Private schools opening even if state schools remain closed?

[altmum]

Apologies if already discussed elsewhere but I was hoping someone could tell me if private schools are likely to follow state schools with regards to reopening. There appears to be negotiations between teaching unions and the government about whether it is safe to open in June. If unions and schools deem it unsafe, is there a possibility that private schools go ahead and open as per the current government plan but state schools stay closed? This would have significant implications for year 10/12 students and could widen attainment gaps.

@Melabela10 I think we are getting good value for money, our fees have been discounted slightly, but the work provision is so much more than many schools are providing

I wouldn't worry too much about time out of school. Evidence is that it won't harm their education.

www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-17/will-missing-school-due-to-covid-19-matter-for-school-students/12154266

I doubt many will open due to term being finished at the start of July. It is much more effective having proper online lessons where they are learning effectively and having their work marked. If 4th and L6th return many schools will have to have the year group in on alternate weeks as they don't have two teachers for each subject and if you used a different teacher what would be the point of coming in just to have a cover lesson. More pertinently perhaps is if schools open to two year groups, all the support staff who are required to clean, maintain etc have to be unfurloughed which will cost independent schools a fortune. It's not cost effective, is a lesser education than online if you have dribs and drabs over a split classroom and more risky health-wise. Many won't choose that

I wish L6th would go back, honestly DD has three subjects, in classes which range from 3, to 5, to 8. No issues with social distancing there and it would mean so much to her to just get back to some normality.

If staff do go against union advice they will not be supported by public, parents, etc, I hope

I would fully support them.

PrincessButtercuppp it only effective if your kids want to do it. Mine don’t. I’m miles behind with ours and miles behind in with work 😬

My DC’s private school has confirmed that they are planning to have a phased return with nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6 starting on 1 June. They are following the Government guidance but it’s a tough one for them as year 5 is considered a much more important year than 6. My kids are year 2 and 5 so won’t be in the first group. However, they will attend as soon as they are able to.

DD is in year 7 at a private school so not one of the year groups included in the first phase, we haven’t had anything from school about reopening plans. As PPs have said they finish for summer early July so there isn’t much time to get year groups other than 10 and 12 back in. She is getting excellent online provision, the full timetable on google classrooms so I have no concerns over her education but I am concerned for her mental health, she needs to see her friends properly in person. Obviously I understand why this can’t happen yet but I am more concerned about this than her education. We are paying 90% fees and I feel this is fair.

Ours is opening 1st June. DS won’t be going - the online teaching has been really good.

Depends on the school - many private schools have 30 in a class, and small class size usually also means small class rooms.

I think private schools will be market led, but many of them will continue with on-line learning until the end of the school year.

My concern is that school will put profit ahead of safety and will reopen (so they can justify full fees) and remove the online teaching option. I gave rolling notice at Xmas, but for many others they would have their hands forced to a degree as they won’t want their kids to fall behind their peers. That said, I don’t know any parent who’s said yes to schools survey asking if they would like them to open - that’s anecdotal, but hopefully indicates they wouldn’t be able to justify opening. Plus, like others, we break up first week in July, so it wouldn’t be worth it really.

My girls' school has indicated they will open as per government guidance. Small school and classes all under 15 anyway, lots of outdoor space so I suspect it will be relatively easy for them, especially as some parents will choose to keep their children home.

My children’s school plan to open as per gov guidance R, Y1 and Y6. Again small classes lots of outdoor space it will be fine.

If private schools are allowed to open, and they don’t, a lot will go under (especially outside London where they are not oversubscribed). People will walk. Especially working parents. For the same amount of money as says 2 sets of private school fees you could get a Nanny in.

Several parents at my children’s school have discussed how they may homeschool for a year (and get a Nanny/tutor in) and then look to go back into the private sector in say 2021 when hopefully things have improved.

My concern is that school will put profit ahead of safety and will reopen (so they can justify full fees) and remove the online teaching option

Online working just isn’t working for us. Fair play to the school what they have been giving us is brilliant but I’m working from home too and trying to get my juniors achool to try and do more than an hour is a nightmare.

Summer fees have already been paid so I don’t think it’s down to profits.

I said yes to opening up in June. All the parents I have spoke to want it to reopen but I could see on the online survey it’s was pretty much split.

This virus will not be gone by September. At some point they need to go back and the sooner the better for me as I will not be paying for another term of no school.

If they choose to open the school the online learning will reduce significantly as the teacher can’t be in two places.

*junior school kids

Private schools will be keen to reopen to continue charging Fees at 100%

Why not? Universities are doing exactly that.

An email from a leading London Uni suggested they didn't envisage face to face teaching until next year... fees will remain at 100%.

If private schools can get open and get pupils in every day (and most state schools are on rotas) then it may ensure the survival of some schools who may go under. Some parents, if they can afford it, may decide to put their children into the private sector for at least a year to enable them to work.

All schools have to be closed but schools have to accept the children of key workers who cannot work from home eg GPS. The Govt guidance/ instructions are for all schools not just state schools. Private schools are providing remote learning

Dd's are likely to follow the government guidance for returning, but I don't think they'll necessarily follow the state sector regarding which years, and which order. The only problem with space would be rearranging things so secondary corridors don't have every lesson ending at the same time, and the lunch hall, which I imagine they could work around. And they've been able to provide extremely well for dc at home, so possibly not the same priorities for which year groups.

There's also the fact that if the parents don't work, they can't pay fees.

Sooverthemill I think you’ll find private schools can do what they like. They can follow the guidance but don’t have to act on it. Our school has been shut for a week before the government closed state schools.

Our head has already told us he will follow his and the governors risk assessment regardless of what the government say

My DC attend private school, in Years 1 and Reception. We have been told today that they intend to open from June 1st in line with government guidance. We will be surveyed next week as to whether or not we intend to send them in.

As it stands (with little information on how they intend to operate), I’m not planning on sending mine in. Not because I’m worried about the virus particularly, but because I think the school stand a better chance of implementing social distancing if there are fewer children in attendance and I’m in a fortunate position to be able to continue schooling from home, unlike lots of key workers. We have been notified that those who wish to continue schooling from home will be supported.

Fees have been reduced on a sliding scale according to year group.

I wouldn't worry too much about time out of school. Evidence is that it won't harm their education.

Except that the article goes on to say;

"Professor Hattie said Australia had the "longest school year and school day" of any country in the world. Even if 10 weeks were removed, he said "students would generally still be getting more classroom time than students in countries like Sweden, Finland and Estonia", which consistently outperformed Australia in maths, science and reading scores."

Our private school has about 40 key worker kids attending since lockdown. They are also providing full day schedule of online learning for all years (school goes from nursery through sixth form) with varying intensity. They will follow the government guidelines but are also keenly aware of Y 10 and 12 facing life altering exams next year. They have sent out a detailed survey to parents asking about how they see the return and what expectations are. I imagine that they will try and get Y10 and 12 back asap, if not full time then as much as possible with emphasis on classes that are hands on: art, music, PE, drama, sciences etc. Also some kids will not be able to return for whatever reason so there will probably be an online element for those while others are in school. I'm hoping that the 'face to face' time mentioned for Y10 and 12 will allow room for interpretation by individual schools.
We have had a 25% reduction in school fees and a two week extension into the summer holidays.
But there is no denying that the full online learning offered now by many private schools will emphasise the divide between state and private even more for next years GCSEs and A levels. Some very self motivated kids will manage, but many will not and their grades will suffer, even with lower grade bands.

But there is no denying that the full online learning offered now by many private schools will emphasise the divide between state and private even more for next years GCSEs and A levels

Was talking about this the other day. I think it’s going to be shocking

I presume they will have the same concerns about opening as state teachers?

Not at our place - I think everybody is desperate to get back!

My MIL works at a private school. She has had no contact whatsoever about going back to work and can't see it happening before September. She's desperate to get back to work.