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

[LimitIsUp]

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

===========

• Title edited by MNHQ (it said October, we've changed it to March as reported) *

Primary back on the 8th seems plausible. But isn’t a week or two later very close to the Easter holidays?

I don’t see why they’re not waiting for Easter. Obviously kids need an education but prioritising that over the science seems mad to me.

Hopefully this is just another fake news story to sell papers, only a week until we find out anyway.

They need to be prioritising allowing adults to socialise a bit more too, I don’t think they’re taking into account how damaging these lockdowns are on mental health.

I could cry. Yes, I'm desperate for my DC to get back to school but this will extend the pandemic yet again and mean our freedoms will be curtailed for longer.

I'm also.scared about getting it. I have any underlying condition but not on any kind of priority list for the vaccine.

If we had a decent track and trace system then that's be different. Or free testing on demand without symptoms and the schools getting proper support to manage this crisis e.g. by being able to have pupils back part time to minimise numbers inside, or education about covid being airborne and the role of air con in spreading it.

But instead, we'll have a situation like last time where DS's friend's mum tested positive for covid, but because his friend didn't have symptoms his friend continued going to school. The school were unaware the mother had covid as they would only be informed by track and trace if the child tested positive.

The parents were unwilling to lie about child having symptoms to get a test. (Probably because they didn't want to have to keep him at home). So child officially did not have covid and continued coming into school. School said nothing they could do.

It's a fucking farce. This government still don't have a grip on the pandemic. And the longer we carry on with half measures and ineffective T&,T and testing, the longer we'll be in tiers.

I just hope the vaccines do turn out to fight infection after all, not just make symptoms less severe.

Should say I have an underlying condition.

You mean I’ll be able to sit down outside and not just stand up??!!! This joyous bounty is more than I ever hoped for.

They'll push the majority of secondary back until after Easter. Depending on the ofqual consultation they may let exam years in for socially distant lessons/assessment.

Makes sense to be primary first.

I think this is positive - an acknowledgement that we need to start working out a way forward ASAP. Yes start with schools and little else but I hope within a month of schools opening plans for the rest of us should be becoming clear.

I would rather the children go back to school than anything. Its been a disaster for mine as my husband and I have both had to work throughout and are in fact busier that we have ever been.

All schools and pupils back on 8th March would be reckless. A staggered approach, maybe a few year groups one week and others another would be better. Or split classes in half, and alternate. Children get benefits of some face to face interaction and teaching that way.

I agree not all schools (or not all full-time) should be the first restriction to go.

OCTOBER... you have caused an entire nation of mothers to have a mini heart attack 😆

Mumsnet totally messing with my head today

I haven't been able to find any mention anywhere of what the plans are to get universities back face to face especially practical based courses. Anyone seen any news on this?

DD is at drama school and her training will be seriously compromised if their planned return to face to face practical sessions in early April cannot go ahead. They have so much to catch up on.

This is ridiculous. Kids mixing in schools whilst adults still can't see even one person at home? They are torturing the population

What do you mean? I've been meeting friends for walks and runs since this lockdown started. Yes it would be nice to have a coffee indoors when it's cold, but it's hardly "torture" to go for a walk and a chat! Wrap up warm.

You got my hopes up with the 8th March start OP and now I see there's a delay for secondary according to the Telegraph, grrr. And as always sixth form colleges get ignored.

@fluffi

All schools and pupils back on 8th March would be reckless. A staggered approach, maybe a few year groups one week and others another would be better. Or split classes in half, and alternate. Children get benefits of some face to face interaction and teaching that way.

I know a lot of sixth form colleges were staggering face to face attendance before Christmas. DS' college had everyone in and very few cases, but I think he'd settle for a week in and a week off for the moment.

Good news

Interesting, will wait to see if it’s correct

Scottish scientists advising there education dept/government stressed the importance of the 2m distance at secondary schools and where possible at primary and even on school transport. If that’s there advice why is it/should be different here? Surely science is science no matter where you are!

Hoping that year 10 go back on 8 March not after Easter.

hope the curriculum is temporarily slimed down and well-being is the primary focus:lots of PE, group activities, appreciate your surroundings etc

I take it you don't have secondary age DC, particularly not in year 10 and about. Some age groups simply don't have the time for variations to the curriculum, and they need to be in and learning. They're already grappling with what this year's awarding of qualifications will involve, or knowing they will not be able to cover the whole syllabus in time for 2022 (but nothing stated about modifications for them - perhaps along the lines of those proposed for this year before fuller lockdown? But communicated clearly and soon so that remaining teaching time can be used to best benefit)

Thus article seems to be confirming that the current lockdown measures are producing the desired results in the timeframe expected and trailed. This is good news.

Only a week to the announcements.

As if kids are going to keep a 2m distance from each other even if their school was large enough to allow it.

Let's hope this is correct so something of this academic year can be salvaged...

Lol for the one other person can sit on a park bench with another person!

What have we become?

Also people are doing this now bojo just FYI

@fastwigglylines

I could cry. Yes, I'm desperate for my DC to get back to school but this will extend the pandemic yet again and mean our freedoms will be curtailed for longer.

I'm also.scared about getting it. I have any underlying condition but not on any kind of priority list for the vaccine.

If we had a decent track and trace system then that's be different. Or free testing on demand without symptoms and the schools getting proper support to manage this crisis e.g. by being able to have pupils back part time to minimise numbers inside, or education about covid being airborne and the role of air con in spreading it.

But instead, we'll have a situation like last time where DS's friend's mum tested positive for covid, but because his friend didn't have symptoms his friend continued going to school. The school were unaware the mother had covid as they would only be informed by track and trace if the child tested positive.

The parents were unwilling to lie about child having symptoms to get a test. (Probably because they didn't want to have to keep him at home). So child officially did not have covid and continued coming into school. School said nothing they could do.

It's a fucking farce. This government still don't have a grip on the pandemic. And the longer we carry on with half measures and ineffective T&,T and testing, the longer we'll be in tiers.

I just hope the vaccines do turn out to fight infection after all, not just make symptoms less severe.

This. It’s a joke but I also papers scratching around for headlines. We won’t be going back with no mitigation.

If they are only planning on Secondaries going back a couple of weeks later, what on earth are they going to do with the Y11 and Y13 students? That’s another 2 weeks off the already very limited time they have left in school to do any meaningful learning. I assumed they’d be the first ones back.