be staffed by many of those who usually provide out of school hours care. And the focus would be on ensuring those who fell behind during this period were supported to catch up with their peers.

I'm sure there are good reasons for the arguments that seem to be being repeated but from the outside it looks like there are battle lines when most people are on the same side.

Some teachers will want to work over the summer. Some students will want classes. More children will need care while parents are working. There is so much content being created and curated that when this is over children who couldn't access it due to disability, or lack of an available adult to support them, or all the other millions of reasons, should be able to be supported to access the necessities to help them progress.

@EYProvider

Absolutely. I would go to my union.

I have a vacation planned for the summer and who knows...it might yet go ahead. Florida Keys. July 19th - August 22nd.

Why would I want to cancel it and lose 12 grand? I’ve had it booked for a year.

If it doesn’t go ahead, I’ll be entitled to a refund, but I won’t know this until practically last minute. That would be far too late for schools to decide to stay open. Many teachers will be in the same situation (and parents).

Then there’s the holiday clubs/ private childcare provisions which are relying on the summer holidays for £££. My aunt runs one which is likely to go bust and around 6 staff will lose their jobs if those clubs don’t get to go ahead. Currently they are furloughed I believe, but if people are needing to work in the summer, why would they just keep child care provisions on furlough?

Then there’s the children themselves who have had their freedoms revoked for months. Do they not deserve day trips? Sleepovers? Outdoor play time? Before another long winter?

The there’s the cost of having teachers not working now. Who will monitor all of the vulnerable children (not medically vulnerable) for the next 6 school weeks whilst teachers take their time off? Who will look after key workers children? Who will provide your child with a sense of stability and routine during the most frightening time of many children’s lives?

But...of course...we’re just trying to be difficult.

Exactly DBML

Then there are the kids of key-workers who seem to have been forgotten in all of this.

@KrakowDawn - No, I’ve kept my setting open for key worker children and will do so throughout the summer if necessary.

It’s the least we can do really as most other people are also making sacrifices.

Here’s the thing: teachers in the state sector are public servants. This means that they get enormous benefits (which mostly they don’t appreciate) - generous sick pay, pensions, etc. These benefits are not available to the majority of people in the private sector.

However, the trade off is that they must be prepared to do their bit when the public requires them to do so. A generous package such as the public provides for teachers does not come at no cost.

I don’t think teachers understand this.

@EYProvider

I genuinely think it’s you that doesn’t understand.

No response to ANY of my genuine concerns

@DBML - No, because your concerns are all about you and your holiday, and I’m not interested.

100 healthcare workers have died - why should anyone care about your holiday in the Florida Keys?

Get some perspective please.

@EYprovider

Wow. So vulnerable children; children themselves and key workers children are all to do with my holiday? People’s jobs - all to do with my holiday?

I’m glad I do t know you in life because you sound like a person who’s willing to have everyone else sacrifice their lives, to make things easier for you...a bit of free childcare.

What a pineapple ring.

EYProvider I'm not a teacher, but I do work in a school. i wouldn't want to be a teacher because the amount of evening and weekend work they do would be very difficult for me, with a dh who works nights - I'd have no childcare for all that evening work (parents evenings, trip briefings, school plays, exam info evenings etc etc) and the weekend work (accompanying kids on trips/D of E walks etc). I also wouldn't want to have put up with the rudeness of some of the children and worse from some of the parents. I think, barring some of the more senior teachers, that the teaching profession in general is paid appallingly for the work they do - not even average wage......

I was shocked at the amount of furlough people are being paid. Up to 2.500 month??! Dh and I, both keyworkers, are working 75 hours a week between us, and we don't get that.

However, the trade off is that they must be prepared to do their bit when the public requires them to do so. A generous package such as the public provides for teachers does not come at no cost

In what way are teachers in school, caring for key worker children, without any kind of PPE (and frequently without the basics like...soap) not 'doing their bit'? In what way are teachers having to now deal with the exam issues they have been left with, not 'doing their bit'? In what way are teachers rejigging all of their resources and re-working lesson plans to make them suitable for online learning not 'doing their bit'?

Generous package? Maybe google. Just a tiny bit. Teacher wage reduction in real terms since 2010. Maybe consider the impact of Gove on our workloads and our inability to work our way up the pay scale. Consider the fact that you can remove a teacher from post in 6 weeks flat by simply walking into their lesson and saying they are not performing (and that's even when they have exam stats which suggest otherwise). Look at the reduction in age of the average teacher and the longevity (or lack of) of the average teacher now compared with even 10 years ago.

Do not tell me that we are not doing our bit. Some of us have families and children who we have put at risk as a result of us caring for key workers. We will not - under any circumstances - be writing off our summer holidays from a financial perspective because some idiot behind a keyboard thinks we should. Open your fucking eyes and actually see what teachers are doing.

And that's me resigned. Done.

I’m not a teacher but I do think they are doing their bit.

I do have to agree that the talks of your £12,000 holiday to Florida is pretty revolting given front life staff have had to give up all booker annual leave and are literally dying, whilst most of the working population have also faced lost jobs, reduced wages or furlough. £12,000 will be more than lots of carers and supermarket workers make in a year, I think you need to get some perspective on that ‘issue’.
Otherwise, I agree it’s all very difficult. I think the bottom line is everyone has and will need to make sacrifices to get through this unprecedented time.

@Stress12345

My £12,000 holiday has taken 6 years to save for. My husband has worked 2 jobs, I work full time and I’ve sold a car to pay towards it.
It’s a holiday of a life time to celebrate 2 very big milestone birthdays.

And someone thinks I should just write it off to provide free childcare.

Contrary to what you’ve made out. I didn’t pull £12,000 out of my ass.

I don’t think teachers understand this.

What you mean is, you don't think some teachers understand this. I understand it perfectly, thanks, and am prepared to rearrange summer to help (mainly because I don't have any holiday booked and think it would be nice to feel useful so might as well work).

If schools open in some capacity over the summer was to happen (for key worker children) then you can bet there will be teachers stepping up to help. But as we don't yet know what's happening, it's pointless making negative generalisations about teachers. Especially if you are one yourself.