Schools guidance released

[Orangeblossom78]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53253722

No dropping of subjects at GCSE then. Posting for info

@DomDoesWotHeWants I think that is the whole point. I actually think they have made it as unworkable as possible on purpose.

Palace girl where did you get the idea that teachers worked one week out of three in lockdown? I have worked every day I'm paid to and many others unpaid.
I'm not worried about public support. Don't think we've had that for a long time.

@netflixismysidehustle

Is Scotland still having full time in school education in August for everyone? They have handled COVID so much better so wondered how they will achieve this. Are they giving school money or is education not a devolved matter?

So far, they've just told us - in the last week of term - to bin the blended learning plans they asked us to make and to all be in in six weeks times with no SD. Details have not been given. Yes, education is devolved.

Palacegirk- there's a massive difference between how the government treated the NHS and schools. They built Nightingale hospitals at lightning speeds - where is their will to help the nation's kids?

I know that some Nightingale Hospitals are being converted to cancer testing centres but where is the government's effort when it comes to schools? I bet theatres would rent out their buildings to the government in a heartbeat. Same with leisure centres- I bet they'd happily rent the building out to the government. We could get kids back but schools need government money.

Did the government pay for the extra PPE that they eventually sourced for the NHS? Considering the world wide shortage I bet it cost more than usual years.

Have they asked retired teachers to return?

Have they offered student teachers time in schools? Seems like a perfect way to cover a lunch break for a primary teacher who might want to eat lunch away from the kids rather than in the classroom with the kids? How do teachers in a bubble have a pee if they are the only adult in the bubble?

I've got a pile of 350 reports to read through and check before Monday. Fancy doing them for me Palacegirl? Since they take absolutely no time whatsover?

Thanks mistressgigi - hopefully the infection rate remains low.

well buy some then

We are not allowed to use it?

And whilst I am all reusable mask and hand sanitizer ready, the whole point is it is up to my employer - the Government - to make sure that we all have what we need to minimise risk, I know that I will be getting through gallons of sanitizer to try and keep things safe in my classroom and it will be me who’s paying for it. 5 lessons a day, 30 kids in a class is 150 pairs of hands a day. Why should I have to pay for that?

I've read the long one. Nothing on transfers to secondary. The two open evenings I wanted to attend in June were cancelled and one has already been cancelled for September. Luckily I did the rounds of some schools this past autumn (Year 5), but I was relying on being able to visit the others this year. I hope they sort it out soon. Still no word on what the LA are going to do about 11+, just a placeholder bit on the website saying it isn't confirmed yet. But if the normal secondary transfer dates appply (paperwork in by end of October) then they haven't got too much leeway to delay the tests and have the results out on time.

Seems to be guidance that might work in parts for a small primary school where everyone lives locally, but anywhere else, fraught with problems.

Or and an expensive boarding school, cannot think of any that come to mind.

hashtagbollocks

well buy some then confused

Have you missed the bit about teachers not being allowed to wear PPE?

Or are you just being obtuse?

Palacegirl am sure the nation would be delighted if you can find a way to make the recommendations work better than current plans. Seeming as you appear to have no idea of what it is like in a high school and think people pointing out real problems are being negative then go for it.

As someone who shares my small and very poorly ventilated room with up to 160 students a day I can’t see the point of bubbles. Will a bubble of 240 really reduce spread when compared to a bubble of 1000 when there are so many siblings overlapping groups?I haven’t seen any research to suggest it would. As a school with the majority of pupils bussed in from a wide area I can’t see staggered starts working for our bus companies who have been great but who are struggling. I don’t want a mask - I teach in a challenging special measures school - I need to use my voice and face to keep everything calm. Spitting through a soggy mask in my already over warm room won’t help me. So I would happily see life as normal come September but only if the data suggests that is ok. I would prefer some kind of 50% timetable which would give half class sizes so there is more space all round. That would be workable and could support blended learning. Instead the model is frankly baffling and governors and heads will want to follow recommendations or they will, when staff, students or parents die, open them selves up to being held legally accountable.

I'm watching the briefing with Gavin Williamson and Jenny Harries - what a load of twaddle. It's just a charade. They aren't actually answering any questions about risks or practicalities. Jenny Harries has just said they can hold lessons in the open air during summer - great, except they are going back in the autumn and winter.

It's utter nonsense. They've got no idea how to make this work. They've just said it's important to minimise the number of interactions so will need staggered starts and finishes and change overs - except that Sony won't work. So they've formulated a plan to make schools safer by using a system that can't work. Great.

[quote nellodee]@lyralala if we did that at our school, we would end up losing so much time between lessons that we may as well do a week on week off rota anyway.[/quote]
I think from the sounds of it they're going to do it alongside massive timetable changes. I think double lessons in the same subjects to minimise movement are guaranteed.

We are not allowed to use it
yes you are

Yup. Lots of positive responses there. Im talking about my own experiences. Im sure there are plenty of teachers working their fingers to the bones. im sure there are also ones that arent. That comes down to the head and the SLT doesnt it? Im talking about my 2 best friends, both teachers and my sister, Im not saying all teachers go shopping during their PPA. Im saying she does (and probably not every week) - my point was that that shouldnt be the first thoughts of a teacher should it? If so they need to be lobbying for part time return.

Saying to me "do you want to read the 350 reports for me" isnt my job. Im not being paid to do that so no thanks, I dont want to read them. Or I tell you what, yes I can read them for you whilst you homeschool my 2 kids? and try and run a business at the same time. On zero pay currently. Does that sound better to you?

Nice of them to deliver this AFTER schools have spent months developing timetables for next year.

@QualityFeet

Palacegirl am sure the nation would be delighted if you can find a way to make the recommendations work better than current plans. Seeming as you appear to have no idea of what it is like in a high school and think people pointing out real problems are being negative then go for it.

As someone who shares my small and very poorly ventilated room with up to 160 students a day I can’t see the point of bubbles. Will a bubble of 240 really reduce spread when compared to a bubble of 1000 when there are so many siblings overlapping groups?I haven’t seen any research to suggest it would. As a school with the majority of pupils bussed in from a wide area I can’t see staggered starts working for our bus companies who have been great but who are struggling. I don’t want a mask - I teach in a challenging special measures school - I need to use my voice and face to keep everything calm. Spitting through a soggy mask in my already over warm room won’t help me. So I would happily see life as normal come September but only if the data suggests that is ok. I would prefer some kind of 50% timetable which would give half class sizes so there is more space all round. That would be workable and could support blended learning. Instead the model is frankly baffling and governors and heads will want to follow recommendations or they will, when staff, students or parents die, open them selves up to being held legally accountable.

How funny, to have a go at me for saying you need to come up with something instead of being negative....directly before coming up with some sort of workable solution! Thats all I was suggesting - what CAN be done instead of what cant!

Have you missed the bit about teachers not being allowed to wear PPE
no, because it doesn't say that.
Guidance says it's not necessary and the advice is not to but you can if you want.
Can you imagine if a teacher turned up in PPE and was made to take it off?
there's absolutely no way that would be allowed, the unions would have a fit.
If you want to wear PPE just wear it and say you don't feel safe unless you are wearing it.

palace since you've been so vocal on here about my profession. What do you do? You've suggested you want the kids back so you don't lose your job (something I massively agree with). I'm wondering what you do, so we can see what your profession has done to minimise your risk?

hashtag it's already been mentioned 1000x on here that a mask won't protect the wearer. It needs everyone to be wearing one.

Thank you, Palacegirl, for acknowledging that most of us ARE working more than one day every blue moon.

Much appreciated.

I Palace girl but I ended by saying all schools will have to follow guidance - the guidance remains unworkable. The plan I would make is irrelevant -
I can’t make one that works well for anyone under current guidance. This is the one needed.

I have no plan for the guidance - thats the plan that is needed

*user8 so why are so many teachers saying they want to wear PPE?

@hashtagbollocks

*user8 so why are so many teachers saying they want to wear PPE?

Because it's a start! Like I said earlier to your question, I'd like all students wearing them too (for secondary). At least for this next term or two until we see what winter is going to do with this pandemic.

Well as it is 2 months away I would suggest we wait to see where we are closer to the time ?