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Original poster

March 8th for schools - who will go back?

147 replies

Springhere · 07/02/2021 10:30

It seems very likely that schools will reopen in some form on 8th March but how do people think it might work? Staggered or full return? Opinion seems so divided on this. I'm starting to think primaries will open in full (as it would be difficult to have cherry picked year groups alongside keyworker bubbles) with a slower, staggered return for secondaries. Would be interested to hear what others think, especially those of you working in schools.

OP posts:
PokemonTrainerRed · 07/02/2021 18:50

@Dustyboots

It’s funny how everyone thinks the year their DC is in should be prioritised...
My child is in an exam year so I think it's only fair to expect that her year is a priority.
BungleandGeorge · 08/02/2021 01:22

I think they prioritised the correct years last year, Mine weren’t in those groups. Year 6 and 10-13 should be the priority, they need the education and transition more than others which can only be done in school.

noblegiraffe · 08/02/2021 01:28

Or they could have had all year groups back on a rota which would have meant we wouldn’t have had some kids in full time school from June and their siblings not in school at all till September.

‘Prioritising’ the same year groups again would mean a lot of the kids who weren’t in school for sixth months last year, missing out on more school again.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 08/02/2021 01:34

@42isthemeaning

FWIW I live in Scotland and I don't see Nicola opening schools again anytime soon.
I thought Scotland and Wales are planning to do just that. Sturgeon has said a phased return starting from 22nd February.
cabbageking · 08/02/2021 01:36

I can't see when the review is due in 2 weeks time, that the levels will be different enough to decide. Think it will be much much later.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 08/02/2021 01:39

What noble said

Better have face time learning for more kids. It would help cut any covid transmission too. Bloody tricky to arrange the logistics both for the school and parents for childcare. Ultimately best idea for a couple of months.

BungleandGeorge · 08/02/2021 01:48

@noblegiraffe

Or they could have had all year groups back on a rota which would have meant we wouldn’t have had some kids in full time school from June and their siblings not in school at all till September.

‘Prioritising’ the same year groups again would mean a lot of the kids who weren’t in school for sixth months last year, missing out on more school again.

Our year 10 only got 1 day a week for the last 3 weeks of term anyway. I still think those year groups should go back full time as they are critical years. Perhaps all other years in on a rota basis although I’m not clear on the actual advantages of that in terms of disease transmission or how it would be achievable , especially once children have chosen options and are in ability sets. Lateral flow tests are actually quite useful when used for asymptomatic testing but all gone quiet on that front. Just trust parents to do them at home, the majority are responsible adults
Pipandmum · 08/02/2021 01:48

Our school has tentatively scheduled A level and IB mocks for the 9 March. IGCSE mocks are due to take place after Easter break so it will be a logistical nightmare if the first lot don't happen. They want a set of results to be able to justify grades, so the mocks are necessary.
I think all up to Y6, Y11 and 13s will go back first.

noblegiraffe · 08/02/2021 01:59

I’m not clear on the actual advantages of that in terms of disease transmission

If there’s no advantage of having some year groups in and not others in terms of disease transmission then why prioritise any year groups? What will be done to those year groups that are in to make them safer and why could it not work to have different year groups take turns?

Thinking mainly of primary here. Secondary were basically abandoned last summer so it was either pretty much all out or all in.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 08/02/2021 02:09

Boris has just announced he has the perfect solution to school covid transmission!

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 08/02/2021 02:10

2021 school uniform 🤓

March 8th for schools - who will go back?
noblegiraffe · 08/02/2021 02:18

Well at least it will help them play Among Us in the playground.

BungleandGeorge · 08/02/2021 02:25

I presume you’d prioritise some year groups for the effect on community transmission. If some remain ‘out’ completely then it will be lower than if all are in on a rota. You’d monitor it and cautiously add more year groups. The only rota I can see that would really work would be 2 weeks in, 2 weeks out so that there would be a proper isolation period. The question is would people stay in isolation if they’re in school seeing friends for 2 weeks of the month, probably not. We only have 2 weeks of term left from the 8th March so might be better to just hold off, send them back after Easter. At least they could all have a break without the inevitable self isolations!

BungleandGeorge · 08/02/2021 02:25

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

2021 school uniform 🤓
🤣, mine won’t even wear a coat!
noblegiraffe · 08/02/2021 02:38

I presume you’d prioritise some year groups for the effect on community transmission

Last time it was because they did half classes with social distancing and so the school was full. They did want all year groups back but then realised that it was physically impossible due to lack of space.

Lifeispassingby · 08/02/2021 06:33

@SeasonFinale but ‘return by the earliest’ just means not before that date doesn’t it? So it is speculation to assume that means schools will definitely return from that date because that is not what the PM said?

Faircastle · 08/02/2021 06:59

If the government take into account the results of the ImpactEd study, they will prioritise the year groups which the data showed were most affected i.e. Year 10 and 11.

tootyfruitypickle · 08/02/2021 07:02

Goodness no more of this prioritising years please! All back. I'd send back tomorrow if I could (secondary). Rates locally are lower than since early autumn it makes no sense for her to be off.

Faircastle · 08/02/2021 07:04

ImpactEd report here for anyone who might be interested.

Faircastle · 08/02/2021 07:15

(none of my children are in Y10 or Y11 so no personal bias in my comment)

CarryOnPlainHunting · 08/02/2021 07:31

I think it will be primary, y11 and y13

I think it should be y 10 too. And yes I do have a y10 child.

TheDrsDocMartens · 08/02/2021 07:52

@noblegiraffe

Well at least it will help them play Among Us in the playground.
😂
Itisasecret · 08/02/2021 07:59

I would say that the recently published study by ImpactED which shows how badly Yr 11 and Yr 13 have been impacted the most (worse than any other year groups)...oh and they are exam years. Makes them a clear priority, by far. All the handwringing won’t change that these are the years most impacted by all this. It’s been studied! It’s also not rocket science.

RaggieDolls · 08/02/2021 08:04

@tootyfruitypickle

Goodness no more of this prioritising years please! All back. I'd send back tomorrow if I could (secondary). Rates locally are lower than since early autumn it makes no sense for her to be off.
Really hope you're right @tootyfruitypickle. All these studies can only measure the impact on a population level. I know on an individual level the decision to allow my yr1 back but not my yr3 had a dreadful impact on our family. The impact on the eldest was just awful.

This time round they are in part time anyway but I will still have to think very carefully about sending one back full time without the other. I really hope I'm not put in that position again.

And yes, rates here have been lower throughout all of 2021 so far compared with October 2020.

Hagotcha80 · 08/02/2021 08:07

@Dustyboots

It’s funny how everyone thinks the year their DC is in should be prioritised...
An odd post

Very few posters say the years that should be prioritised
And those that do have very valid points ie exam years