Betting: when will schools be shut?

[notevenat20]

My guess is the govt will shut all schools soonish. This view is partly based on reading www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/mrc-gida/2020-12-31-COVID19-Report-42-Preprint-VOC.pdf

So what to do in a crisis? That’s right, betting. Here are the questions.

In which month will secondary schools next be open?

In which month will primary schools next be shut?

My votes are: March and January.

They may open primaries on the 4th but I don’t think it will last. Secondaries won’t open at all in Jan/Feb.

I predict they'll make the announcement that schools will not be opening on the evening before they are due open. Giving us all as little notice as possible to orga ise childcare/wfh.

I think people aren't taking the tier 4 rules seriously because the government isn't shutting schools. The thinking is- if it's ok for kids to be mixing next week, why should we lock ourselves away now because that makes no sense? Even if you disagree with them, you can see the logic.

I predict they'll make the announcement that schools will not be opening on the evening before they are due open.

If not exactly then then certainly soon. We all need to get organised now. It's certainly coming.

@Beebityboo

So London's children are kept safe while children in other tier 4 areas are thrown back into the shitstorm? I'm in the Midlands in tier 4 and cases are rocketing here. Anyone know the magic number whereby I'll be legally allowed to keep my kids safe at time too? I'm so bloody angry.

It's absolutely disgusting. Children and school staff in other tier 4 areas are being told to go back to school where they they will mix with around 30 other people all day, without masks or social distancing. What is this craziness?! 🤦‍♀️

The arguments for keeping schools open are all sadly defunct now anyway.

"I can't juggle work and home school", "kids learn better in person", "kids need to socialise" etc. I don't disagree with these points at all, but we are no longer looking at the choice between open and closed. It's now down to a choice between half open or closed, with bubbles popping left right and centre, random isolations being required and a huge disruption to children's daily routines. Surely it's better for childcare and work purposes to actually know what you're doing from one week to the next, and better for a child's wellbeing not to be continually yanked out of school because of being told to isolate.

Having schools properly open is not really one of the available options anymore.

@Oversize

I think people aren't taking the tier 4 rules seriously because the government isn't shutting schools. The thinking is- if it's ok for kids to be mixing next week, why should we lock ourselves away now because that makes no sense? Even if you disagree with them, you can see the logic.

This absolutely happens.

@Oversize

I think people aren't taking the tier 4 rules seriously because the government isn't shutting schools. The thinking is- if it's ok for kids to be mixing next week, why should we lock ourselves away now because that makes no sense? Even if you disagree with them, you can see the logic.

How can anyone see this logic? This really worries me if any parents feel this way. No wonder we're in the mess we're in. Reduce your contacts to stop the spread. How is that so hard to understand? Thinking that because your children are mixing in school anyway you can throw caution to the wind. Very worrying.

@Beebityboo

So London's children are kept safe while children in other tier 4 areas are thrown back into the shitstorm? I'm in the Midlands in tier 4 and cases are rocketing here. Anyone know the magic number whereby I'll be legally allowed to keep my kids safe at time too? I'm so bloody angry.

Tbh as a London primary mum I see it the other way round as do 80% of mums from my DC school. We are devestated by primary closures especially when the borough selection seems random and nonsensical. Our kids are missing their primary education and we will have to suffer trying to balance wfh and home ed again. I am furious with govt and teaching leaders for not finding a way to get a balance and to see it as an either or and to not prioritise protecting teachers AND teaching the small ones effectively. Londons under 11's have had Christmas cancelled last minute and now many deprived of education and seeing their friends. Under 11s seem to be affected least by the illness but closing schools is seen as solution to stop rest of population getting it. Fine but therefore find a way to do it safely and fine all the adult rule breakers.

I know. Every contact is an increase in risk but it is a kind of logic. I've also seen loads of gatherings of families with young kids in the past few days. The adults might be distancing a bit but the kids definitely aren't.

Also all the idiots who aren't taking tier 4 seriously because schools are open REALLY how stupid and petty are they. Are we a country who no longer believe in the importance of education?

@Oversize

I know. Every contact is an increase in risk but it is a kind of logic. I've also seen loads of gatherings of families with young kids in the past few days. The adults might be distancing a bit but the kids definitely aren't.

Sorry but I disagree. There is absolutely no logic whatsoever. People are so selfish. If people followed the guidelines outside of school then maybe schools wouldn't be having to shut at all.

Yes I know.

I don't see how you can be furious with teaching leaders @Attictroll. This government from the start would not discuss or listen with schools or local authorities. It was their way only no matter how ridiculous. Schools and authorities had the threat of legal action if deviating from the government line. The government are to blame.

Sorry. I know it is really shit for working parents and I shouldn't be so glib. I'm just scared and desperate. I do feel for all the parents who are in the shit over this

Who guessed the 10 boroughs of London before they even opened?

Appears councils also threatening legal action works too.

Why do people want the schools shut!! Why don't we try literally shutting most shops except supermarkets first? Literally every shop is now an essential shop?? Marks & Spencer's open!!! Seriously! Our local one has closed the top floor but dragged down everything from there including homeware & clothes! B&m open, the original factory shop open, garden centres open, home bargains open, I could go on!, shut those & leave our poor children in school, this shutting schools is so bad for there mental health & not to mention there education.

It’s monumentally shit. Why didn’t they listen and put more measures into schools god knows. Now we have the worst of every situation. And those schools who tried to ask for more help got threatened by the government.
There was always a middle ground between schools open and closed before we reached crisis point.

@mrshoho

I don't see how you can be furious with teaching leaders *@Attictroll*. This government from the start would not discuss or listen with schools or local authorities. It was their way only no matter how ridiculous. Schools and authorities had the threat of legal action if deviating from the government line. The government are to blame.

I see it as both sides failing as I have not seen any proactive thinking from the side if primary schools or leaders- the govt are obviously very problematic. I would love to see evidence where teaching leaders went to anyone with a plan for flexi schooling. All I seem to have heard from the unions and teachers is close schools not any half way house which enables some contact time - even outside. No negotiations.Or even splitting classes into very socially distanced small groups of primary kids to connect and get support with teachers in Ppe for half a day a week. I had to start wfh and change everything about how I managed a team, motivated people etc. when back to work was allowed we worked out how to use being in person in small groups effectively as did many other companies. I have not seen much problem solving from the teaching profession in the primary area I can't comment on secondary.

I am furious with govt and teaching leaders for not finding a way to get a balance and to see it as an either or and to not prioritise protecting teachers AND teaching the small ones effectively.

Tbf, teaching leaders have been very vocal about the fact that changes needed to be made in order to keep schools open. On here, noblegiraffe started loads of threads about it and was repeatedly berated for not caring about kids and regularly advised that she should quit teaching! I blame the government and (frankly) parents who were adamant that teachers were just workshy whiners. (Not all parents, obviously, but there was far too many of them.)

All I seem to have heard from the unions and teachers is close schools not any half way house

I expect anyone who gets their news from the Daily Mail would say the same.

@ChloeCrocodile

I am furious with govt and teaching leaders for not finding a way to get a balance and to see it as an either or and to not prioritise protecting teachers AND teaching the small ones effectively.

Tbf, teaching leaders have been very vocal about the fact that changes needed to be made in order to keep schools open. On here, noblegiraffe started loads of threads about it and was repeatedly berated for not caring about kids and regularly advised that she should quit teaching! I blame the government and (frankly) parents who were adamant that teachers were just workshy whiners. (Not all parents, obviously, but there was far too many of them.)

This.

Really not true. No union called for schools to be closed before the September return. I cannot provide evidence but I know cases where schools looked at using premises offsite and there was a blanket ban from dfe. Same with rotas when suggested the dfe wouldn't even consider it. it was only after October half term that masks were made compulsory in communal areas of secondary schools. The current dfe guidance is still no masks in classrooms but now under review.

Lol. I actually won't even visit the Daily Mail website. I don't want my clicks to contribute to their ad dollar. Bbc, Guardian and mumsnet.
Yes I've supported noble giraffe I think she has been brilliant.

@mrshoho

Really not true. No union called for schools to be closed before the September return. I cannot provide evidence but I know cases where schools looked at using premises offsite and there was a blanket ban from dfe. Same with rotas when suggested the dfe wouldn't even consider it. it was only after October half term that masks were made compulsory in communal areas of secondary schools. The current dfe guidance is still no masks in classrooms but now under review.

That is good. I suppose I am sat here devastated by the closure of primary schools seeing that no one saw a better way. Our headmistress ens email was very heartfelt in her sorrow acknowledging the awful effect it will have on the kids. No one seems to realise the challenging month londons kids have had and many mums are beginning to see educational and mental health cracks.

I don’t remember many giving a damn about the northern children. Many of whom, haven’t seen inside a school this year.

There were other ways, no one listened. Now it is impacting London, people care.