State schools must stay open but private schools can close early

[Lumene]

This seems really wrong to me. Kids I know at private school has their last day yesterday, so a clear run until Christmas. But the government is forcing state schools to stay open, meaning parents have a legal obligation to send their kids in.

This means if you pay you can safely see your family at Christmas but if you don’t then you can’t unless you break the law and face a fine.

@LilyPond2

Haven't RTFT, but completely agree with OP. No prizes for guessing which type of school the kids of most government ministers and their cronies are likely to attend.

Exactly. I didn’t mean everyone but it’s not a silly comment. It’s a fact, especially for Tory MOs. I think Kier’s are state... 🤷‍♀️

@catspyjamas123

The issue is freedom, isn’t it? Parents should have the freedom to protect our children by not sending them into Covid-riddled school buildings. But there is no freedom. We are warned we may be “reported” and schools are told they may be sued. The teachers are not being lazy but they would like to protect themselves, their families and their pupils. I can’t see what the Government is trying to achieve? Infections have rocketed thanks to the schools. Meanwhile private schools (e.g. Eton) have the option to close if they think it best.

As for Gaffin’ Gavin, he hasn’t put a foot right all year. How is he still in a job?

Exactly.

My dds are both at a prep op and I agree with you on this.

The issue is freedom, isn’t it? Parents should have the freedom to protect our children by not sending them into Covid-riddled school buildings

They have. It's called home education.

@Kaliorphic yes but to switch to home education is a major and permanent decision. There is not the option of remote learning temporarily during this crisis because Gavin Williamson doesn’t want that. People don’t want to give up their school places, they just want kids safe for now.

The fact that private schools are closing - as businesses who trade on offering the service of education but do need to protect their fee-paying customers - says it all. And yes, they are closing before the official end of term.

Not jealous.

Not anti anyone who goes to boarding school, private school, space school...

But this is not fair. I have taught for almost 20 years, the last week of school is not an essential. Especially now this week has happened (so doesn’t become the new last week if you catch my drift).

Swap to remote and make it safer for everyone.

@Kaliorphic

The issue is freedom, isn’t it? Parents should have the freedom to protect our children by not sending them into Covid-riddled school buildings

They have. It's called home education.

You do know that home schooling under duress is illegal and called off rolling?

Sit tight people, I can’t see the courts wanting to protect their families while providing education at home. And I can’t see the local authorities want the horrible bullying that’s been going on being examined in court.

Plus some people can’t home school, they would just like safer school. I’m not going to be swept under the carpet so the d of e can carry on doing what they like in schools. I care about schools and all the children in them. They need to be safer. The recent ONS graphs finally (after months of manipulation and excuses) the rapid rises in school aged children.

Tbh I'd be happy if the schools did switch to online learning. Until next spring. Not because I'm worried about the risk..I'm not. But because the quality of education in covid is shit. But it's not helpful for those who need school places because they work outside of the home and their children are too young to be left alone.

Exactly, we need provision. My neighbour has missed over half this half term isolating! We need safer provision for those that need school and freedom (and maybe even a thank you) for those that can / are prepared to juggle some home school crazy in the short term. It all depends on individual circumstances, no right answers or easy options, I wish the government would stop dividing people and making out the only reason you could want remote education is if you’re a lazy teacher. The government need to grow up and unite people.

@Kaliorphic schools aren’t childcare though, are they? Maybe we should return to the previous childcare provision for key workers with the rest staying home.

schools aren’t childcare though, are they? Maybe we should return to the previous childcare provision for key workers with the rest staying home.

They serve as childcare don't they though. Many women would not be able to work without it. And it's not just key workers who need to work.

Well teenagers are being blamed for spreading Covid and they don’t need childcare. So let them stay home.

[quote starrynight19]@PixellatedPixie have you even read that post ? Eton were not finishing until next week.
That’s good that they can close earlier and protect those in their community why don’t you think that should be the same for state schools ?[/quote]
Private hospitals are also able to operate differently to NHS ones. I’ve been involved with a private school for nearly 9 years and all the private schools around here have always closed way earlier than state schools. What private schools get to do is irrelevant in this scenario - the real question is “should the government allow state schools to close early?”

In my opinion, ensuring kids get educated and parents are able to work is probably more important than ensuring people don’t have to isolate on Christmas Day. I find it childish to want to sacrifice everything for the sake of one day of the year!

Well teenagers are being blamed for spreading Covid and they don’t need childcare. So let them stay home.

I think in California they have an online school for people who home educate. There's funding towards it. I think if that could happen here and teenagers could be guaranteed a decent online education, which would also mean they have access to a computer, internet, a space to work, then I see no reason why teenagers couldn't stay home. Obviously for some there could be potential risks though depending on their home environment which has to be considered.

I find it childish to want to sacrifice everything for the sake of one day of the year!

Yes.

@Piggywaspushed

DH's private school closed a week early because of an outbreak. Presdales ,a state girls' school was threatened with a High Court injunction for doing the same thing (after surveying parents) despite 40 odd cases and a teacher in hospital.

That is relevant.

Maybe most of the parents still wanted the school open? Or most cases were in one or two year groups? There's obviously way more to it as lots of state schools in Essex have closed for Christmas already due to covid outbreaks.

Our private school is open for another week. They do have an extra week off afterwards which is really the wrong way round (nothing to do with covid but its the run up to Christmas thats fun, not the dull days of January).
Longer school days and consequently longer holidays. But it's in the calendar set over a year ago - nothing to do with covid.

@Thespidersweb

Ours shuts on Wednesday.

However - private schools shut early for everything. The summer holidays are looooooong and can often start on the 10th of July

Edinburgh private schools are closing on 18th December same as state schools. Scottish schools, state and private, close for summer around 23 June.

Private schools tend to have longer school days than state schools. They often start shortly after 8.00am and finish about 5.30pm. So, maybe they have longer holidays to compensate.
I live near several private schools and they all finished the term a couple of days ago, same as always.

@PixellatedPixie you find Christmas childish? I think that’s the point? It’s about children? Thoroughly baffled by your comment.

Shall we stop talking about private schools for a bit and think about the reality of what is going on in state schools at the moment. The dfe have removed this from their feed, wonder why??
m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3535507603151665&id=116423535060106

@80sMum

Private schools tend to have longer school days than state schools. They often start shortly after 8.00am and finish about 5.30pm. So, maybe they have longer holidays to compensate. I live near several private schools and they all finished the term a couple of days ago, same as always.

I think the original post was about the fact that private schools that weren’t finishing early have been able to switch their dates around with no threat of legal proceedings. I don’t think it was disputing the fact that independent schools operate different.

Sigh.

A nobody is fining at the moment anyway

B you only get fined for more than 5 days' absence.

So if you are really worried about dc giving covid to granny, keep them off for the week. This really isn't an issue.

And the private schools always break up earlier than the state schools do, covid or no covid.

(in England)