Schools in the UK

[pommedeterre]

Why is it so different? I feel so cross that infant kids in Wales and Scotland will be back to school first. I'm sure many will tell me I'm wrong and somehow evil and stupid but this seems so unfair.

I think waiting until 22nd Feb for confirmation is really demoralising and unfair. We need a plan and an aim now. Being responsible and wfh while teaching (rather than just sending the kids in anyway with any old excuse..) is wearing thin now and I'm starting to feel like such a mug.

It could be because their R rate is lower. I think Wales had its third wave a bit earlier than England so they are showing more 'downward' curve than England.

I don't think it's 'unfair'. Scotland is perfectly entitled to make it's own decisions, so is Wales.

It's not unfair.

They have a different education system, certainly in Scotland and Ireland anyway.
They have had different rules to us throughout, and often different periods of time when they've been in lockdown.

Is it unfair if they were closed before English schools?
Is it unfair if they've had different rules about critical workers and vulnerable children provision?
Is it unfair that there exam situation has been different to here in England?

Those countries currently have different R rates to us, different case and death numbers, so yes, it's totally right that they should be able to open and close according to their own situations.

If the situation in England is more worrying with higher numbers and rates than we shouldn't just open to all just because other countries are doing so.

It feels 'unfair' as a UK parent in a low rate area following the rules though. It absolutely does.

Last time I looked, the prevalence was a lot lower in Scotland and Wales. I think both were around 125 per 100k whilst England was around 250 per 100k. So I don’t think we’re comparing apples with apples unfortunately. I can’t see them holding off any later the 8th March for some groups to be back as cases are back to Sept/Oct levels...

Also I’m in Scotland and we’ve been under real tight restrictions since bloody October! There was about a 2 week window where we went into level 3, but haven’t been allowed in anyone’s house since the summer

@pommedeterre

It feels 'unfair' as a UK parent in a low rate area following the rules though. It absolutely does.

The only way around that would be to have tiered systems for English schools. But I very much doubt the government would go for that really. It was initially suggested but never used, bar December when London schools closed first.

Maybe Scotland and Wales have put more in place to ensure their school classrooms are more covid safe 🤷‍♀️

Yes, so Wales and Scotland have just done a better job then? I can see that wouldn't be hard to be fair. I am so cross with the UK/English government for the way that schools have handled in this crisis as a whole. To be clear, not slating Wales or Scotland or trying to suggest they shouldn't be going back. Just SO frustrated with the English position.

Are cases lower there? I haven’t been following it

Didn't they lock down sooner than us?

@pommedeterre

Yes, so Wales and Scotland have just done a better job then? I can see that wouldn't be hard to be fair. I am so cross with the UK/English government for the way that schools have handled in this crisis as a whole. To be clear, not slating Wales or Scotland or trying to suggest they shouldn't be going back. Just SO frustrated with the English position.

Why are you cross about ‘the way schools have handled in this crisis’? Schools have only handled as instructed by the government, who fully deserve all our anger.

The infection and death rates are still ridiculous. A low infection area can very quickly turn into a high infection area so complaining you’re being somehow punished because other areas are high is a little shortsighted.

Ive just looked - 4th Feb Wales and Scotland at 120 per 100k and England at 212 per 100k.

Sorry - schools have BEEN handled.

Not cross with schools, cross with the gov.

I think all schools should be going back asap. We are punishing the young by the government not devising clever/better ways for schools to be safer.

Perhaps because the population of Wakes is 3.5m, Scotland 5.5m, England 54m?

Therefore far more people to spread the virus around? Far more larger cities in England, population density far higher, not necessarily how respective Governments have handled it

OP, do you know that schools in Wales and Scotland are not fully opening up after half term? it is a very limited phased return.

Wales are opening up for ages 3 - 7 years

Scotland are opening up for ages 5 - 8 plus pre school
I could be wrong as I don't have preschool children but I thought in England pre schools were still open

Scotland are also allowing some exam years into school if they need to do practical work but only 5% - 8% of the roll at any one time.

Also, Scotland haven't definitely confirmed these arrangements yet.

It's not the case that they are fully opening up all schools for all ages.

I’m not sure any of them have handled it particularly well tbh, I think it’s more likely down to population density.

Our bars, restaurants and home visits have been closed/banned for longer but to be honest that’s just let to follow getting pissed off with it sooner so not sure how much that impacts...

Also in Scotland schools closed a lot earlier for Xmas...so we’ve had that extra week or 2 that accounts for 22nd v 8th

We need a plan and an aim now.

We've been told what the plan and the aim is: Govt will have data next week, they will analyse it and then PM will set out a roadmap on the 22nd Feb and they have already stated that they hope to start reopening schools from the 8th March.

Exactly what else do you want at the moment?

@Thiscantreallybehappening

We need a plan and an aim now.

We've been told what the plan and the aim is: Govt will have data next week, they will analyse it and then PM will set out a roadmap on the 22nd Feb and they have already stated that they hope to start reopening schools from the 8th March.

Exactly what else do you want at the moment?

Are you for real? Do you actually know what is happening in our (non) society at the moment? I want some balance and some info quite obviously.

Lockdown lovers. Urgh.

@Thiscantreallybehappening

OP, do you know that schools in Wales and Scotland are not fully opening up after half term? it is a very limited phased return.

Wales are opening up for ages 3 - 7 years

Scotland are opening up for ages 5 - 8 plus pre school
I could be wrong as I don't have preschool children but I thought in England pre schools were still open

Scotland are also allowing some exam years into school if they need to do practical work but only 5% - 8% of the roll at any one time.

Also, Scotland haven't definitely confirmed these arrangements yet.

It's not the case that they are fully opening up all schools for all ages.

But that's better than 0 for post preschool age which is what we have here.

@pommedeterre but they locked down hard before us - Scotland's schools shut before us too and they shut all preschools and nurseries unless key workers. Their lockdown was harder and their figures are lower. I bet loads of Scottish parents with toddlers were complaining how unfair it was to try and work at home with toddlers there as nurseries were shut when that wasn't the case in England. They made different sacrifices.

I’m in Wales and although we’ve been told 22/2 we haven’t been told anything further by the schools as they’re waiting on welsh government. I have a feeling it’ll be staggered again, so may not be Monday, won’t be normal school times and may only be a few days a week. Our cases our continuing to decrease so🤞the children will be returning soon.

Unlike England we are having to wait three months between jabs, so I really hope those jabs are bloody effective. If not, we’ll be back to schools closing again! Feels like there’s no end to it. First the vaccine frees us all, then erm no it actually doesn’t!

Abs Scotland were far stricter about allowing children into schools and the requirements of having key worker parents. They took it more seriously, worked harder and will most likely reap the rewards of that. As for complaining the children are being punished and must be sent back to school ASAP - that won't change the current pandemic status or the infection rates. Children will go back when it's safe for them and the wider community to do so. This government, incompetent though it is, is clearly not a government that would support a shut down economy and having to pay for people to remain at home and not work for a second longer than it needs to. I doubt you will ever find a Tory government that would ....

Our ares is still currently 190/100,000 cases. It's coming down slowly. My dc school have very low numbers physically attending school. Roughly between 4 and 9 pupils per class and bubbles have popped. Other schools in the area have year groups out too.

I don't think this is a one size fits all situation, but don't know what solution there can be. Schools in low risk areas open with others closed? Keep them closed for a few more weeks until cases have dropped nationwide? Or reopen and let cases rise quickly again?

[quote zaffa]@pommedeterre but they locked down hard before us - Scotland's schools shut before us too and they shut all preschools and nurseries unless key workers. Their lockdown was harder and their figures are lower. I bet loads of Scottish parents with toddlers were complaining how unfair it was to try and work at home with toddlers there as nurseries were shut when that wasn't the case in England. They made different sacrifices.[/quote]
Our school keyworkers hubs are very strict, our school has less than 10 kids. Which is different from England (based on media report mind you). DH and I are both keyworkers but because I can wfh we don’t get a space

Lockdown lovers. Urgh.

How dare you, you have no idea of my situation. I am not a lockdown lover FFS.

I have teenage DC who have had their lives totally thrown up in the air. I am worried sick about them. I have written numerous letters to my MP about the issues with school closures.

I am coping with elderly relatives and I am desperate for restrictions to be eased.

I am just stating the facts but the reality is posters like you are just looking for arguments. You are ridiculous.

Scotland i think secondary can wear masks in class as can teachers?
I think too over 5 wear masks in shops.

Blame the gov for not enforcing masks as almost every other country has done in schools.
Also blame them for the huge jan wave caused by those kids infecting their relatives at xmas.