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

@Crownofthorns

Finally some sense from our useless government. Children need to be in school.

How come so many of them aren't? Do you not understand exponential maths very well?

If they want schools open they need to be honest about the risks that will bring at Christmas. They have lied about school infection data but now people know.

People know that the DfE are forcing an action that will kill people.

The DfE need to justify that publicly.

@Crownofthorns

Finally some sense from our useless government. Children need to be in school.

I can see you've been on at least one of NobleGiraffe's many threads about this (the ones with actual facts and figures) so I'm just going to have to believe at this point that you're simply being wilfully blind about the situation in schools - a bit like the government I guess.

I really hope the boroughs stand their ground and it goes to the high court. I will be interested to see how this pans out.

Those poor headteachers who are now stuck in the middle of this debacle.

@flumposie

They truly do not give a shit over the safety of staff and pupils. As a teacher I loathe them.

Same here. This government is actively encouraging spread of the virus in schools. Hancock said secondary pupils have biggest infection rates then DfE are forcing schools to stay open.

They want the virus to spread.

What a catastrophe for all of us.

@Crownofthorns

Finally some sense from our useless government. Children need to be in school.

children are not in school, due to massive infection rate and lack of staff

It is fascinating, if it wasn’t so horrific.

Yes, this. I worked in central government before I was a teacher (not DfE!) - the level of panic and flappery going on right now will be erm, large. Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch!

I noticed that all their Twitter/FB spam adverts about schools changed the wording from 'It is vital that children are in school/college right up until the end of term' to 'It is important that children are in school/college etc'.

Almost like they realised there are actually more vital things going on than the last 3 days of school.

Why would they want infection to spread? Genuinely asking. Surely they can see her immunity won't work?

.

From what I remember from school this last week was a doss week anyway

@Iwantacookie

Why are they so bothered by a couple of days? I could understand if we were in November and they were closing but it just doesnt seem worth the effort to me. Unless I'm missing something?

I’m wondering if they want a Christmas peak. We all sit around a bit anyway not making money, might as well get a bit of covid done for them.

Just in case this hasn't been seen.

Wonder when the DfE will be on this thread defending their position.

I live in one of the boroughs where schools have closed early. I'd rather they hadn't, but it probably easy for me to say as a someone who has no one in my household at risk, and who had already decided that we won't be mixing at Xmas.

I don't think it was necessary in primary schools. But I'd like to know how our teachers feel, and would support them if they felt the risk was too high.

Personally I think the Christmas relaxation of the rules will lead to more serious illness and death, than keeping primary kids in for the rest of the week (but I don't think it's one or the other, both could be avoided).

We received an email last week giving us the option to quarantine this week, we just had to email the attendance team and let them know.

The school then asked yr 7 & 8s to stay at home from last Friday until the end of term.

They don’t want infection to spread but they also don’t want to admit they were wrong about schools.

Admitting they were wrong about schools will mean that they’d have to do something about it. Schools will be closed in 3 days anyway and then Christmas and the focus will be elsewhere again.

@Beebityboo

Why would they want infection to spread? Genuinely asking. Surely they can see her immunity won't work?

I wonder if they just want a bit of herd immunity to run alongside their vaccine immunity. I also wonder if they know their number is up. I think more will vote with their feet in Jan.

The focus will be the Brexit horror show.

@TheRuncibleSpoonofDoom - I'm a primary school teacher. I think it's OK for primary schools to stay open from a health point of view. Ie, I don't think there is massive spreading going on in the same way as there is in secondary. It's easier to contain bubbles and isolate them if necessary. However, three weeks ago my school had so few staff that we were right on the edge of not being able to keep children safe - we had to put some of the more behaviourally challenged children on part time timetables in order to keep everyone physically safe (covid aside). We had a third of the children off and something like 14 members of staff off too - no SLT in the building due to shielding and significant mental health issues. It was scary to be honest.

@Beebityboo

Why would they want infection to spread? Genuinely asking. Surely they can see her immunity won't work?

The cynic in me says that : infection spreading = increased deaths, ergo lower benefits bill for the future. Or it’s a distraction thing: whilst the population worries about ‘x’ they aren’t worrying about ‘y’ and don’t notice that we (the govt) have done ‘z’

@Crownofthorns I had between a third and a half of my pupils missing in several classes today. If you think schools are open as usual you are utterly fucking deluded. Parents and pupils are voting with their feet now. The Government are trying to hold back the tide. It's bullshit and I feel sorry for anyone trying to make decisions to keep pupils and staff safe in the face of this stubborn stupidity by DofE. Private school pupils have already escaped for their usual 4 week break. It's only the kids of plebs being forced to go into the Covid classrooms every day.

I’m just staggered at this. The councils haven’t taken these decisions lightly.
I suppose the government thinks that by taking a stand now schools won’t be tempted to open late in January. It beggars belief though when they admitted themselves it is spreading among teenagers

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

Just in case this hasn't been seen.

Wonder when the DfE will be on this thread defending their position.

They need to plan what to say first - check spelling and dates

They probably have more people working on their social media accounts than actually working in education.

I'm in one of the boroughs that are closing schools and its a done deal. Have friends / family spread over numerous schools in the borough and they are all closing. Even the toddlers nursery is closing!!!

Only exception is DN secondary who are closing on Wednesday.

Oh and we are going to be off until 11th January.

Against advice of PHE. There are no limits to their evil. It’s like they want to self destruct.

Lol to the DFE comment. I wonder if they’ve just given up and found an empty fridge!