Education press conference today (Thursday)

[Redolent]

Goody, it’s Gavin Williamson again.

mobile.twitter.com/10downingstreet/status/1278395670618136576?s=21

@MsJaneAusten I fear that may happen too. As a parent of a child studying for GCSE’s next year I hope this is not the case!

I have seen commentary this morning suggesting that schools will need to pare back to English, maths and science; and if some (but hopefully not all) other subject options fall by the wayside for some pupils, that is how it will be.

Not a good prospect for those in years 9, 10, 11 in September. And might be pretty crappy for sixth form too

Part of me wonders if they're just making announcements for the sake of it on the basis that things will look very different by September.

I hadn't thought of the bus thing. We're also rural and I reckon around one third of our secondary school kids travel by bus.

Also not especially happy about the focus on core subjects. My DC (Y8) have kept up with the curriculum across all subjects and I think they'll get very bored if they have to do catch up maths and english for a term. The school has already said there will be no streaming in the Autumn term.

DD would take an hour to walk to school which I don't think is on particularly in the autumn term when the mornings start getting much darker.

Local buses are packed with DC going to schools all over the place. They will be in travel bubbles as well as school ones (which defeats the purpose of the exercise). Not all have the option to be driven to school.

Logistically it will be a nightmare. Whoever mentioned one week at school and the next at home probably has it right. At least then they got proper teaching and work set. And it means only have the year groups would need to be in at any one time.

Disgraceful though if they are just going to get taught the basics and no education enrichment. Mind you I would be happy to see RE ditched as an exam subject as DD is less than keen.

I understood it as teacher's in secondary school could teach different classes. So, essentially, I can teach my normal timetable of Y9-13 but the kids in those year groups won't mix with eachother.

My school is lucky in that we do have a number of
large spaces where year groups could go at lunch e.g. gym/hall. What we couldn't do though is get them all through the restaurant - I wonder if it will be packed lunches for the majority with the kitchens making a packed lunch for FSM children.

Lots of our kids use buses - can't see how year groups can be kept separate on those!

Plus, kids may have siblings in other year groups so surely that is effectively mixing bubbles?

I have a feeling that this guidance will be put out there and when the 11th August confirmation day arrives, provided infections have continued on a downward trend, it will be a case of 'back as normal in September'.

I can't see any other way!

@VikingVolva

I have seen commentary this morning suggesting that schools will need to pare back to English, maths and science; and if some (but hopefully not all) other subject options fall by the wayside for some pupils, that is how it will be.

Not a good prospect for those in years 9, 10, 11 in September. And might be pretty crappy for sixth form too

I did read that they would not expect students to have to change their GCSE options other than in exceptional circumstances so this would not effect the year 10s and 11s

I agree that it’s largely irrelevant what they say at the moment because schools going back is still almost 9 weeks away in England. They have no idea what the situation will be like at that point, especially given pubs etc opening up this weekend. Who knows what that will do to the amount of new cases.

I would urge anyone who feels schools need to just go back to look at the UsForThem website or their FB or Twitter feed.

My son (otherwise slim and healthy) was very ill with CV. Don’t think your child won’t get it. Also, God help teachers.