Pupils sent home in half of England's secondary schools

[herecomesthsun]

...which are of course supposed to be covid secure. Nice that the BBC is covering it,though.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54614111

(I know that in the class I taught in lockdown, 2 children had 'their own' device that could solely be used for their education, not shared with a sibling or parent. All others shared - or had none at all unless we provided it as a school - so we provided asynchronous, pre-recorded or just online material that could be viewed whenever that child had access]

with every child on tech watching her

Are you sure?

Can't, other schools record the lesson and leave it so it can be watched back.
I'd personally like my dd to be occupied so I can work.
I'd like the teacher to occupy her just like so many thousands of other teachers a managed to do.
. Even two hours, broken up, half hour slots or whatever would be better than '' hi '' are you all well?
OK well see you later... Work is on line?

Well we know how many dc are in school, my dd scrolls through them?

Our plans for full class lockdown DO include live teaching sessions - 1 to explain the work at the start of the day, and 1 to deal with any difficulties later in the day.

We have yet to find out whether this will result in any improved outcomes or engagement, or whether it will just further emphasise the divisions that already exist and be less efficient and effective than the 90%+ who accessed the asynchronous learning during lockdown

That's scary. The DC may only have mild symptoms it is their parents who are at a higher risk of catching it and possibly passing it to their parents.
Even if they escape death I don't fancy my chances of a full recovery after a stint in ICU.
The track and trace is horrendous in Ireland, schools aren't being informed of positive cases within a decent time frame.

Teachers have to follow school guidance and safeguarding. If you are not happy then you need to contact leadership.

In secondaries, the teachers will be teaching a full day of classes so can't teach online.

I wouldn't deny an entire cohort of a live, interactive lesson just to keep one child in the loop with a live lesson.
The lessons can be recorded by their actual teacher. And then all the cohort can also watch back the recorded lesson.

That's also an option other schools go for.

This is is primary.

@TheHouseonHauntedHill

Well we know how many dc are in school, my dd scrolls through them?

Does every child in the class have a device, and does each have long enough access to it to watch online lessons synchronously or recorded? Are these the best way of learning?

The job of a teacher is to educate, not necessarily to 'occupy your child'. It may well be that good asynchronous online - or offline - learning is better in terms of education than 'live' or 'video' lessons that allow students to drift.

Hi there, 1st posting ever!
Just wondering if anyone else has had their secondary school closed and 1700 pupils sent home after 1 received a positive test. How much more education do they really need to miss?

Closing a whole school for one positive would be unusual, are you sure you have the full picture?

I wouldn't deny an entire cohort of a live, interactive lesson just to keep one child in the loop with a live lesson.

As I said, 2 (out of 30+) had a device that was 'theirs' at all time during lockdown. However, almost all had a device that they could use some of the time, for asychronous online learning, and almost all did.

Just wondering if anyone else has had their secondary school closed and 1700 pupils sent home after 1 received a positive test.

Seems to be the opposite. The positive cases at our local school are being sent home but children & teachers who have sat in the same class still remain. This is why it is spreading.

I would also ask - again - whether a live lesson is the best form of education.

I did weekly Zoom meetings / lessons with groups in lockdown. With 10 at a time, t was great and interactive. With a full class, it wasn't - children could be off task, doing other things. I would much rather record an introduction - hello, this is your work for the day, recorded Powerpoint or whatever, then be available for enquiries as they come in and available to give feedback on submitted work, plus maybe a 'sweep up' at the end to clear up misunderstandings.

Was surprised that North Leamington school of about 1500 students has closed and in tier one not greater due to excess cases among students and staff.

It's rife in that area at the universities.

Going by that though then half of schools haven't sent pupils home.

See that glass there.... Half full.

Haunted you’re complaining about your kid being directed to Oak Academy which had millions channelled into it by the government specifically for this purpose. Schools were told to align their curriculum to Oak’s so that they could do exactly what your DC’s school is doing.

@Therarestone

Going by that though then half of schools haven't sent pupils home.

See that glass there.... Half full.

Last week. They didn’t have a positive case in school with kids sent home on 15th October.

That’s not great when you consider how many extra might have had a case the previous week.

What percentage have sent no kids home at all this term?

@Therarestone

Going by that though then half of schools haven't sent pupils home.

See that glass there.... Half full.

Well, they haven't sent pupils home THIS WEEK.

Remember that this ISN'T a cumulative figure - it is a snapshot.

My daughter's school is in an area adjacent to a full lockdown. The cases have crept closer day by day. It won't take that long to spread to the other 50%.

The 'other 50%' is actually a much smaller number - there will be schools, my DD's amongst them, who have had cases in previous weeks but coincidentally not last week.

that's why we need cumulative figures - how many schools have been affacted so far, and how many pupils and teachers in those schools. Within that, how many have had single cases and how many multiple cases, and then how many weeks has each pupil missed on average.

@Pollypoodle I would be pleased if this were my childs school, they are taking it very seriously and not taking any chances. One of the big problems with Covid is people being asymptomatic and just carrying on as usual. I believe this is more often the case with children and younger people. I get that it is inconvenient and a worry about kids missing out but children will be able to catch up with education, years can be repeated etc in worst case. Permanent damage to the lungs from Covid or a parent dying or becoming disabled due to "long Covid"/Chronic fatigue, is not something that is easily overcome. I agree with another poster that there should be UK wide rules about masks and PPE in school it shouldn't just be left up to individual schools to decide.

Over half of secondary schools have had children off in ONE WEEK

The two secondary schools in my town have around 1200 and 2000 pupils respectively. I do not think it concerning or worrying that either school would have at least one positive case in one week. Most secondary schools are a similar size.

My son's 6th form college has around 2000 students (may be more now with a bigger Y12) and they've had one case so far - hopefully we'll get to half term without anymore.

Many of the pupils self-isolating won't have covid, they are just following the rules.