What changes do you think the updated school guidance will announce on 11th August?

[Lemons1571]

I think masks for secondary kids. Not sure if they’ll also go for masks in some primary years. Hopefully also optional ppe for school staff.

@DipSwimSwoosh will you please stop making things difficult for teachers who aren't as confident or perhaps in as rude health as yourself, with your bravado? We get it by now - you're not bothered. Please have some consideration for those who wish to return to school safely.

It was released on Friday! Just read through. No change. Schools to go ahead with no distancing, no masks and minor hand washing.

FML.

@BelleSausage

It was released on Friday! Just read through. No change. Schools to go ahead with no distancing, no masks and minor hand washing.

FML.

I was wondering what it would be but I’m not surprised at this.

Government would make a meal out if something as big as masks. Johnson could even rock up.

@BelleSausage

It was released on Friday! Just read through. No change. Schools to go ahead with no distancing, no masks and minor hand washing.

FML.

So the update on the 7th was the final version?

Where was the confirmation?

Or are you just inferring that, because there have been two updates so far (27th July as well as 7th August) the 7th August must be the final one?

Never say 'oh, there can't be any more revisions / updates' is one of my key learnings from the DfE performance thus far....

I don’t think it is the final version. This is their holding guidelines until they can see which way the political land lies.

So you think - as do I - that instead of a release 'on the 11th', they have done some general tinkering beforehand and are now holding their hand on any other changes while watching countries that are returning with interest?

I think that too, especially with some of the reports coming out about how older children may have/transmit ithe virus, especially as most of the previous guidance has really focussed on Primary education and the practicalities with smaller year groups, and Secondaries have been an after thought (or no thought!)

Yep, that’s what I think. They are using Scotland as a test case. There’s another three weeks until English schools go back. Depending on what happens in Scotland we’ll see the guidance change.

And if it’s going to be big (blended learning for secondary) it’ll be announced by Boris or Gavin on TV.

Well, that’s an announcement!

Wasn’t expecting that! It just gets worse

And if any parents think the Government know what they are doing when talking about schools this should surely show them they don’t.

What announcement? Is this about the exam results? I can't find anything.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53746140

@BelleSausage I can’t find an August 11 update? Which website is it on?

There wasn’t an 11th August update after all, apart from the stunner on exam results!

However, in this newspaper article they allude to an announcement to be made this week about detailed guidance on return to school and use of masks (see end of article). So there still maybe something to come this week.
www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/grammar-school-belfast-royal-academy-to-ban-pupils-not-wearing-face-masks-from-classroom/ar-BB17Pvo4?ocid=spartanntp_edu

@BabySweet85

The cunning fuckers sneaked it out last Friday. No changes really. All in, no social distancing, no masks and some bollocks about low infection rates and a brilliant track and trace system.

All in al a pile of shite.

I don't think the situation is quite as clear as that, BelleSausage.

There was an earlier update on 27th July - and that was much more significant in terms of size and scope. Most of the 'we have updated' list at the start of the document is from the earlier update, not the latest one.

The main update I can work out from the 7th August one is simply a few sentences around schools in areas of local lockdown.

Thus I am unconvinced that the 7th August update is 'the 11th August-ish update done early'. I am more inclined to believe that it is one - and really quite a minor one - of an ongoing series.

Which raises the question of whether we are still due a 'major update' or not. I suspect that under current circumstances of local lockdowns and gradually rising case numbers, the Government won't admit that anything is 'final'' until the start of September, because major revisions and u-turns may still be needed up to the 11th hour.