Why close primary instead of secondary schools?

[notevenat20]

All primaries in London have been shut but not secondaries. What is the thinking there? Before b117 we were told that teenagers were more likely to spread the virus than young children. Has that been reversed now?

I asked this a couple of days ago. No one really addressed the question. To be fair I have now realised that secondaries in affected areas are, in effect, also closed until 18th Jan, the same as the primaries. The only exception is exam years go have been asked to go in from 11th. But whether that happens remains to be seen.

Secondary's having testing
Secondary education more important as nearer GCSE's

Dunno 🤷‍♀️

Secondaries are closed too for most students until 18th. This may get extended if needed.

Sedondaries are already closed to most years until 18th so it would be to bring them in line with this.

Secondaries everywhere are closed to at least 18th and in theory will then have testing in place.

Secondaries are pretty much closed until the 18th in Tier 4 areas. Some external exams are happening so pupils will attend for them.

Isn’t it more important that secondary school children go into school and continue their education? Also, they generally travel on their own, where as Primary children are taken into school by their parents or carers. Planning is going ahead for Secondary pupils to be tested regularly at school. Personally, I wouldn’t like to be responsible for testing 5 year olds who wouldn’t be able to do it themselves.
My DS teaches yr5 and is very torn. He doesn’t like teaching online (his school works 9.00-3.00 every day with every child who needs it given a laptop) but on the other hand he is beginning to feel that he is risking his life by going into school.

Secondary are closed too under the contingency framework for most with only exam years expected back on site from 11th jan no other years for the foreseeable (there is a review on 18 January but no one seriously expects schools to open for the other years then). The priority for exam years seems to make sense to me.

The priority for exam years seems to make sense to me

There is some sense in it, but also none in sending my favourite person in the world into a hazardous and stressful environment which might make her very sick.

Secondaries will have testing in place (supposedly).

Not sure what’s going to happen in contingency areas though, have to wait and see.

Are the answers implying that secondary schools won't open on the 18th? It's all very mysterious as primary schools could have mass testing too.

They are 🤷‍♀️

I assume because you definitely need trained staff to do mass testing of little kids?