WTAF schools...

[SoberCurious]

My friend who works for the DfE says they are planning for kids to go back to school in December 😭😭😭

Iwork indirectly with a major government department and I can tell you 100% there is no way they will have made a decision about the return to school in September whether this is full time or part time.

How do I know this? Major decisions are being made with very little planning or notice presently, which is why I've spent this week running around like a blue arsed fly auctioning government policy with less than a weeks notice.

So OP if your 'friend' does exist she must be very important l because I bet your bottom dollar 99% of the DfE will be planning for all outcomes and won't have a bloody clue what's happening next week let alone September.

@VJM123 I agree, I feel annoyed that the children are not at school full time, but after listening to the scientists at the briefing last night I am not really sure who we would be complaining to on a March - the virus? The Masters of the Universe? Who would be the target of the march, given that it's clear the government want to unlock but can't? It is what it is at the moment, and we can't change the way we chose to lock down late and failed to get a grip on community transition.

@VJM123

You do realise that hundreds of teachers have resigned and won’t be teaching September don’t you? The way the profession has been treated is awful- no PPE no social distancing? It is only a job and a very badly paid under valued one at that - why would anyone put up with it?

Yep, quite a few at my partner's school have resigned. I don't blame them. The abuse and hate they've had aimed at them during this crisis has been appalling - why would anyone want to continue in a profession where the parents of the children they are trying to help think they're "lazy and feckless" and "useless"? Both those things have been said by posters on MN.

One thing couples might do is make sure the men stay home and women return to work as only then when lots of men are not in work as they are caring for children full time might the state start to take action

You realise no couple is going to risk the higher earners income in the hope that the Government will take action for women.

Could you imagine Boris saying "I'll stay home with the baby, Carrie you go to work full time to support womens rights".

Boris like the rest of us would very quickly be replaced and no it wouldn't actually make any difference to women in the workplace.

[quote Barbie222]@VJM123 I agree, I feel annoyed that the children are not at school full time, but after listening to the scientists at the briefing last night I am not really sure who we would be complaining to on a March - the virus? The Masters of the Universe? Who would be the target of the march, given that it's clear the government want to unlock but can't? It is what it is at the moment, and we can't change the way we chose to lock down late and failed to get a grip on community transition.[/quote]
Absolutely ... kids are far more resilient than we give them credit for as well they will bounce back. We have an opportunity to reassess how we live and how schools are run. I keep hearing this ‘catch up’ is it a race?

People moaning that they can’t work with two parents one saying their husband earns five times what they do - well is hazard a guess that their lifestyle can take a little adjustment. We may need to focus on the important things for a while like I don’t know the health of our children rather than ranting that damn teachers won’t pack them into schools so I can find my five bed house in the burbs and pay for the 2 cars .....

Here

You realise no couple is going to risk the higher earners income in the hope that the Government will take action for women.

Lots of couples will risk the higher income as long as it's the woman's income. You see it time and time again - when the man is higher earner it makes his job sacrosanct, he mustn't be disturbed or troubled, etc. When the woman is the higher earner it just means the man is more likely to actually do half.

People moaning that they can’t work with two parents one saying their husband earns five times what they do - well is hazard a guess that their lifestyle can take a little adjustment

Yes our lifestyle can and will adjust... I’ll quit work. It’s a shame as I worked damn hard to build my career back up after taking an extended break due to severe PND, but of course i will do it if necessary... not sure where I said I wouldn’t? I was literally just responding to Xenia’s point about men staying at home.

@Sallycinnamum

Iwork indirectly with a major government department and I can tell you 100% there is no way they will have made a decision about the return to school in September whether this is full time or part time.

How do I know this? Major decisions are being made with very little planning or notice presently, which is why I've spent this week running around like a blue arsed fly auctioning government policy with less than a weeks notice.

So OP if your 'friend' does exist she must be very important l because I bet your bottom dollar 99% of the DfE will be planning for all outcomes and won't have a bloody clue what's happening next week let alone September.

That’s so true .... school leaders hear of the plans when they’re announced on the daily Briefing

Northern he's also given no details as to how this will work, but guidance is apparently coming out next week.
I'd like to hope there's a proper plan, with proper health and safety considerations, and proper funding, but seriously doubt that's the case.
I'm quite concerned what will actually happen is regardless of science, they'll abandon social distancing just to get bums on seats.

@LolaSmiles

Northern he's also given no details as to how this will work, but guidance is apparently coming out next week. I'd like to hope there's a proper plan, with proper health and safety considerations, and proper funding, but seriously doubt that's the case. I'm quite concerned what will actually happen is regardless of science, they'll abandon social distancing just to get bums on seats.

This is absolutely what I think will happen somehow ‘the science’ will support a reduction in social distancing .. even 1m won’t get 30 in a class though at 2m I can fit 6 at 1m at a guess 8-10 (funny shaped classroom)

Has anyone got any evidence that hundreds of teachers have resigned in the last few months? I’m just surprised why anyone would leave a secure job at the moment. I say this coming from working in the Justice System (so used to abuse (verbal and physical) as well). Lots of staff under real pressure, but people aren’t leaving, because where else would they go if they need an income?

I hate to break it to the "volunteer army" advocates but the teacher training system is run by...the government. And it is so poorly organised, and so much of the expense falls on the would-be teacher, that I sometimes teach it as a case study to my sixth formers to demonstrate 'government failure'.

@Phineyj

I hate to break it to the "volunteer army" advocates but the teacher training system is run by...the government. And it is so poorly organised, and so much of the expense falls on the would-be teacher, that I sometimes teach it as a case study to my sixth formers to demonstrate 'government failure'.

That’s a shame. People were just trying to think of ways they could help.

@StrawberryBlondeStar

Has anyone got any evidence that hundreds of teachers have resigned in the last few months? I’m just surprised why anyone would leave a secure job at the moment. I say this coming from working in the Justice System (so used to abuse (verbal and physical) as well). Lots of staff under real pressure, but people aren’t leaving, because where else would they go if they need an income?

Well I’m one of them .... and there is teacher groups on the socials that are collating the numbers. Seriously I can earn more at Tesco’s with a lot less hassle

@StrawberryBlondeStar

Has anyone got any evidence that hundreds of teachers have resigned in the last few months? I’m just surprised why anyone would leave a secure job at the moment. I say this coming from working in the Justice System (so used to abuse (verbal and physical) as well). Lots of staff under real pressure, but people aren’t leaving, because where else would they go if they need an income?

Online tutors are in high demand ... companies In this area are crying out for qualified teachers. Private tutoring is also much more lucrative

I can see online tutoring being an option, but there is no sick pay or pension. Also if we go into a recession will there still be as much demand? Is there not a risk you’ll just be undercut by university graduates? As I say, I would not advise anyone to be giving up a secure position at the moment (unless you don’t need your income).

My DS's school has been great, can't fault them. Weekly class zoom meetings, a full weekly timetable, his teacher rang us to have a chat with him and see how he was doing. The head regularly makes videos to post on the school website for the children to watch and keeps us updated on any news. She is keen to get the children back in.

I'm annoyed with the government and the way they have handled this situation from the beginning. Schools seem to have been put right at the bottom of the priority list when they should be top. Never mind focusing on opening the pubs and theme parks.

I'm sure that plenty of teachers will be resigning, they are undervalued (as is blatantly obvious going by responses here), overworked and abused by kids and parents alike. Why would they stay for treatment like that?
Until we can appreciate the hard work and commitment that teachers have given over years, why on earth would they want to make further sacrifices for their health, both physical and mental, and families?
There may be the odd bad egg, as in any profession, but there are easier professions to work in and I'm afraid people won't realise what they've got until it's gone. It takes dedication to teach, and often personal sacrifices, you can only push people so far before they will walk away.

Some teachers will resign - sadly, it's a job with a high burnout/attrition rate under normal circumstances. I don't personally think it'll be the mass exodus some people claim, because most people need a job. Teachers very near retirement may be more likely to leave. I also suspect TA numbers will drop more sharply as that's so often a second/'bonus' income because it's so poorly paid in the first place. I know TAs who don't need to work; I've never met a teacher who could just give up their job and be fine.

@StrawberryBlondeStar

I can see online tutoring being an option, but there is no sick pay or pension. Also if we go into a recession will there still be as much demand? Is there not a risk you’ll just be undercut by university graduates? As I say, I would not advise anyone to be giving up a secure position at the moment (unless you don’t need your income).

I would suggest if people are being asked to risk the lives of themselves and their families for 20 grand a year and the prospect of working fro 6 weeks with no pay they prioritise their health. How would recovering for 6 months if they contract a bad case be in any way a good idea. There is a teacher shortage already ... if people want unqualified students teaching their kids then they don’t really care about education it’s merely to keep their kids busy. Just because you know it doesn’t mean you can teach it.

A temporary pause in a teaching career will never have an affect on pension .. I’ve not taken a sick day in 25 years I doubt that will change drastically in the next academic year if I’m working from home.

@LisaSimpsonsbff

Some teachers will resign - sadly, it's a job with a high burnout/attrition rate under normal circumstances. I don't personally think it'll be the mass exodus some people claim, because most people need a job. Teachers very near retirement may be more likely to leave. I also suspect TA numbers will drop more sharply as that's so often a second/'bonus' income because it's so poorly paid in the first place. I know TAs who don't need to work; I've never met a teacher who could just give up their job and be fine.

Now you have .. I’ll be fine. I think you’ll be surprised hardly any teachers do their jobs for the money. Talented people such as teachers can equal the pittance they’re paid in far less stressful places. For many this will be the straw that broke the camels back.

I'd be very surprised if all the many teachers I know (DH is one) are independently wealthy and could just stop work tomorrow.

And teachers (and university lecturers - my old career) talk a lot about how much more they could make in other sectors but that often confuses 'what I could be making if I had picked a different path at 21' with 'the salary of job I could get now'. The biggest barrier to leaving for many teachers, especially if you're not an NQT at the bottom of the pay scales, is that it's hard to walk into a job that matches the pay. Not impossible, and I've known people do it successfully, but it's a fantasy that there are loads of well-paid jobs for ex-teachers out there in the middle of a major global recession. The people I know who have done it have all moved into some education-related and that's not a thriving industry at the moment.

@LisaSimpsonsbff

I'd be very surprised if all the many teachers I know (DH is one) are independently wealthy and could just stop work tomorrow.

And teachers (and university lecturers - my old career) talk a lot about how much more they could make in other sectors but that often confuses 'what I could be making if I had picked a different path at 21' with 'the salary of job I could get now'. The biggest barrier to leaving for many teachers, especially if you're not an NQT at the bottom of the pay scales, is that it's hard to walk into a job that matches the pay. Not impossible, and I've known people do it successfully, but it's a fantasy that there are loads of well-paid jobs for ex-teachers out there in the middle of a major global recession. The people I know who have done it have all moved into some education-related and that's not a thriving industry at the moment.

I disagree - we shall see. Being honest since the cancelling of pay structure not many teachers are actually on their relevant pay scales at the moment in any case. Gone are the days when experience mattered many are working on pay scales below their worth due to stripped budgets. Lots are working as cover supervisors as quite frankly the few grand drop in salary turns a 60 hour week into a 35 hour week. You underestimate the profession and it’s ability to turn their hand to other areas. There will be lots of opportunities for online learning recruitment for it is already happening as we know school won’t be the same in September ...

I'd be very surprised if all the many teachers I know (DH is one) are independently wealthy and could just stop work tomorrow
Based on the people I know who have left, none of them were independently wealthy. They still left.

One set up as a personal trainer, another runs a thriving tutoring business, another is a yoga instructor, another has decided to have a career break and spend time with her children, another is a freelance tutor, another has turned their hobby into their job, a few have gone back to their careers they had before teaching, another went back to university, another retrained as a counsellor and specialises in teen mental health.

None of them were wealthy. They simply decided they wanted a different balance in life.