Government removes statement schools are not considered "high risk settings" in guidance.

[IloveJKRowling]

Reported in the TES

www.tes.com/news/Covid-dfe-cuts-schools-arent-high-risk-line-guidance

From the article:
"The government has removed a paragraph from its Covid guidance stating that schools are not considered "high risk settings".

The Department for Education (DfE) previously stated in its guidance for schools that Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) advise that schools are not considered high risk work environments, and it is "therefore appropriate for teachers and other school staff to return to their workplace setting".

But following an update to the guidance today, this detail has vanished."

Good reporting from the TES. They say they've contacted the DfE for comment, so let's hope they respond and explain why they've done this.

Ffs. Suppose they don't want to be held accountable now shit is starting to/has hit the fan. I've just had enough .

Because....... Schools are stupidly risky? I should know...I work there....and I was supposed to be shielding....

Oh goodness.

I feel complacency sets in, no one near us gets it but, then someone near ish does.. And we feel alerted again but the problem with the complacency is, it only takes 1.1 person in the stuffy staff room with not a single window open for.... Booom 💣.

Then it's too late, several staff members down. Probably caught it off asymptomatic pupil.

Every day, cornora is at the forefront of my actions. Like anyone I may momentarily forget, walk to close to someone, etc.. But every time I walk into a room, especially a busy one, I'm thinking about ventilating, Windows.. I am thinking about students sneezing etc.
Masks, hand-washing.

You'd have to run a school like drill Sargents!
I wouldn't have any group work, sharing of activities, pens, nothing.
I'd encourage sd in class.

Why oh why can't they at least just thin out the student population and do blended learning. Its so frustrating.

There should be blended learning for all students in secondary after half term to thin out the student population. None of these bloody tier things are going to work if schools are still open. Those poor people in hospitality losing their livelihoods to keep schools open and open in such an unsafe way. Ok... I give it 5 seconds before I get shouted down as the 'schools must stay open' brigade sniff this thread.

Or masks, even if only 70% of pupils and staff wore masks it would have a huge impact.

Why, how do you know that masking stops virus transmission?

I agree re masks but again, it would be very hard going to teach through a mask every day... And... Masks become ineffective when damp.
Personally I'd do a range of measures.
Hand out or ask pupils to have a fresh mask before each lesson, with proper gel etc before and after, proper sd, thin out students on site, have some days home learning, more breaks, so everyone can take masks off, ventilate rooms at least at break times, etc etc.

progress

At least it’s a matter or public record when people sue the government.

Who knew?

We all did. Those of us in education and those not to unrealistic to cling to the narrative.

Thanks for posting.

Could the teacher in secondary teach behind a perspex screen, if possible by a window?

And of course, thin out the classes.

Fingers crossed there will be some more progress over half term.

They're producing figures now.

I feel sorry in a way for the CMOs who signed false assurances of hope about risk in schools before schools went back. I would have resigned rather than do that, but then that's why I'm not in that job.

Of course there is transmission in schools. However, this is far outweighed by the health and economic benefits of all DC being in school full time.

I do agree that vulnerable staff and DC should not be in school. I would reintroduce shielding on a voluntary and funded basis.

About time this was acknowledged just a shame they didn’t do it publicly and just hoped no one would notice them removing it. Well done to the TES.

I think the problem is that the government didn’t say ‘There’s definitely going to be a lot of spread in schools but teachers will just have to take that risk on the chin’. They lied and publicly gaslighted all staff in education by saying schools are not high risk, kids don’t spread it. Bullshit.

I’d have more respect for them if they just said ‘We need kids in school to get the economy going so we’re prepared to sacrifice a percentage of teachers to that cause’.

@Hopeisathingwithfeathers

Teachers who are not vulnerable have far more chance of being run over on the way to school than dying of COVID contracted in it.

I don't feel sorry for the CMOs at all. They are complicit in a decision that has directly led to suffering and death. I know that may sound melodramatic, but as a disabled parent with two sen children the last few weeks have been utter hell. I even contacted a suicide line at one point because my thoughts became that defeated and dark. There is NO excuse for the lack of flexibility given to disabled and vulnerable families and NO excuse to send vulnerable members of staff into such a risky environment. Anyone who recognises my username will know how much I have struggled with this, and now my 12YO Sen DD is having to self isolate due to being in close contact with a covid positive individual for "several hours" while at school.
This cannot be allowed to continue.

Bizarre logic. If you’re more likely to die of anything else than Covid does that make Covid a non issue?!

Not to mention that obesity (30% of the population) makes people more at risk, and probably overweight too (70%). So how many teachers do you confidently put in that ‘no need to worry’ pot? And why the lies if it’s all such a non issue?

[quote Ecosse]@Hopeisathingwithfeathers

Teachers who are not vulnerable have far more chance of being run over on the way to school than dying of COVID contracted in it.[/quote]
come now. you know that's nonsense

Teachers who are not vulnerable have far more chance of being run over on the way to school than dying of COVID contracted in it.

And just forget about all their family members. They don’t count.
And as vulnerable teachers have no choice other than to teach in school shame for them also.

@Hopeisathingwithfeathers

As I’ve said, teachers who have underlying health conditions should not be in school imo.

Teachers who do not have underlying health conditions and are under 65 have significantly more chance of dying in a car accident than from COVID.

Only 307 healthy people under the age of 65 have died with COVID.

So being in stuffy poorly ventilated and over crowded rooms with teenagers or children, and no masks or mitigations may be high risk for transmission.
Well no shit Sherlock

Also, this:

www.tes.com/news/covid-teachers-condemn-safety-ads-small-class-sizes-claim

“Only 307”. Phew, that makes me feel better when I’m crammed into poorly ventilated rooms with 150 teenagers each day!