So it’s going to be back to school for privately educated children whilst state kids get thrown under the bus

[S1nkorSw1m]

So no more primary children in and secondary left until Sep at the earliest.Of course this gov aren’t bothered about the nation’s children as they prioritise the hospitality sector over schools. Most of their children will be in private schools getting an education.

What an utter shambles.

Are more private schools open proportionately than state schools?

@CarrieBlue Yes.

It is an absolute disgrace. I actually am staggered beyond belief at how badly the Government are treating the nation's children and young people. It is absolutely outrages
If you havent already please, please wrtie to your MP about this issue. We can not sit back and let this happen to our children.

They have bigger and better facilities with fewer kids as not had years of underfunding and squashing kids into tiny classrooms.

Now going to be left to schools to facilitate children. They can and they will, they will want the money.

Uni admissions over the next few years will be interesting.

Have the govt announced this formally?

Mine are in a private school and won’t be back until sept. I suspect proportionally more private school kids will be back because if class sizes are capped at 15, that’s about the size of most private school classes, but they aren’t opening up additional year groups outwith the government guidance.

Bollocks they are!

My children go to private schools and head has issues letter to confirm that private schools are required to follow precisely the state school situation. That may change In future but at the moment - no difference at all.

Many of the boarding schools have confirmed they won’t be opening at all until September earliest

Same kids who will have less need for mental health support as in school will get it. CAMHs seems to be non existent at the moment. Only those with rich parents will be getting mental health support.

But hey Johny Westherspoon friend of Boris can open his pubs.

I have to say my experience is the same as @juliet24. Private schools here are following state guidance. I expect they will be able to get back to normal much faster in September but there's no intention to do anything before then.

@CarrieBlue yes. All the independent schools round here are open and ready to take more pupils as soon as they are allowed.

You’ve got waaaay more chance of your dc getting decent support at home and a return to class if privately educated than state.

@ScissorsBike - and you know this how?

But all the children I know who are at private school (3 families) are having full school days online so are getting a full education whether they are in school or not.

None of the state school children are getting anywhere near this level of tuition.

The gap is widening.

I think the other issue is that home schooling resources from private schools are generally far better, quantitively and qualitatively, than anything from state schools. I am sure there are exceptions.

I understand why private schools are keener funding ways to operate that state schools, as obviously, being closed is going to cost them money and state schools are solely focused on getting the health aspects right, but this is ridiculous now.

Pubs will be open before schools are fully reopened?

The gap is widening

Under a Tory government. With the collusion of the teacher's unions.

Shameful.

It is beyond outrageous...please write to your MP, write to the Education Minister, the Childrens Commissioner...all of their details available online. I am furious.

Would be interesting to have a survey of schools this cabinets children attend. One suspects the utter shambles and shit show re their handling of education will be down to the fact it will be very much alright Jack for their kids.

S1nkor I really don't understand your CAMHS comment. CAMHS do bugger all at any time. If schools are shut I would have expected them to reach more dc as they are so out of touch they only ever operate 9 to 5 when young people are at school and can't access them.

It will be interesting to see if young people with mh issues triggered by school fare better or worse in this period.

CAMHS staff will be very very concerned about any risk to themselves.

OP my dc attended private schools and CAMHS refused my dd services when she was actively self harming. She got better but we had to pay for psychiatric care.

I agree - I think the schools need to go back.

It does seem like a school age children and their parents have been thrown under the bus here. The long term effects here could be grim

The announcement today was that schools could admit more pupils if they wish but would not be required to that will logically mean private schools will be significantly more likely to expand to more year groups over the state sector. Logistically it’s easier for schools with more space and yes private schools will have an eye on ensuring they appear value for money for parents.

It is very sad that we have given up on state education and I think short sighted in that education is the key to building any successful economy. But it’s about long term investment in society rather than something which stops businesses folding right now so I guess why it will be harder to see the benefits of prioritising education. Let’s hope we start educating our young eaters at some point in the nearer future mind. Otherwise we will be skrewed in a future pandemic where would the doctors, scientists and many other skilled workers we need to fight it come from?

Oh and note that “September at the earliest” means that education lost for many will be more than “only six months” or whatever before someone wades in with the idea that the education lost for this generation is minimal!

Unfortunately it is not possible to have the full year groups back with any kind of social distancing. My school where I work is small and we are pushing it with the year groups we have back now. It would be completely impossible. I say that as a parent with 2 out of 3 that are still at home desperate to be back. I would love nothing more than all my children at school but this virus isn't letting us just now.

I don’t know of any private school that has admitted children other than years R,1 and 6.

I know of one school that has opened its boarding houses to the six children who attend because their parents are army and being posted next week.

Op, I don’t think you are right here. Where is your source?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52969679

Here you go mintjulia, implies it will be a choice for schools to take extra kids (and I suspect some prep schools will as they will have space)