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

That's rubbish :( School of several thousand with over 400 kids in each year so we'll over bubble size. All subjects streamed so moving around the various building is needed all the time. 3 year GCSE so practically done most of the work already yet can't finish it off and sit the exam equates to two years being wasted! Wants to do non core subjects like humanities at a level yet won't have done them at GCSE :( Would be better off predicting the grades and getting a mark for all subjects!!

noble giraffe I doubt it.

Well done DFE this is unworkable! No facemasks and howam i going to maintain the distance from my students my classroom is way too small!

noble giraffe I doubt it.

What would you propose?

From the Huffpost link:

The separated year groups will be be expected to arrive, leave and take breaks at different times from each other, and multiple year groups will not be allowed to take part in school assemblies.

It also goes on to talk about separating year groups on school buses. But they said they have to leave at different times. So then they wait at the bus stop and get on the same bus?

Seven year groups in most secondaries. Breaks at different times. How can they eat lunch - start at 11 and end at 2:30?

And timetabling - lesson changeover happens for all year groups at the same time because there aren't spare teachers.

I'm sure it's possible and people will work something out. But it all seems like a lot of work which won't actually achieve much because teenagers will mix, because they're teenagers...

Orangeblossom78
What subjects would they be dropping do you think? Hope it is not the ones such as DT, art, music and drama, product design..

Yup, this will be fun, I can almost guarantee that we will be hit.

Best case scenario is that they leave us with some pupils.

We’ve had a letter from school today asking us to keep our social bubbles aligned with the school bubbles, outside of school. While I can see some rationale for this, at least in theory, I can’t see it working in reality, especially for families with children in different years and separate friendship groups.

I also suspect a fair few parents won’t be happy with the letter.

I actually can’t see how anything that’s effective will be practical or how anything practical (in the sense of normal operating of schools and businesses) will be effective...

And I happen to have fair knowledge about infection prevention and control, so I’m not making that statement lightly.

Is there anyone saying this sounds sensible who actually works in a secondary school?

I was just about to ask the same question. What is it they think they know that we don’t?

But it all seems like a lot of work which won't actually achieve much because teenagers will mix, because they're teenagers...

They do mix so get them in as much as possible. A step down from completely normal but at least not this current situation of reduced school time.

@MarshaBradyo

I propose them back as normal. Perhaps limit movement where students are taught in tutor groups at secondary. But apart from that, let them go back. If it all goes to shit, lockdown again.

Hip you do work in one?

What would be your solution?

Perhaps limit movement where students are taught in tutor groups at secondary

How many times...

I think if teachers want to wear PPE then they should be able to, anyone has the right to wear what they think they need surely? A mask might be very restricting but a visor is ideal surely?

As regards dropping of subject, this is a shame especially for the less academic as I assume the 'softer' subjects will go. BTW I don't think it's true re private schools doing less, all the children I know did at least 9, my DD did 10 (triple science but not ad maths)

I find this infuriating because it's so disingenuous.

They know bubbles of 240 are ridiculous, they know that they'll all just mingle with other bubbles on public transport and at after school clubs and they know that no social distancing - for pupils or staff - can possibly take place in a classroom of 35.

I'd rather they just said 'we're under a lot of pressure from parents and need to get everyone back to work, so all the kids are going back and teachers will just have to take their chances'

Are there any other professions where employees are allowed to disregard social distancing and forgo masks, to mingle for six hours in a confined space with a succession of 30-35 people?

I've worked full time throughout and am not trying to shirk or extend my summer holiday, but why are they even trying to pretend that they're keeping staff safe.

-But it all seems like a lot of work which won't actually achieve much because teenagers will mix, because they're teenagers...*

This!

Herc yep I agree. Ask a 15 year old how distanced they are at lunchtime. But I’ll take this over what we have.

@HipTightOnions I work in a Secondary. It should be possible to swap teachers instead of students for some changeovers. Don't know why you are being so rude.

The rest of the guidance is bollocks.

What would you propose?

To ditch any pretence of distancing and to implement PPE as they have in other countries.

Or to provide good evidence that neither distancing nor PPE are required.

But when they say things like masks are mandatory on buses but not in classrooms, it’s clear they’re making it up as needed.

The only thing I still think is off is not giving option to teachers to wear visors.

Noble x post.

Yes I’ve always found the guidance on PPE infuriating and backwards.

We’ve had a letter from school today asking us to keep our social bubbles aligned with the school bubbles, outside of school.

As if that would ever happen/ work/ be possible to police.

@MarshaBradyo

But it all seems like a lot of work which won't actually achieve much because teenagers will mix, because they're teenagers...

They do mix so get them in as much as possible. A step down from completely normal but at least not this current situation of reduced school time.

You've misunderstood my point.

I want kids back in. I don't want to be reading utterly unworkable guidance. I want honesty. Honesty is "schools can't do much to mitigate the risk of spreading Covid-19, so they will operate pretty much as normal."

If the guidance linked here is correct, it's utter, utter nonsense.

Do you do work in one? What would be your solution?

Yes I do. Not sure I am qualified to solve a problem of this scale on behalf of the DfE, but it would probably involve some variety of the dreaded “blended learning”.

I am inclined to agree with AI1Lang though: “I actually can’t see how anything that’s effective will be practical or how anything practical (in the sense of normal operating of schools and businesses) will be effective...“

@noblegiraffe

What would you propose?

To ditch any pretence of distancing and to implement PPE as they have in other countries.

Or to provide good evidence that neither distancing nor PPE are required.

But when they say things like masks are mandatory on buses but not in classrooms, it’s clear they’re making it up as needed.

Completely agree with this.

(Not that it's relevant for my shielding family, but I am capable of giving a shit about those with different life circumstances).

And FWIW I don't think that anyone needs to worry about subjects being dropped.

It will be an option, without penalty, to drop a subject in order to concentrate on core subjects if all stakeholders agree.

So schools might excuse some students from MFL to concentrate on English, for example. I doubt anyone will be forced to drop a subject they've already started, are good at or want to study at A level.