What do you think? Are schools going to be closed?

[mamamia2020]

We've just returned to the UK to live, my youngest is due to start his new school on 5th January. Big change, new country, brand new town. We're in a Tier 3 area. I know that it's all speculation but what do you think? I've been gearing my son up for his new school now thinking about adding the caveat that it might be delayed. I do hope whatever the decision it isn't left until the last minute...

www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/crunch-meeting-held-whether-reopen-19525748?ref=BNTMedia&utm_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0nIDo3bQOuMbpRfY9MiPun9272DuWDmthepLXabmNC8tnAgPsNPiuH7N4

From what I've seen, the numbers in primary schools weren't too far behind secondary schools at the end of term. Is it really possible for primary schools to be kept open in this situation?
If they are open, will anything be put in place to keep staff and children safe. Currently no ppe is allowed in many primary schools.

Find it really odd that this was 'announced' by Gove (not the education minister) before the meetings that are happening today to decide this!

Do they actually want to be seen to be 'forced' into a U-turn? The mind boggles...

Yes, so they can blame it on something - or someone- specific when they do.

That's why Gove. He is your man for brazening it out.

On radio they ask every MP and generally they stick to the line until it changes. No an announcement just answering the question.

Which then gets repeated in print

Find it really odd that this was 'announced' by Gove (not the education minister)

Right now i'd be more surprised if it was Gavin announcing it. How many days has he been missing for now...

@Piggyinblankets

Yes, so they can blame it on something - or someone- specific when they do.

That's why Gove. He is your man for brazening it out.

This makes sense!

@Orichette

Find it really odd that this was 'announced' by Gove (not the education minister) before the meetings that are happening today to decide this!

Do they actually want to be seen to be 'forced' into a U-turn? The mind boggles...

I think that is possible - it could be political posturing to show the Tory backbenchers that they really did want schools to remain open? I guess we will find out later...

Is it me or has Gove just taken to saying stuff on the radio? He’s liked a stopped clock, sometimes he’s right sometimes he isn’t.

I have just been looking at the numbers and suspect they will close schools in tier 4. They won’t announce until the last minute though,

Love the fact that the DM photo shows a less socially distanced class than those photos back in august. When the closures are formally announced I expect we’ll see the true photos of pupils all crammed in together.

@Scarlettpixie

I have just been looking at the numbers and suspect they will close schools in tier 4. They won’t announce until the last minute though,

That's the conclusion I reach every time I look.

What Gove has said this morning isn’t an announcement it’s a continuation/confirmation of the policy announced at the end of term. Nothing in schools has changed since then because of the Christmas holiday but plenty has changed in society. Gove was just buying a bit of time and flexibility ahead of announcing closures later (today/this week) which will be blamed on scientific advice since sage want schools closed.

Schools were meant to be prepared for remote/rota learning from last term so most should be ready for this, I know we are.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If indeed it is a very serious situation, schools close for a winter holiday. ALL time lost to be made up in the summer, there are enough weeks to do so.

Gove is always so absolutely clear and convincing with this answers, yet unfortunately they very often turn out to be completely untrue and new information often comes to light later that day, which is the complete opposite of what he said

I think we're still at 50/50 or even 60/40 against.

They won’t be closed though, learning will be delivered online and students who need to attend will do so (vulnerable/key workers etc). It won’t be a holiday!

@onedayinthefuture

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If indeed it is a very serious situation, schools close for a winter holiday. ALL time lost to be made up in the summer, there are enough weeks to do so.

Um.... we won't be closing!! Say that as many times as you like. No bloody way!

I wonder if parents will be fined for keeping their primary school children off?

It's just because I see so many ifs and buts from both sides about how it's not safe or that it's unfair to kids. Get more vaccinated, infections down and work with the seasons when viruses will be less virulent in the warmer months. No child will lose any education and no teacher will be expected to work in schools when it's rife. Just swap the summer holidays for the winter. But I'll hear it's not as simple as that, teachers contracts blah blah blah. I guess no one wants to lose their summer break.

@Orichette

Find it really odd that this was 'announced' by Gove (not the education minister) before the meetings that are happening today to decide this!

Do they actually want to be seen to be 'forced' into a U-turn? The mind boggles...

Yes, this Govt is all about political posturing, right enough. It'll be like Christmas: a last minute mess and certainly not THEIR fault.

Gove is out and about selling Brexit to ensure hardliners don't vote against. I don't think he made an announcement as such - just a stock answer to a expected question. They will want to be hiding behind Williamson when they announce school closures.

Primaries ought to be closed too except for vulnerable children and KW children. It isn't fair on said keyworkers every time a bubble has to close.

I say that as someone with a primary school aged child. We live in a small flat with no garden and yes, I work. But I'm not sending him back.

You're right, oneday I don't want to lose my summer break.
If they were to announce an extended winter holiday, I suspect that would cause a lot more issues than it would solve for parents too.

@onedayinthefuture - holidays could be sorted by just paying teachers to work those dates. (They arent currently paid for them and if you want teachers to supervise key worker children in the gap now, you do need to pay them to work in the summer, most people are prepared to work their days off in an emergency, but also expect to pay paid for them).

Bigger issue is the exams. There needs to be a gap between taking exams, the exam boards marking them, issuing exam results and then students moving on to the next course. (Ie GCSE to A level or other qualification at year 12, often not at the same school)

So the exams would have to stay as they are to give time to get the results back. The gap now would just mean those students went into the exam with fewer weeks of education.

It might work at primary level. Can't see it being popular if we've all had the vaccine by the summer but still can't go on holiday because the kids are in school through August and starting the new school year in September.

And the examiners are - in the main - the teachers. I usually mark for two weeks of the holidays. My contract requires me for more of the summer in 2021. We're going to pushing it to get results back if I'm in school teaching rather than just at home marking.

@Notonthestairs

Gove is out and about selling Brexit to ensure hardliners don't vote against. I don't think he made an announcement as such - just a stock answer to a expected question. They will want to be hiding behind Williamson when they announce school closures.

If they don't close the schools now, with this new varient, while we have 30000 + people infected daily, lt will be carnage. The government will be grossly negligent. The rate of multi inflammatory in children will rise. It has in America.