Now we know why the govt were suppressing the schools infection data

[noblegiraffe]

...because for secondary it’s very worrying.

They choose to release it the day before we break up for half term, too late for any circuit breaker like the other U.K. countries.

They’ve quietly removed the assertion that schools aren’t high risk settings from the guidance. At what point are they going to start to be honest about the risks, particularly in sixth forms and colleges?

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928749/Weekly_COVID-19_and_Influenza_Surveillance_Graphs_W43_FINAL.pdf

How do we know that there arent any longer term effects on a child's body later down the line? We don't. Its all a gamble.

[quote monkeytennis97]@DeRigueurMortis of course it's going to be shitty for any exam year groups last year and this year, really shitty and we really feel for the students in those groups. Speaking as a teacher who has had GCSE students not talk to me/bitch about me as I dared to go off and have a baby during their GCSE year, there are always exam years as a teacher. If it wasn't your DC it would be somebody else's and it is a crap situation for all but if schools can be made safer for all that would be better for continuity of provision and community transmission too,[/quote]

So how do you make schools safer?

DS's school has one way systems. Open window policy (so everyone is cold). Masks mandatory apart from eating. Restricted movements. Bubbles etc etc

Compliance afaik is good.

They are doing all they can to keep students and staff safe.

The only option to do more is close the school. Is that what people really want?

COVID is not scary for the vast majority

This is just spectacularly missing the point.

Why are the covid deniers still suggesting the fact most people are not seriously affected is the issue?

Everyone, including the chief medical officer, understands the % of people who will become seriously ill.

But for those who struggle with Maths, a small percentage of a large number = an overwhelmed health service and serious consequences for the economy.

*Awesome. Let's cancel all lockdowns, bin all masks, dance in the streets because Autumn doesn't think covid is scary.

In the meantime, the rest of the world are taking it seriously.*

Don't be a dick. You said the data looks scary. The specific data you started this thread about.

When did I say that I didn't take Covid seriously?

The only option to do more is close the school. Is that what people really want?

This is a false statement.

There is also the options n of half time in school, half time at home.

Aniseed, page 1, loads of places are doing it..
Dc get taught, interact with their peers, see them and their teachers, so the social side is kept going... Teachers are a little safer, ensconced in their homes.

It's happening in rl, almost... There just seems to be a belligerence, a wall of excuses from some posters on here who seem to want to stop teaching altogether..
One or two in rl also! They seem determined not to teach.

Mostly however... Loads are.. And doing it well and it's the absolute best of a horrific situation.

@DeRigueurMortis at least in tier 3 places they should go to tier 2 of education guidance (which is blended learning for secondary). Why the hell have we got a 4 tier system for education when we are not going to implement it despite scary amounts of school disruption in tier 3 areas.

@starrynight19

You want this years cohort of 11/13 to suffer even more badly?

They'll lose out on masses of teaching time and the state sector will suffer in comparison to private schools due to funding of online facilities

Meanwhile my y11 dd is on her second lot of isolation so another month out of school this term.

That's very sad and I empathise.

However, I'd ask again what's the alternative?

Would you prefer your child not to be at school?

• doing blended learning that is... 3 day out 2 days in.

The only option to do more is close the school. Is that what people really want?

Well your school has masks mandatory in classrooms but the vast majority don't, so there's a start. Some classrooms don't have windows that open, or don't have windows, so there's another option.

Schools could be given funding for portable toilets so they don't have to be shared between bubbles. Money for more handwashing facilities and cleaners. How about money for marquees so that kids can stay outside when it pisses it down instead of being shoved into classrooms unsupervised for wet break?

The DfE said on facebook that there were smaller class sizes to control the spread, but this was a lie. Maybe they could be held to it?

@DeRigueurMortis re the cold thing because actually, ventilation, if possible, is really the only mitigation we have, the rest of it is all unicorn bullshit. I've bought a load of thermal gloves/tights/vests from Amazon. Perhaps you could do that for your DC?

Don't be a dick. You said the data looks scary. The specific data you started this thread about.

Like you were a dick coming on this thread and saying 'well I'm not scared' about data that clearly many find concerning? But not actually giving any reason not to be scared about it.

Well done you.

@DeRigueurMortis

Schools are open and will remain so. The vast majority of DC are in school.

A small minority of teachers on mumsnet seem to be mounting a campaign to get schools closed. But that is certainly not the picture I have heard from teachers on the ground- they are pleased to be back doing their jobs.

We cannot afford to take away months more education from DC due to sit life changing exams in 6 months.

[quote monkeytennis97]@DeRigueurMortis at least in tier 3 places they should go to tier 2 of education guidance (which is blended learning for secondary). Why the hell have we got a 4 tier system for education when we are not going to implement it despite scary amounts of school disruption in tier 3 areas.[/quote]

I think that's a valid point and one the govt have failed to address afaik.

The financial focus has been on the economy but I unaware of any financial backing state schools have had to enable online lessons to pupils in educational Tier 4 status.

We are getting confirmed case email daily from my DC secondary school. They are most year 11/12, at least 2 teachers. Not once has an entire year group been sent home, it seems all very hush hush to me and the phrase “those that have been in close contact” is being thrown about. Each year group is supposedly being kept within a building each, I don’t believe for a second they aren’t mixing in the canteen/outside areas at break times etc and as soon as they’re out they are mixing with one another socially anyway. I’m one of those “if go full lockdown or long the whole thing off and let us crack on types” but I’m finding it totally baffling. It seems to me the situation is getting word rather than better, yet despite stopping their thumb print payment system etc in the canteen because of the risks we’ve had an email saying after half term is business as usual it will all be put back in place?! 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Ecosse How many times- we don't want to close schools we want them safer for all.

Goodnight to all, up with this I will not put.

I have a teenager in y13 - she has gone from a confident happy person to very rocky mental health wise- she has said she wants to not be here any more. Lockdown - with fairly decent online teaching during it, she still is behind and recent UCAS grades has meant she has had to change her future choices. She wants to quit (gone from A grades to C)
She found lockdown like many extremely hard, we followed the rules and will do again if needed. But
I don’t know what the right answer is, I’m not sure she will be the same person if she doesn’t have the support & focus going to college gives her.

I don’t know what the right thing is...lockdown the virus is still here & every time we try to find a new normal it spreads - feels like a hamster on a wheel :( There has only been 2 pupils & 1 teacher positive, all back at college now. No further spread known at this time.

I don’t want people to die but I also don’t want my daughter to give up :(

You are being patronising as fuck and you know it. You've deliberately twisted what I said and what I meant.

There is zero point contributing to your nightly threads because all you want is for people to hang onto your every word.

Some of us don't agree with everything you and a few others say.

Lots of kids off here, technically DfE are correct, there IS smaller class sizes.. But not due to any measures they've put in place. They've put zero in. Which is partly why my 3 year old couldn't even go out for a walk for 9 days and why my 9 year olds school is closed. They put more effort in to staging pictures than they have protecting teachers and our communities.

A small minority of teachers on mumsnet seem to be mounting a campaign to get schools closed. But that is certainly not the picture I have heard from teachers on the ground- they are pleased to be back doing their jobs

What teachers have called for schools to be closed? Go on.

The problem in schools is transmission as they are mass public gatherings, they are the Cheltenham race meet but in doors.

To reduce transmission you need to remove the conductors of transmission or mitigate the risk of it.

Impossible to do for both my dds classes due to sheer volume.

The only way is rota system. Half in half out or by year groups half in /out to use other classes.

I suppose that should be which

A small minority of teachers on mumsnet seem to be mounting a campaign to get schools closed

If you're thinking about me, then my 'campaign to get schools closed' would actually include something about closing schools if that was what I was doing.

Given that I regularly seem to manage to have threads trending on here, I would have included something about closing schools in my OP, or thread title

I didn't though, did I?

On the other hand, covid is currently closing schools. Let's discuss that.

[quote monkeytennis97]@DeRigueurMortis re the cold thing because actually, ventilation, if possible, is really the only mitigation we have, the rest of it is all unicorn bullshit. I've bought a load of thermal gloves/tights/vests from Amazon. Perhaps you could do that for your DC?[/quote]

Don't worry I have .

I didn't mention it to be dismissive or suggest it was inappropriate.

Rather that the school were doing all they can to minimise risk to both staff and students even if the impact is a bit uncomfortable and everyone needs to "wrap up" to keep warm.

Apologies if my comment came across as being "anti" this policy - I'm not. I am glad the school is using all the options available to them to keep everyone safe.

www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/transparency-data/2020/09/covid-19-education-recovery-group-children-and-young-people-infographic/documents/children-and-young-people-infographic-22-october-2020/children-and-young-people-infographic-22-october-2020/govscot%3Adocument/CERG%2BInfographic%2B-%2B22102020.pdf

Scottish data clearly shows the link

Cases in some years are now higher than in the general population