How many teachers will be handing in the section 44 letter tomorrow and not going in?

[SoscaredforJan]

My DSis is scared to go to work tomorrow in a private primary school in Tier 3 but lowish numbers. She is not ECV but has got chemo damaged lungs so it petrified of catching Covid.

She desperately wants to follow union advice and not go in tomorrow but she’s worried that most teachers will be in as normal, she will have a black Mark against her and will be quietly pushed out.

Are there many teachers on here planning not to go in tomorrow? What do you think will happen tomorrow?

@OverTheRainbowLiesOz

What you have to remember is that a lot of the training schemes have links with industry. They are popular to recruit.

Ok that makes sense

@CountessFrog

I don’t think retention will be the same issue in future. After losing jobs in 2020, I know of several people who want to train as teachers; it’s seen as secure, and it is.

I do think of this every time I read somebody on MN claiming they are ‘quitting’ or ‘handing their notice in.’

I know many people that have retrained from industry (I am one myself) many couldn't hack it.

They couldn't even stick the training.
Never mind running a classroom.

The amount of managers that thought that teaching would be as easy as managing adults is amazing.

@MH1111

Can teachers who are not going to work volunteer at their local hospital

Why and when would I do that? If I didn't go in or school was closed I'd still be working, either in school with KW/vulnerable children or from home providing children with remote learning.

I am clinically vulnerable.
Why would I want to move from one unsafe environment to another which would also hold risks to me, especially if I wasn't being given masks and social distancing, etc?

@OverTheRainbowLiesOz

My daughter trained recently and huge numbers of her cohort have left or been poached by other companies / gone abroad.

Lots of overseas international schools. Visa restrictions where I am mean they need to have 3 years experience, but we definitely advertise posts with a clear welcome to those newish staff.

My department currently has two excellent young teachers, both recruited alongside their teacher partners.

They couldn't even stick the training. Never mind running a classroom.

Because of unsupportive colleagues perhaps ?

I’m aware the teachers aren’t proposing to strike yet , but even if the ballot went through 7 days notice is needed. Strikes mean you don’t get paid of course.
Doesn’t section 44 need to be approved by the high court? Is that what the union is doing currently?

Because of unsupportive colleagues perhaps ?
Not in my experience.

In my experience the career changers who can't hack it (I'm a career changer) tend to either:

• be abrasive to work with and speak to their mentors/colleagues like dirt, especially if the class teacher they are working with is younger. These people don't like the fact that they are a beginner in the field that that whilst previous experience is useful, it doesn't make them more of an expert than the 27 year old who they're observing
• tend to think they can cut corners and do things because that's how they were done in their previous line of work
• tend to think they are a better teacher than they are / are poor at reflecting on their teaching
• genuinely find that they struggle with the workload and it wasn't the lifestyle or role they thought it would be

I'm a cover supervisor (basically an unqualified short term supply teacher) and I'm going in but I work through an agency. The school had booked me in advance so I think they saw this coming. Also I have already had covid, ages ago, so I'm not worried about the virus but still remain vigilant in following the guidelines.

Also I have already had covid, ages ago, so I'm not worried about the virus

I've already had it but I'm still concerned.
No one can guarantee I can't get it again, if I have antibodies or how long immunity might last.
I was already CV and the complications caused by Covid means I have yet another issue that would add to the CV category.

@Abraxan

Also I have already had covid, ages ago, so I'm not worried about the virus

I've already had it but I'm still concerned.
No one can guarantee I can't get it again, if I have antibodies or how long immunity might last.
I was already CV and the complications caused by Covid means I have yet another issue that would add to the CV category.

Antibodies aren't the only thing that gives you immunity, the immune sytems of most people remain robust against previous infections for a long time. It's usually the virus itself changing and becoming unrecognisable to your body which is the problem in the long term.

I'm sorry to hear that you have complications and I wish you well. As I said I am still following all guidelines as recommended, as everyone should, previous infection or no.

@Username198

I support the teachers in not going to work tomorrow but just out of interest does anyone know if doctors and nurses are allowed to submit a section 44 letter? If they are then I how can the government justify not giving them a substantial payrise when they were working without adequate PPE in lockdown 1.

Any worker can do this. It is your personal right.

No, my job involves working in a residential home with 38 elderly residents with multiple care needs in almost constant close contact for a quarter of what teachers get paid
Again, sheer laziness. I'm truly appalled by the entitlement on this thread
I'm not a teacher but secondary teachers are in contact with multiple classes of 30 per day, crowded corridors. Schools of over a 1000, sometimes over 2000 kids who go home to mix with families each night. Your opinion that it is lazy to not want to be in danger is ridiculous

I imagine secondary teachers would be delighted to only be in contact with 38 residents

No I'm going in. I've been in so far and I will continue now. I'm CEV, haven't shielded don't plan to and will attend work. I know a LOT of staff who are not going in though.

Your sister really shouldn’t be in school but should be prioritised urgently for a jab as all teachers.
My daughter is a primary teacher and her school all want back in. There are many vulnerable kids whose safe place is school. And for me I absolutely must have my year 11 back the school has only given no more than hour work a day. It’s a joke.
Anyway I have to go to work and it’s hard with a teen at home left to devices. So am very sorry I can’t support teachers under age of 50 wity ni health issues working.

I think teachers should do their job and go in. Imagine if NHS workers had that attitude. Or those who work in transport services, or in care homes.

they shouldn't go into supermarkets as that is just as dangerous as school. So if they choose not to work then no pay!

they shouldn't go into supermarkets as that is just as dangerous as school.

Nope. Schools are riskier.

Lots hopefully - I've not read through the thread, but I find it telling that Boris has said that schools are perfectly safe - and yet Ofsted won't allow inspections to take place currently, as according to them, schools are not safe!

I work in FE so I am delivering remotely this week.

The thing is that schools have to provide education for key workers children and vulnerable children and so schools need to be open.
If schools deliver online, this has other implications for parents and children.

My personal view being a teacher and parent of a 7 year old is that parents should be surveyed to see who wants to send their children to school. Then based on numbers, those who need a place should be given a place centrally with the government paying for transport.
Teachers should be able to work from home if they don't feel safe, but they shouldn't then take up the keyworker school offer as that is hypocritical.
It is very stressful teaching online, resources have to be adapted, not everyone has a laptop of their own and many families rely on data and don't have stable WiFi. Not to mention families that rely on FSM to feed their children.

Honestly there isn't an easy answer but I will say that the people at the top of the big teaching unions will not be trying to teach online and educate their DC at the same time. We all have rights but I notice those who shout the loudest are the ones who seem to have less to lose either way.

Do you wipe many of your customers noses or clean them up when they have had an accident? Teachers are not allowed masks & children don’t either. There are also limits to number of customers in a store to ensure social distancing. SD is impossible in a classroom.

I get so sick of people comparing teachers to delivery drivers and shop staff! Those people are in contact with people for seconds at a time, they wear PPE. Teachers are in enclosed space with kids all day, no PPE. When a kid falls over in the playground and hurts their knee, do they enforce social distancing? Of course not. The pressure and strain on teaching staff is immense and I salute them for making it this far,

I’m going to work as I feel under pressure to attend!😩

Well it's neither here or there now, i have a feeling schools will not return until after Easter.

Just out of interest what changes could be made in schools that would make teachers feel safe? Would it make a difference if they were all vaccinated and currently are you provided with / expected to wear PPE in school?