Why is Covid affecting schools?

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Latest updates are there have now been 421 outbreaks in UK schools. How is this possible? From what the government was implying throughout August was that schools would be safe environments which Covid would be unable to affect. How we was told that children don’t spread the virus.

You could understand the odd case here and there but that seems very high when most schools have only been back for one week. I suspect this number is much higher due to the lag in testing and results and indeed the amount of people unable to even get a test. Also we’ve not had enough time to really see the effect of spreading within schools from asymptotic carriers, just what has been taken in from being caught elsewhere.

We are still officially in summer, what will the situation be once the weather turns colder? Once the community transmission increases with the R rate now above 1?

I teach in a primary and although it really is lovely to have everyone back, anyone thinking schools are ‘safe’ from Covid are completely deluded. My school got it in the first wave (and yes primary children can have symptoms as well as staff) so I’m hoping it won’t be too bad this time round, but it’s only a matter of time really.

*is deluded (I can teach your children grammar, honest!)

@VashtaNerada I don't think anyone thinks schools are 'safe' from Covid when community transmission is still occuring, what the majority of people are saying is that for children the benefit of being in school FAR outweighs the risk from Covid.

The priority should be to protect the teachers by bringing down community transmission.

It’s a virus. Kids can spread it. They just get less ill with it. But I am at a loss now as to what people thought would happen in a pandemic. We have to balance things up - what are people saying - we need to lockdown again until a vaccine. I am certainly not going to do that and I don’t want my kids to do that either. On balance.

I don't know about Covid spreading in schools but I've been back a week and already have a really sore throat and the start of a cold. That's with all out so called Covid secure measures in place and the constant hand washing.

@Helloitsmemargaret I agree! I have heard some bonkers things from the government wildly overstating how different school is now though. Bubbles are new but there’s absolutely nothing to stop them going down one at a time, plus teachers are mixing with each other and children from multiple bubbles play together or are from the same household so it is only a matter of time really. I am really glad they’re back for now, it’s just a bit of a worry what’s next.

Because bubbles are too big. Track and trace doesn't work. Distancing in schools is not possible. The results from testing are too delayed so the virus spreads outside of schools in the community which inevitably ends up in the school's.

Kids are asymptotic, but not all of them. Many many bugs going around, lots of coughs and temperatures, so lots of children being tested and positive cases being found as a result.

50% of the school's in my area have a bubble off due to a positive test. The kids have only been in school 5 days! We are in a low rate area apparently. It's going to be a nightmare of a winter.

Also I feel very strongly that this year if your child is remotely snotty or under the weather you do not send them into school.

I am not usually an advocate of this!!

But people cannot seriously think that Covid won’t affect schools. Of course it will. It’s a virus. It’s about keeping it slow and steady. Always has been.

My kids have been back a week and we've all now got a horrible cold and sore throat.
For the government to make ridiculous claims that schools are 'covid secure' is totally misleading and inaccurate.
There is nothing in the news about the numbers of schools with cases - the bbc are brushing it under the carpet again.

Covid secure is a marketing term used to calm people so we can all get a little balance back. It doesn’t mean the virus won’t spread.

I personally feel people picked it up from the eat out to help out scheme too. The restaurants near me were brimming. People at my work planned time off during that time to avail the discount. I appreciate it helps economy but it created a situation where people mixed in crowds. Was every restaurant covid secure? They were barely able to manage the orders.

Schools opening means increased use of public transport and kids and parents walking in groups. Everyone rushing and not always able to maintain social distancing.

@wherestheotherone

Also I feel very strongly that this year if your child is remotely snotty or under the weather you do not send them into school.

I am not usually an advocate of this!!

As a secondary teacher I thank you for that🙏😊

@Bool

It’s a virus. Kids can spread it. They just get less ill with it. But I am at a loss now as to what people thought would happen in a pandemic. We have to balance things up - what are people saying - we need to lockdown again until a vaccine. I am certainly not going to do that and I don’t want my kids to do that either. On balance.

Bugger the 100 plus adult staff in your average secondary school, the kids who are medically vulnerable, the parents or grandparents who they live with who may also be medically vulnerable. I think a sensible decision would be from half term to go to tier 2 (blended learning for secondary schools).

I think a sensible decision would be from half term to go to tier 2 (blended learning for secondary schools).

I wouldn’t do this for critical exam years, yr 11 here. It would impact negatively after so much disruption.

I doubt younger years would go for it either but dc not in those years so will leave those years to say.

The adult staff as pp mention are not allowed ppe to protect them. I am not sure schools will be able to have enough staff until half term if things continue like this.
Deep cleaning is a joke given how less funding they have. I wish they used the 6 months to establish a better virtual education and use commercial spaces or empty office spaces to offer socially distanced lessons to those who are not able to access online. I know a lot of money went into the eat to help scheme so it's about priorities.

@MarshaBradyo

I think a sensible decision would be from half term to go to tier 2 (blended learning for secondary schools).

I wouldn’t do this for critical exam years, yr 11 here. It would impact negatively after so much disruption.

I doubt younger years would go for it either but dc not in those years so will leave those years to say.

As the person standing in front of the class as I have been for over 25 years now, I can only really talk about my subject (which as you know has restrictions on it anyway), literally nothing I am teaching at the moment could not be done online... Also the government are playing Russian roulette with the health of all staff in schools at the moment, I think we should have a bit of a say tin be honest.

Apologies for double negative- everything I am teaching atm can be done online.

@redferrari

The adult staff as pp mention are not allowed ppe to protect them. I am not sure schools will be able to have enough staff until half term if things continue like this. Deep cleaning is a joke given how less funding they have. I wish they used the 6 months to establish a better virtual education and use commercial spaces or empty office spaces to offer socially distanced lessons to those who are not able to access online. I know a lot of money went into the eat to help scheme so it's about priorities.

Lucky if we get our bin changed. We have brought in our own PPE but it's costing a fortune as we are replacing it a few times a day. Probably spending £30 a week on PPE.

I really feel for teachers, one of our regular y4 teachers is now isolating and she was really good and much loved by her pupils.
She did her best in summer term (ever personally writing to individual students) and would have continued if she had the option to teach virtually. There is a new rec and we don't know what her future in our schools is until pandemic is over.

Monkey I know you have big restrictions it must be hard, btw it is it difficult to fill the whole lesson time?

How do you think you’ll have to grade it if you’re missing so much? This must be true across the board for both sectors.

I understand some subjects will be suffering more. My only issue is that online learning can become demotivating long term and they’ll learn even lower amounts

I’d be happy with remote learning and one of mine is in exam years. It’s safer, less stress and teachers can assist remotely if needed. The staff deserve to be safe as well. It worked well during lockdown so I see no reason why it couldn’t again. If anything, staff have learnt new ways and technology so it may even be better.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

I’d be happy with remote learning and one of mine is in exam years. It’s safer, less stress and teachers can assist remotely if needed. The staff deserve to be safe as well. It worked well during lockdown so I see no reason why it couldn’t again. If anything, staff have learnt new ways and technology so it may even be better.

This is highly dependent on school and student ime

There is good remote learning for those who prefer it - Oak Academy but it’s really is better for earlier years, I would use that if yr6 closed temporarily

@MarshaBradyo no, I can fill hours in lessons with my expansive knowledge As a pre PowerPoint/technology trained teacher who went to secondary school myself in the 80s I can do the chalk and talk thing till the cows come home!

My exam syllabi have been considerably changed now so that the knowledge based work (which is teachable with ease remotely) is more important and the practical less heavy now.