Statement in parliament this afternoon on 'reopening of schools in England'

[DownRightAmazing]

By Gavin.

I'm aware there are a million threads on this generally but this is specifically regarding the statement - any leaks/clues/predictions?

To state my own position: I think schools need to close to all except keyworker and vulnerable children. I feel it's obvious this needs to happen. My own two children are thriving at school and I'm not concerned about them at all - if their (primary) school is open, I will send them - but I worry for their teachers, any vulnerable parents of their classmates and of course the NHS.

My prediction (based on nothing): secondary schools blended/part time. Primary fully open. We are tier 4 fwiw and I disagree with opening schools in January...

@CallmeAngelGabriel

They KNOW children spread this, particularly the new variant.

How on EARTH can they justify allowing primary schools to open as normal? The numbers are off the bloody scale at the moment. Just what do they think is going to happen in the next few weeks if hundreds of thousands of people go out and about, not just the children, but all the associated movement and mixing with regard to school life.

It is INSANE to even consider it.

I don’t know.

The numbers for primary aren’t far behind secondaries so both should be going remote to protect people whilst the vaccine is rolled out. They made schools get ready for remote learning by the end of October so they are all set to do this.

Completely disagree with leaving them open so parents have childcare, that’s not the job of teachers but the responsibility of the parents. I’d imagine none went into it for that reason but wanted to educate children.

I wonder how many that have broken the rules will now be moaning when schools close?

If MH is announcing tier changes followed immediately by GW in schools I wonder if that indicates school closures in tier 4 only?

I don’t even want to be a priority for a vaccine (primary teacher). I’d just like my school to be able to pay for cleaning materials and supply cover when staff are off ill.

Cleaning budget exceeded by end of September, supply budget by October half term.

One Velux window in my classroom in a converted loft. 30 children crammed in to the point where five children have to get up to let one at the end of the row out. All would be much easier to deal with if we could afford enough spray for the sodding tables.

No but it will protect the teachers of pupils whose parents let them have numerous social contacts. Which is better than nothing

But it won't protect their family as they maybe able to bring it home asymptomatically, it might not protect them as one dose appears to be about 60% effective. Whilst it's better than nothing it sure as hell isn't better than something (ie SD, PPE)

@DownRightAmazing

If MH is announcing tier changes followed immediately by GW in schools I wonder if that indicates school closures in tier 4 only?

If they close schools in tier 4 areas there will be uproar. I think at this point it has to be all or none.

I think they are going to use the approval of the vaccine to re-open schools as planned - secondary from 11th and primary from 4th. They'll use it as a positive thing to keep education going in schools. Which is wrong IMO.

I am so worried that primaries will remain open. My son is in a school with 150 students per year in a Tier 4 area. It is virtually impossible for a 5 year old to Socially Distance. His teacher is in her 50's and I really feel for her. My main fear though is for my Mother who is 70 years old and suffers from multiple heath conditions including MS and COPD . My 10 year old Nephew lives with her and would be devasted if he brought the virus home with him!

The numbers for primary aren’t far behind secondaries

I've been thinking about this. A. Primary pupils more likely to be asymptomatic B. Harder to get primary school pupil to have the test, much easier for parent with symptoms to do it. C. Primary kids are often ill, easy to dismiss as normal cold etc D. Parents not wanting to put their small child through it.
I can see lots of reasons for the numbers being slightly behind, and sadly I don't think any of them are linked to slower spreading.

Agreed, I think secondary will have delayed start/'blended learning' etc etc.

Primaries will likely remain open.

This will be explained away by assistance from the military with testing (no mention that it's remote and they're just telling schools how to set up a testing centre - why can't they just come in and do it?) and now that we have the Oxford/AZ vaccine, teachers will be bumped up the queue to recieve it.

@Char2015

I think they are going to use the approval of the vaccine to re-open schools as planned - secondary from 11th and primary from 4th. They'll use it as a positive thing to keep education going in schools. Which is wrong IMO.

Hmmm I wonder if they have held of approving this so they can offer a good news sandwich.

Good news: Oxford Vaccine rolled out
Bad news: Schools to close
Good news: Brexit Deal Approved.

What's got me thinking is that they don't usually do a statement to commons when things are staying the same iyswim... they've announced that primaries will stay open and secondaries will go back in a phased way with 'testing' a few weeks ago. Why would they need to make a statement to commons to keep that the same? The only time they do a statement to the commons is if things are changing from what they have already said... please correct me if I have got that wrong though. Also, Hancock on GMB today was VERY cagey about the education stuff, saying that the new strain has changed things significantly. I predict that all schools will be closed for a while - both primary and secondary.

(no mention that it's remote and they're just telling schools how to set up a testing centre - why can't they just come in and do it?)

Too dangerous?

It does feel like a feedback sandwich. Especially as there has been radio silence on schools.

With Gavin Williamson at the helm I dread to think what he will say or do here.
At least Matt Hancock comes across as efficient , but Gavin just seems too blasé and not that clear on how they can return safely.
The hospitals in Essex are at breaking point as we speak and returning them next week will add to the woes I'm sure.
I can understand why people need them to reopen , but it was pretty bad before Christmas and is worse now.
Maybe a rota system might be a better idea?
I feel for my friends who are TAs and concerned about the current situation.

@Itisasecret

It does feel like a feedback sandwich. Especially as there has been radio silence on schools.

This

Maybe he's going to announced a doorstep clap for teachers as he sends them over the top with no PPE again.

Does anyone know what time the announcement will be?

I don't think they will shut the primary schools which will be a monumental mistake. I've said on previous threads that I know 5 people who got Covid, the only route being childcare support for their primary age grandchildren. Two died, both with no underlying conditions, one was late 70's. The other only 61.

It's ok stopping schools down in London which is clearly needed but it won't be long before the rest of the country follow suit. There's already talk of transferring patients from London to Yorkshire (all in favour if it helps) but which will mean their hospitals will soon be rammed too.

We have a vaccine that can be rolled out. Shut schools or at least give parents a choice to homeschool if they want to until Easter. Hopefully then we can go back to school and bubbles and SD until the end of the school year, summer holidays followed by normality.

@Waxonwaxoff0

Does anyone know what time the announcement will be?

Approximately 2.30 for Hancock and Gav immediately after

Thank you Hippo

But why not just close in Tier 4? I don't understand the logic of all or none. It's a drastic measure, surely you only want to do that when the situation is dire. On the flip side, you don't want to make the situation even more dire by not closing just because other parts of the country don't need it.

Opening primary schools in areas like Essex where the hospitals are on the edge of collapse is a massive mistake.

One which Gavin will happily do, I’m sure. No doubt he’ll be penning letters to the local schools there next week threatening them with legal action as well.

Why haven’t they released the school attendance figures from the last week of term yet?

Well my year 10 will be delighted if schools close but my year 13 will be devastated, so we'll see.

Given the way the new strain spreads, I'd really rather we closed schools before we hit Tier 5, rather than just waiting for it to get really, really shit before we took action.

@dreamingbohemian

But why not just close in Tier 4? I don't understand the logic of all or none. It's a drastic measure, surely you only want to do that when the situation is dire. On the flip side, you don't want to make the situation even more dire by not closing just because other parts of the country don't need it.

I agree. And even within tier 4, there may be schools and sixth form colleges that are largely unaffected or that have good online learning in place and can do blended learning and/or have different year groups in at different times.

Maybe there could be some discretion left to headteachers, within some parameters (given some will close the entire school if there is one case, and others will stay open come what may).