If you work in a boarding school how do you feel about things?

[CompleteBarstool]

I work in a boarding school where, like most boarding schools at the moment, pupils are starting to return in order to quarantine for 2 weeks or are returning because their country is about to go on the list (eg Switzerland). All other students return next week.

My views on Covid19 have been pretty middle of the road (not paranoid but not dismissive) but thinking about the coming weeks I do wonder what on earth is going to happen.

Although on paper boarding schools can put all sorts of measures into place , at the end of the day you are bringing together 100s of young people from all over the world, they will be living, eating and studying together yet are expected to socially distance ( no hugging, no in and out of each others rooms etc)

On top of that you have staff and non-boarders going to and from the site on a daily basis.

Does anyone else feel a bit unsure about the situation or wonder if it's a mistake reopening?

I don't really feel it's so different in essence from day schools. Yes, they're coming from all over the world, but the ones who are not local will only do that once (if you see what I mean) and then it's actually easier for them to form a bubble. I think if someone has the virus, then they're going to pass it on during the school day. The element of boarding doesn't necessarily make it more likely that it will get passed on. And at least we have small classes at our school! I do feel a bit apprehensive about going back to school generally, but not more so because we're a boarding school, I suppose.

Good point about the fact that when they're there then actually they're not coming and going like a day school. They become contained within the campus

However I guess that's when the day pupils and staff introduce the risk by coming and going every day having done things like going shopping, mixing with non-school people and so on.

I think the next 2 weeks are going to be the hardest as it's that "wait and see" period to see if anyone comes in with the virus which is perfectly possible with the amount of air travel involved. If, God forbid, someone does have it then there is that danger that an entire boarding house and beyond could be locked down.

Don't get me wrong, the school have worked throughout the summer to make the return as safe as possible but human nature (and the virus) being what it is means nobody is ever 100% safe

Its the same with university students, but they can go out and about and do what they want. We just have to make the best of it and hope its all OK. I work in HE and we all have to hope the plans in place are enough.

Well the pupils are all back now so this is the first proper week.

As they arrived last week it seemed to be the new pupils and those from abroad that seemed to be wearing masks and being more aware of social distancing. Teaching staff seemed well organised and equipped (sneeze screens and visors), boarding house pastoral staff less so.

I guess the next week or so will be quite telling as if anyone has arrived back with the virus we will soon know and have to quickly action the isolation/quarantine plan.

My son goes back on Tuesday. I'm holding my breath!

Dd is in a mixed day/boarding school. The boarders are spread out more - no more bunks in the junior house (all singles), half the capacity in each room, an extra form moved into senior house (to fill all the available single rooms - while leaving isolation rooms for when needed).

Each form group in boarding is a pod - seperate eating and study places for each year (when previously the boarders were all together 1st to 6th year, for eating and study (except for those in senior house who studied in their own rooms)). And boarders are not allowed eat lunch with day girls anymore.

But they have all, day and boarding, adapted to mask wearing in public spaces and when larger numbers are in a class (if smaller numbers and spaced 2m apart, they can remove them in class, and they get “ventilation breaks” if spending more than 2 classes in the same room to allow movement and fresh air with no mask outdoors. (Just a couple of minutes but that seems to help).

I should have said the boarders are still in class as normal - so they have their year pod in boarding (max of 3 classes mixed), and then their class bubble during the school day classes are small, max size is 20).

And also that boarders are not allowed off campus at all Sun pm to Fri afternoon - a major change to normal. But they all understand and accept (and in fact, more are staying weekends than usual - not just the overseas students). And there are more boarding who were day pupils last year due to avoiding public transport (there were a number who had an hour by train in the mornings who are boarding).