Govt attempting to force schools to remain open with court order, against advice of PHE

[Bluegreen70]

Just that.

I've never hated any politicians so much

Mumsnet, sadly, doesn't have a hide poster option. However I have trained myself to scroll on by instead.

Scottish teachers are moving towards industrial action in some areas:

“Teachers in three Scottish local authority areas – Glasgow, Fife and West Dunbartonshire – have today voted to declare a formal dispute with their employers over Covid safety.

This dispute is over what the EIS teaching union describes as "failure to provide a safe working environment for staff in light of the continuing threat from the Covid-19 pandemic".

In West Dunbartonshire, 91 per cent of teachers backed the move to a dispute, based on on a turnout of 75 per cent. In Glasgow, 93 per cent of teachers voted in favour, on a turnout of 63 per cent. In Fife, 90 per cent of teachers voted in favour, on a turnout of 53 per cent.”

www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-schools-teachers-three-areas-back-dispute-over-covid-safety

Gav should consider whether English teachers have a safe working environment if he really wants things to go to court.

Blimey. U4T will blow a gasket.

I'm dying to know how many Greenwich schools will actually open tomorrow. Where could we find the stats on that?

And of the Greenwich schools that are open it would be interesting to see their attendance figures. Less than 50% I am picturing.

I support industrial action if it comes to this.

Actually, mrshoho, you're right. That's what I meant to ask.

pmk

I would be interested in seeing attendance figures too.
We had a school report today for secondary age dc1, who has had 4 episodes of SI since September, stating he had a 100% attendance record though. One of those episodes he was actually ill (reported to school) and couldn't submit work for several days. Several days his work was finished by 11am because his teachers were too ill/too busy to set lessons online. It has all been recorded as him attending remotely to make the figures look good. Who does this help? Not me, not my dc and not the school. It's purely political.

I am so glad that Scottish teachers are taking it to industrial action. I think that's what needs to happen. There is no way, no way, any court would find UK schools to be safe. Our 'measures' are so at odds with best practice pretty much everywhere else and as advised by experts.

Most other countries have masks on kids from 6 as a minimum, many have half time school and small, socially distanced class sizes in school (which would still be more time in school, and more consistent / less stressful than kids in the UK constantly isolating) with half time online learning. There are so many examples of it being done better, with better educational outcomes, better mental health, and lower risk to staff in the workplace.

By the way love the new username noelgiraffe - and wishing you a happy, safe, healthy Xmas break.

Yes come on unions!

Our school, which had been closed (not London) is being forced to open back up to the only two year groups which aren't self-isolating. This is only possible because a group of staff members are on their last day of self-isolation today.

TWO. DAYS. OF. TERM.

We were teaching them online. We had the vulnerable/tech-less in the computer labs.

ARGH.

@mrshoho

And of the Greenwich schools that are open it would be interesting to see their attendance figures. Less than 50% I am picturing.

I support industrial action if it comes to this.

Anecdata but 9 children out of 30 were in my daughter's class in a Greenwich primary school today. Two children in her class left early as they had siblings in another bubble that had a positive case today.

www.tes.com/news/exclusive-dfe-considering-delay-start-next-term

If they delay the start of next term how can they claim that the end of term was that vital that legal action was required to keep kids in school?

Ah, but the delay is just to train us all to be guinea pigs testers.

The whole thing plus 10-20% of people having long covid makes me want to quit. :(

A DfE spokesperson said: “Children’s education is a national priority and this Government has acted in the interest of children since the start of the pandemic.

“Schools, colleges and early years settings across the country have worked tremendously hard to put protective measures in place that are helping reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted.”

From the TES article. I think their record is stuck. MUST.TALK.ABOUT.PROTECTIVE.MEASURES.