Huffpost - leak on School Guidance

[PatriciaHolm]

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/school-reopening-whole-year-bubbles-full-guidance-covid_uk_5ef9dd4ac5b6ca97091288e4?oo9&guccounter=1

Full document due this week, but some "highlights"...(I use the word advisedly)

• secondary bubbles of up to 240 children (essentially a year group) -No in-class social distancing requirement for primary pupils, with secondary pupils advised to stay 1m apart but not at all times -Teachers advised to keep 2m away from pupils, at the front of the class, and away from colleagues as much as possible as if in a supermarket

• Compulsory engagement with the NHS Test and Trace system, with whole classes or year groups liable to be sent home if a pupil tests positive, but whole school closure not seen as generally necessary

-No face coverings for pupils or teachers, on Public Health England advice, as they “interfere” with teaching and learning -Children seated facing forwards in same direction and not at circular tables, with pupils wearing normal uniform and washing hands throughout the day -Teachers advised to spend no more than 15 minutes at any one time closer than 1m to anyone - Fines of up to £120 for parents whose children fail to attend school. In contrast with the “softly softly” approach taken during full lockdown the message will be “education is not optional”

• Heads told not to put in any staff rota or physical distancing that would require extra space or make it impossible for all pupils to return full-time.

- Contingency plans for some or all of the school being put in local lockdown and any temporary return to “remote” teaching needing to be of a high quality -Some subjects for some or all pupils may have to be suspended for two terms to allow catch-up on core subjects such as English and maths, with a full spread of subjects returning in the summer term of of 2021 -Some pupils may have to drop some GSCEs altogether in Year 11 to allow them to catch up and achieve better grades in English and maths. GCSEs and A-levels to take place as planned next summer but with some “adaptations” - First year pupils at secondary school may have to be re-taught English and maths from their final year syllabus at primary level

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch

That would mean children being unable to go near their parent - possibly for months. This is unsustainable and cruel.

So then home school the children of people in the very vulnerable category only (not the fit and scared lot though) and if the family of the very, vulnerable choose to continue to shield in the family bubble fair enough. You cannot have it every which way and the whole of society cannot stop forever. Shielding ends in August.

There has always been people in society that due to treatments/diseases eg cancer and chemo that have to be extra, extra careful - in the past no one worried (cared) and suggested that children couldn't go to school... etc etc so why is this different?

The vast majority have to return to some form of normality.

The idea of dropping subjects is a dangerous one because, as many have said, a lot of pupils will chose to do anything but core subjects at A level. Which then lead to another question: how will the school be able to select pupils without them sitting the subject?
For the previous years, like Y7 ir Y8 who don't then do history or laguages, they WILL suffer from the no teaching for two semesters and they WILL see the effect at GCSE later on.
The ripple effect might well be felt for many years if they carry on like this.

Where do the extra English and Maths teachers come from? The rest seems ok ish.

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch

Great news about Oak Academy! At least that's something concrete.

The thing is, I don't want to homeschool. What I really want is to not have blood cancer, and for my kids to have a normal life and go to school.

It is what it is, but having it implied that I'm choosing to opt out - and deserve to be fined - when I don't feel I have any real choice does catch me on the raw rather.

Anyway, I'm taking this thread too personally, so I'm going to sod off and do some RL stuff.

With you on that!!!

So.... what about schools with year groups of more than 240??

@Poetryinaction

Where do the extra English and Maths teachers come from? The rest seems ok ish.

Mainly teachers poached from other subject areas that are under hours.

@BatSegundo

"What would you like to see instead? That sounds goady but I genuinely don't mean it to be, I'm curious as to what could be done to keep shielding children safe. Face masks probably wouldn't be enough (although I do appreciate that adding face masks would help) and there just isn't space for adequate distancing."

Either something like blended learning for all in Y7, 8 and 9 with 1 of those groups plus Y10/11 in each day to maximise social distancing and reduce sharing of facilities. Maybe facemasks everywhere outside of lessons/dining hall. Or back to normal but acknowledge that it won't be a safe model for vulnerable students/families/staff and a requirement for schools to put something else in place for those groups. E.g. souped up home learning or a 'school within a school' for that group. In a large secondary school I imagine that there will be a substantial number of shielded students or students from shielding families as well as shielded staff who could teach them.

So Y7,8,9 get one day a week in school? Or possibly 2? I couldn't leave my Y7 on her own 3 or 4 days a week so I would have to leave my job.

I would rather they were honest, provided handwashing facilities where ever possible, loads of hand sanitizer and made proper provision for children to be educated at home where necessary for their health

I have just looked at the Oak academy list of staff - lots of SEN staff and Teach First but no one with a background in learning technology ( the subject that looks at how people learn online).

"So.... what about schools with year groups of more than 240??"

Split the year group in half. This often already happens.

@FrippEnos and what exactly does a DT or an Art teacher know about teaching Shakespeare to year 11?

As an English teacher , I might also add I deplore the message this sends out about option subjects, but also about the purpose of studying English and maths.

It's depressing.

@SqidgeBum The English dept will prob have to provide notes plus a teaching plan.

Mainly teachers poached from other subject areas that are under hours.

Shit for the students and even worse for the staff. We need good maths teachers more than ever to fill the gaps in students knowledge. Any old teacher in front of them isn't good for their learning or their motivation in the subject.

Does anyone have a share token for the Times article?

@Piggywaspushed As a maths teacher I completely agree with you. It's a horrendous decision.

I’m confused about the self isolating if been in contact with someone with covid point. I thought those in a school bubble had to all stay home and self isolate until the result was given as a precaution if someone had any of the three main symptoms. If it’s only for a positive case then there’s the time students will be mixing within their year groups whilst the sick person is off school getting and awaiting test results where the virus may be spreading further around the bubble and staff.

Tbh, with secondary especially, there is no easy answer to this as it’s a total logistical nightmare to get all children back full time. This sounds a bit like ‘send them in, tell them to wash their hands and keep distance when they can, do a bit of time staggering, and hope for the best’. I’m a teacher in a secondary school teaching a practical subject where from a H&S POV I need to get within 1 m of students regularly in lessons. I presume the guidance means I’ll have to continue to do this because I’m not within 1 m of the same student for more than 15 minutes. I’m really not sure how I feel about this. I’m frustrated if I had another job I would be more protected with covid secure measures whereas as a teacher I’m not able to have these measures fulfilled because children apparently don’t get or spread it as much between them. I wonder what the unions will make of it.

In the positive, I’m glad they’re giving the guidelines now with time for schools etc to prepare for September.

@serenada The wider knowledge just isn't there in a non subject specialist though. I could deliver an English lesson but it would take me longer to prep for, I wouldn't be confident at all and any misconceptions etc I would have no idea on. The plan is a shit show.

The English dept will prob have to provide notes plus a teaching plan.

Step forward Oak Academy, a computer room and a cover supervisor.

[quote SqidgeBum]@FrippEnos and what exactly does a DT or an Art teacher know about teaching Shakespeare to year 11?[/quote]
Depends on the teacher, butr we wuold be using notes or instructions after a discussion with the English teacher

A tech teacher could have a decent punt at maths and physics though.

@rawlikesushi

"And posts like this make me feel like a piece of shit."

That's the last thing I want. I'm speculating about government guidance, not saying it's right.

I am taking it too personally: thanks

@serenada

I have just looked at the Oak academy list of staff - lots of SEN staff and Teach First but no one with a background in learning technology ( the subject that looks at how people learn online).

Some of them lack common sense too, there was one video for primary about how to sign to people when you are social distancing, one sign was 'blowing a kiss' - I doubt many of the primary pupils watching it at school were 1m away from each other let alone 2.

Wow. Not a single fuck given about the health of school staff, then. And I can’t opt to keep my vulnerable child at home, nor can I, as a vulnerable adult, opt to wear even basic PPE when in school.

There will be resignations. And adults in schools will be getting sick and dying. But never mind, eh, because we could have caught from sitting at home and doing everything we can to keep safe. What an absolute joke.

Thanks @Hercwasonaroll

A tech teacher could have a decent punt at maths and physics though.

If it’s anything like the punt I (maths teacher) could take at a tech subject, I’m not so sure.

I genuinely don't understand the posters on here who think this will be better for children's (or teachers!) mental health.