NEU calls for two week closure for secondaries and colleges following leap in infections

[noblegiraffe]

The NEU has called for a two week closure of secondary schools and colleges following a more than 9-fold increase in the infection rate in secondary school children in a month.

www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-teachers-demand-2-week-school-closures-after-cases-jump

The infection rate in Y7-11 was 0.5% last week, according to the ONS survey of random households, but this nearly doubled to 0.93% in the latest set of figures. This rise cannot be ignored or passed off as relating to university students as has happened so far.

In other, entirely unrelated news, 61% of teachers report that if a student doesn't wear a mask in a school where they are mandated in communal areas 'nothing happens'.

www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-61-staff-say-nothing-done-if-pupils-wont-wear-masks

And Teacher Tapp data from yesterday had 26% of teachers reporting that their schools were partially closed to students.

In the meantime, the testing positivity rate in 10-19 year olds is 17%, which means that this group is severely under-tested and lots of cases will be missed. The rate should be below 5%.

Yet the insistence continues that in any lockdown scenario, schools will remain open. Idiocy.

There is new DfE guidance for learning for times when schools are closed or children are isolating. The curriculum was suspended by the government in March, this isn't going to happen this time.

To those that had poor experiences from their children's schools - yes if that is the case, down to poor leadership, though of course only following government guidance.

If the experience isn't good, change schools, vote with your feet.

but is it really sensible to close schools to make it fair for everyone?

It’s not about closing schools to make it fair for the ones who are currently home, cologne, it’s about closing schools to lower the infection rates to a more manageable level so that fewer kids get sent home due to outbreaks and more kids are in school for longer.

I think it gets derailed because some teachers will not accept that many, perhaps due to the head, simply let the children down over lock down, and rolled out a barrel of weak excuses that don't wash because so many schools... Managed to slice through those obstacles like a hot knife through butter.

For me it's frustrating because my own setting was on it. No fuss, angst, hand wringing... We just did it, it was easy. But my own dd school went into reverse.

I don't know what's wrong with the other teacher posters who can't see this. As for a standard... I'm not looking forward to next week at all. I'm going to be doing two jobs again.

People complaining should bear in mind that their view of the provision might not be universally held.

You're not wrong. During lockdown, one parent complained that she couldn't understand why we were designing our own weekly activities and videos "when there are all these fabulous little books on Twinkl that look so much nicer". Another complained that we didn't have Google Classroom running in March, but here we are in October and he has still yet to agree to the terms and conditions so his own child can access it.

@DreamingofBrie I don't think anyone can doubt any of the teachers on this threads commitment to their students.
I also have a new level of admiration for the teachers at my DCs schools. Both seem to be on track now despite the months off.
I think my biggest concern is that I watched my DC gradually turn into zombies during lockdown - so much time on screens with no real interaction. Seeing the massive change in them by being back at school has been so amazing and such a relief. I'm just worried about their well-being if we have another long spell of starring at screens again and no social contact.

And as said before, nothing to do with the government, no need for union intervention either - infection is rising. Adults in school are not immune. Not enough qualified adults available = SCHOOL Building CLOSURE.

@ResplendentAutumn I agree with all your post. Lots of luck for next week.

"Well, for a few year groups (and for a restricted number of children with keyworker parents) and for a very limited time. Between March and September, my son had one 1 2 1 with his personal tutor. That was the extent of his face to face time."

That is not schools' fault, though. We opened as much as we could, according to the restrictions imposed at the time, which was dependent upon staffing and the size and layout of our site. There has always been a huge disparity between what different schools can offer - much of the time, staff have been able to disguise that disparity and make up for it in other ways. Covid has exposed the shit show (due to being starved of funds, bit by bit, over the last few decades) for what it is. For example, most state school teachers haven't even got their own laptop provided, yet have been expected to provide state-of-the-art live lessons from home, using technology that requires massive updating and investment.
Parents have had a wake-up call.

Re closing schools for a short break, I'm all for it and think every school holiday should be slightly expanded, to provide a break. Teachers should get on line to support though.

For example, most state school teachers haven't even got their own laptop provided, yet have been expected to provide state-of-the-art live lessons from home

...and regular phone calls to students on their own mobiles.

"I don't know what's wrong with the other teacher posters who can't see this."
Who "can't see this?"

Call me, I used my own battered old lap top 🔝 access Google meet (free) and Google hangout?

I think it gets derailed because some teachers will not accept that many, perhaps due to the head, simply let the children down over lock down, and rolled out a barrel of weak excuses that don't wash because so many schools

No the government let the children down, not teachers. The government suspended the curriculum. No expectation at all except for care of KW and vulnerable children.
There are many, many examples of how good the care was, teachers delivering food, teachers cleaning toilets, teachers volunteering in hubs seven days per week throughout. (Easter holidays included)

Anyone talking about unions getting schools closed should be aware that none of them have balloted for strike action. It’s not even on the agenda.

@noblegiraffe

For example, most state school teachers haven't even got their own laptop provided, yet have been expected to provide state-of-the-art live lessons from home

...and regular phone calls to students on their own mobiles.

Anything filmed is done on my phone, our school laptops don't have cameras or microphones.

The posters defending what happened to the death?

Haven’t seen anyone defending schools doing nothing over lockdown, Resplendent

Forth, so how come our dd very well off academy school with low fsm did zero and the school less than a mile away, opposite, gave out weekly work? I

You see, just an absolute refusal to accept some schools deliberately chose to close down. They shot all of us in the foot because they refused to help or do anything.

think my biggest concern is that I watched my DC gradually turn into zombies during lockdown - so much time on screens with no real interaction

Really? Doesn't say much for their home life or their own resilience and motivations.

Well op, maybe that's where the problem lies?.

@ResplendentAutumn

Well op, maybe that's where the problem lies?.

Eh?

Apparently teachers are our school wanted to do more, but leadership team did not allow and yes I know, following government guidelines etc etc . This is a good school, many parents were upset. It’s now back to being a very good school, the experience in lockdown doesn’t fit with how the school
is (if that makes sense!).

Forthcoming, maybe their parents were working on line, like actually starting at 8.30 and finishing at 6?.

Some of them, like me were on line teaching students? Constantly engaged with other students, whilst my dc teachers were.... Blank blank blank....

I'm lucky to an extent, my older dd is very capable, she's a natural student but my younger dc with sen was abandoned.

I just dread to think what happened in houses with no support.

Pom, our primary school has the most awful head. I don't blame the teachers there.

Same with the secondary.

@ResplendentAutumn

Call me, I used my own battered old lap top 🔝 access Google meet (free) and Google hangout?

And? Is that what we're meant to aspire to?