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Original poster

Sunday Times just reported that all schools in England will be back on 8 March

971 replies

LimitIsUp · 14/02/2021 00:24

This quote from the article:
"All schoolchildren will return to the classroom on March 8 under plans to start lifting the lockdown, Boris Johnson will announce in a national address next week.

Under the government’s blueprint to reopen society, adults will initially have only small new freedoms so as to prioritise the return of schools — a move ministers know will raise the coronavirus R number for infections.

Adults will be allowed to sit down outdoors for a coffee or on a park bench with one friend, or with members of their own family — a slight relaxation of the current rule, which permits outdoor meetings only while standing up.

The decision to reopen both primary and secondary schools goes against the advice of some government scientists. But the prime minister was swayed by faster than expected reductions in hospital admissions and infections."

I can link to the article but for those of you without a subscription, there is a pay wall

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/back-to-school-on-march-8-as-johnson-starts-lifting-lockdown-0v5zbz5bt

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  • Title edited by MNHQ (it said October, we've changed it to March as reported) *
OP posts:
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Delatron · 14/02/2021 15:55

If you have vulnerable children then yes obviously keep them off. I would for now.

It’s easy to work out your own personal risk to this. Yes there will always be the odd outlier. There is for every disease. But that doesn’t mean that this suddenly becomes a serious illness for most healthy people.

NeedingCoffee · 14/02/2021 15:55

I’m beyond thrilled that schools are hopefully all going back on the 8th; such fabulous news in my view and absolutely the right thing to do.

Some people will agree, others won’t. Fortunately we are a civilised country where we respect each others’ right to different views Smile

Inastatus · 14/02/2021 16:03

@ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown

There is a difference between being in a category known as vulnerable, and being vulnerable to a virus, the effects of which are unpredictable. If we could tell in advance what our outcome would be if we caught Covid wouldn't that be great? But we cannot.
@ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown - that’s true of many diseases/viruses but we risk them every day. The fact is that for the vast majority of people, Covid is not a serious disease.
Rosesaresweet · 14/02/2021 16:15

My ds won't have been, he's 10 and been shielding for most of the year. There won't be a vaccine suitable until at least the end of the year. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to keep him off until then (thus missing his transition to secondary

That's why school should not be compulsorily for all. The very vulnerable children should have the option to continue learning from home, until a vaccine becomes available later this year, hopefully.

But the vast majority should be able to go back to school.

WombatChocolate · 14/02/2021 16:19

I’d just say again, that The Times reports this as if its a government policy, rather than one possibility.
No other news channels are reporting this.

It isn’t a fact that government are sending all schools back on 8th. The info isn’t available yet,as Dominic Raab said.

Abraxan · 14/02/2021 16:30

@Delatron

We’re not trying to prevent all cases of Covid or all deaths.

If you are vulnerable to COVID being a serious disease for you then you will have been vaccinated.

I am CV and as yet have not been called for the vaccine. Group 6 are not yet eligible. And isn't it a further 3 weeks after that before it kicks in too?

As it is I have already caught covid, during the autumn term in October when it swept through school. I was poorly enough to need hospital treatment and 7 weeks off work. 4 months on and my consultants won't, and can't, guarantee I now have immunity and can't catch it again.

So no, not all vulnerable groups will have been vaccinated.
Or do those outside the top 4 priority groups no longer count?

PatriciaValiant · 14/02/2021 16:32

It would be great to see all children back in school ASAP, we need to be realistic and recognise that there needs to be changes first, or we'll just end up in the same mess again.

This was an interesting watch and makes perfect sense.

DenisetheMenace · 14/02/2021 16:36

NeedingCoffee

I’m beyond thrilled that schools are hopefully all going back on the 8th; such fabulous news in my view and absolutely the right thing to do.

Some people will agree, others won’t. Fortunately we are a civilised country where we respect each others’ right to different views“

Fortunately though, different views of members of the public don’t dictate public health policy. That should only ever be driven by data and atm the bulk of expert opinion believes it is too early to open up.

Delatron · 14/02/2021 16:37

They’re whizzing through the vaccinations. Pfizer have just taken a short break to increase supply.
I’m in my 40s with no conditions and it’s currently looking like May for me.

It won’t be long at all until the vulnerable are done.

CountessFrog · 14/02/2021 16:38

User user for prime minister!

Delatron · 14/02/2021 16:38

If they just made school optional those who wish to stay at home for a few more months could.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 14/02/2021 16:41

@Delatron

If they just made school optional those who wish to stay at home for a few more months could.
Who will teach the children if the staff take up that offer to remain safe and protect their wider families and communities?
Delatron · 14/02/2021 16:45

Vulnerable teachers shouldn’t be in @IceCreamAndCandyfloss and they’ll be vaccinated soon.

Most schools round here are 50% full as it is. Teachers are in teaching key worker children who are arguably more of a risk as their parents won’t have been at home for months.

FrippEnos · 14/02/2021 16:47

Delatron
Vulnerable teachers shouldn’t be in

The Guidance from the DfE says the opposite.

Delatron · 14/02/2021 16:49

Well it’s good news the vaccination program is going so well then...

Abraxan · 14/02/2021 16:54

@Delatron

Vulnerable teachers shouldn’t be in *@IceCreamAndCandyfloss* and they’ll be vaccinated soon.

Most schools round here are 50% full as it is. Teachers are in teaching key worker children who are arguably more of a risk as their parents won’t have been at home for months.

Cv teachers are expected in school when outside of lockdown. Even in lockdown it is at school discretion and depends if they can be found a role which can be done from home.

I know I'm very fortunate that my headteacher has taken this seriously from the start, so I was protected during the first and current lockdown.

Didn't work so well September to December sadly though.

Abraxan · 14/02/2021 16:56

@Delatron

Well it’s good news the vaccination program is going so well then...
But not fast enough to,protect those more vulnerable staff before 8 March.

Guess those staff just have to hope for the best in the meantime.

HazeyJaneII · 14/02/2021 17:04

If you have vulnerable children then yes obviously keep them off. I would for now.
Well yes, and we will...and have to think about what we do about his sister's, and how he will transition to secondary safely. Especially as it is highly likely that there will be another wave with schools returning too early....and so on and bloody so on.

sherrystrull · 14/02/2021 17:05

@Delatron, do you work in a school?

AllAroundTheWrekin · 14/02/2021 17:06

@AllAroundTheWrekin - And I repeat, all the vulnerable groups will have been offered the vaccine by then. The middle aged with no underlying conditions are not vulnerable!

Age 50 to 55 are due around end of April / early May. Teachers and parents in that age group have died or been seriously ill.

Then there is Long Covid.

Then there is the potential mutation of the virus as it rips through the younger generations. Community transmission is a big worry. When you look at the sheer amount of students a secondary teacher meets each week it's a recipe for another disaster.

sherrystrull · 14/02/2021 17:11

I agree @AllAroundTheWrekin.

It's wonderful that the most vulnerable have been vaccinated but it doesn't mean everyone else isn't at risk.

Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket · 14/02/2021 17:13

Hallelujah!

Delatron · 14/02/2021 17:14

Unfortunately you can’t keep schools closed for long Covid. You need to refer back to the actual statistics on healthy middle age people dying of this disease and make decisions based on actual data and figures.

People of all ages die unexpectedly of many illnesses. We can’t take away all risk. Now if thousands of healthy 40/50 year olds were dying then it would be a different story.

pinkpip100 · 14/02/2021 17:16

If you have vulnerable children then yes obviously keep them off. I would for now.

It’s not as simple as that though. I have 4 children, 1 is vulnerable. Do I keep all 4 of them off (including my eldest, who is in year 11)? Will they get any work set? How long do I have to deprive them of an education whilst all of their peers are back in school?
If schools were made safer for everyone, vulnerable children and their families wouldn't be put in such an awful situation. Can't anyone see this?

ilovesooty · 14/02/2021 17:29

@pinkpip100

If you have vulnerable children then yes obviously keep them off. I would for now.

It’s not as simple as that though. I have 4 children, 1 is vulnerable. Do I keep all 4 of them off (including my eldest, who is in year 11)? Will they get any work set? How long do I have to deprive them of an education whilst all of their peers are back in school?
If schools were made safer for everyone, vulnerable children and their families wouldn't be put in such an awful situation. Can't anyone see this?

I can see it. Schools need to be safe for everyone.