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

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

Haven't secondary schools been having full time live lessons during lockdown? I know it's not ideal but have they really missed a whole chunk of the syllabus? My friends with secondary aged children have said that their DC have been working just as hard as when they are at school.

I never knew we weren't allowed to sit down outdoors

Alternatively let's recognise that every human has needs to be social and these don't stop at 18. A balanced approach to lifting lockdown measures for all age groups would be best. No age group is more important.

of course there are!
You only have one (short) childhood and social life of a teenager is crucial.

Adults can be fine with a few months of restrictions, their life is done, they have other ways to be in touch.

It's not ideal but it's ridiculously selfish to pretend under 18 are not more important here!

I had to laugh at not being allowed to sit down, I won't name my seaside town in case we get raided but we are a wild lot and we have definitely been sitting down when out for exercise on the prom. Maybe they turn a blind eye as we are a town with alot of elderly people.

I'm 53. Yet I'm supposed to walk into a room with 30 others, no masks, no social distancing, no safety measures (except the magic tape on the floor), 6 times a day. No vaccine. If it's so important to get schools fully open then why not keep school staff as safe as you can so they can stay open ? Vaccinate all over 50 staff this week. Then all others asap. This could be done in 24 hours at current rate. Or are our lives worth nothing ? It's acknowledged over 50s are at risk or we wouldn't be priority group 9.

@SpiderinaWingMirror

I never knew we weren't allowed to sit down outdoors

no one else does, that's why businesses selling patio heaters are booming!

Can anyone explain why this is even an option, given that the highest risk of new variants is as a result of unvaccinated mass mixing with fast transmission (ie schools)? I don’t understand. Surely the current low rates are not the driving factor.

@KasparKat we've been doing full live lessons every day. 99% engagement. No syllabus missed.

@Snowsnowglorioussnow

Sherry I don't think they are going to allow si anymore.. It will all rest on the lateral flow testing

I know staff at my school do twice weekly LFT's but the children don't. It's only voluntary though.

Adults can be fine with a few months of restrictions, their life is done, they have other ways to be in touch.

Plenty of adults aren't good with technology and aren't keeping in touch. All the teens I know are active on SM, gaming websites, WhatsApp etc.

Adults lives are not "done" either! What a stupid thing to say.

Jemimapuddleduk

I’m sorry to hear that about your son. I hope he gets the care and support he needs.

IdblowJonSnow

It's too soon. I do want kids to go back but would rather wait an extra week or two (or three) and play it safe.
Why will the silly twat not listen to the scientists?”

Agree.
Unfortunately the crackpot opinions of his libertarian backbenchers are a more important consideration to him.

@KasparKat

Haven't secondary schools been having full time live lessons during lockdown? I know it's not ideal but have they really missed a whole chunk of the syllabus? My friends with secondary aged children have said that their DC have been working just as hard as when they are at school.

GS living with me and yes he has had a full timetable. Covered everything for GCSEs and doing revision.

I think year 10s should also go back on the 8th. Year 10s in particular are the ones whose GCSEs will be most affected by all if this.

[quote HercwasanEnemyofEducation]@Quit4me By your username I'm assuming you're one of those militant school campaigners.

As a teacher I'd love to have my students all back in front of me. However this isn't possible when we need to stop coronavirus spreading.

I'd rather a lockdown until after Easter for secondary, and that be the final lockdown we have.[/quote]
If that was the case, can you please explain how that would work for Y11 and Y13 who normally have study leave from May and then sit exams. Are you saying that basically F2F school should be considered ended for Y11 And 13 and they will no longer go into school at all ?!. So they will have had F2F lessons for only 2 full terms out of 6 terms ?!
What years do you teach ?
They will have vaccinated the most vulnerable groups by then, how long are we supposed to wait for education to start again properly.

[quote mumsneedwine]@KasparKat we've been doing full live lessons every day. 99% engagement. No syllabus missed. [/quote]
We haven't. 100% pre-recirded videos and worksheets. DS is really struggling to keep focused, it's boring as hell.

@Skyr2 We're all waiting for ofqual to decide re summer assessment.
I would prioritise 11&13 back on a rota for assessment and f2f teaching. The rest of secondary can wait.

"Haven't secondary schools been having full time live lessons during lockdown?"

My year 12 has been attending all his online lessons and we are grateful for the teachers efforts - but quite honestly, the learning doesn't 'stick' very well at all when delivered in an online format. Its a second best to classroom learning

I hope they are. There will undoubtedly be a rise in cases but hopefully with the majority of vulnerable vaccinated it should keep hospitals admissions low.

Wasn’t that the point? To keep hospital admissions down, when was it ever complete eradication?

"I would prioritise 11&13 back on a rota for assessment and f2f teaching. The rest of secondary can wait."

This doesn't make sense when GCSEs and A levels are two year courses. Years 10 and years 12 need to be back too.

I know staff at my school do twice weekly LFT's but the children don't. It's only voluntary though.

Yes-agreed, it’s voluntary and for staff only. It was dropped as the big new plan for replacing self-isolation for close contacts as it was a really stupid plan.

@SpiderinaWingMirror

I never knew we weren't allowed to sit down outdoors

i sat on a teee stump thebother day as i was tired, my friend leant against a nearby tussock. Good job the police werent around

@Louiselady500

There have been plenty of children at school during lockdown. Some schools have 70-80% occupancy but the numbers are still going down!!

Not in the open ones they’re not! Static in special ed schools, increasing in nurseries and high in primary (considering low numbers).

@mumsneedwine

I'm 53. Yet I'm supposed to walk into a room with 30 others, no masks, no social distancing, no safety measures (except the magic tape on the floor), 6 times a day. No vaccine. If it's so important to get schools fully open then why not keep school staff as safe as you can so they can stay open ? Vaccinate all over 50 staff this week. Then all others asap. This could be done in 24 hours at current rate. Or are our lives worth nothing ? It's acknowledged over 50s are at risk or we wouldn't be priority group 9.

I agree. I think that schools shouldn't reopen fully until all over 40's who want to be vaccinated have had their first dose. A lot of community spread is due to asymptomatic children passing covid onto their parents and teachers. The 45 to 65 age group has one of the highest rates of infection.

@ChocOrange1 I follow my area on Covid Messenger, which is why I'm completely aware that it has been pretty steady or rising slightly for a while now. Given this is how it is with a full lockdown, what would you expect to happen when we start opening things up?