Outbreaks in schools

[Trustisamust]

Since schools have returned there have already been major outbreaks in both my child's secondary and the primary I work at.
The majority of school staff remain unvaccinated.
For how many other schools is this already the case?
I just don't know what to think any more.

1800 children at our secondary, extremely high take up of LFT, currently mid way through 3rd round of testing, no positives so far. How do I know? I been volunteering at school testing centre since lateral flows were introduced for key worker children and staff back in Jan.

Very low levels of infection generally and no cases at all in my DC’s schools (1 primary, 1 secondary). I think regular test of older DCs and families is a game changer.

@motherrunner

To those saying ‘no cases’ in schools, how would you know?

We only alert the year group affected, not the whole school.

Our school sends out an email every time there is a positive case to prevent rumours spreading.

None in either of my dcs.

Given that the whole of the uk only has 5000 new cases per day out of everyone, it can't be many.

@motherrunner

To those saying ‘no cases’ in schools, how would you know?

We only alert the year group affected, not the whole school.

School bush telegraphs are fairly efficient - and if you have several children in one school, they are likely to know which year group gets sent home. Before Christmas I knew which year groups in about 5 local schools were out because I have friends with children in lots of different schools...

@Trustisamust

I pulled DD back as soon as Boris announced all kids back in feb.

DS is CEV. Oh course it's a lie all CEV people are have had a vaccination, there is no DD felt like by going back to school she was playing Russian roulette with her brother's life (DS was pulled out September). Not good for her mental health.

Although once school sorted out online learning DD thrived. Shes now enrolled with an online iGCSE provider and all in with exams it will cost less than £5k for the same GCSEs. It might seem like a lot but for me for DDs wellbeing and continuity of learning, it feels like a bargain. I wish I'd done it sooner.

Primary school year which does not effect my children have had an outbreak.
How do I know? Visible difference in the drop off/collect queue, easier to find parking and obviously parents talk....

We’ve had two positive cases in our secondary school. I’m surprised there were cases again so soon.

I should also add that DDs old school start GCSES early, once allocated to a GCSE teacher they try to keep them the same. DD lost around half of her teachers through them leaving or long term sick at the start of September. In February they announced a change of curriculum in her favourite subject to an "easier" (but far less interesting and relevant) module. Even without the Direct threat to DS and concern about ongoing periods of isolation, DD education (and that of her friends still in school) was going to be seriously impacted if she remained in school

Primary school with 400+ pupils, we have had 3 cases the past 2 weeks

We always get a text from the school to say about another case. Obviously they don’t name the person or year.

Our primary is so far ok. One primary just up the road though has had 12 cases across 7 classes found in the last 3 days!

OP an "outbreak" is 2 or more cases (or an increased number than usually seen but that wouldn't be covid) so I'm interested what a "large outbreak " is
If pupils learn across different classes or a teacher tests positive then the whole bubble/year group will be sent home. You do know that if they are self isolating it doesnt mean they are positive?
So it could be 2 cases in the whole school but 300 pupils self isolating because of time tabling. That's not a large outbreak and it feels very unfair to the school staff who are working hard to label as one

No vaccines offered to school staff in my area. We've had emails saying we categorically aren't allowed.

We've had 6 cases at the local secondary school so far this term.

We've had four parents in my primary school test positive since lockdown. No children yet but who knows about asymptomatic spread.

Sorry, 6 cases since full reopening 10 days ago.

Our school has over 2000. They test twice a week. Since being back they’ve had 5 positive cases, 3 being teachers. They don’t close whole bubbles so less than 25 kids were sent home and no extra teachers.

@motherrunner - in our school everyone gets the email when someone tests positive.

I think that as soon as the nine top groups have been vacced (and had time for it to develop) say early Mayish then they will do away with the bubbles thing.

Over 90% tested at dd’s school. Only one positive case so far. Students have been tested since so hopefully not passed on.

@Hazelnutlatteplease could you give some info on the iGCSE course? What year is your DD in?

DS struggled mentally before the last lockdown, he’s back now and all ok so far but it’s early days. He’s already counting down the days until Easter.

He’s in Y9 and had to choose his options at the end of Y8.

A positive child in year 1 at my son's school. So the year group is closed until after Easter. As a primary the children aren't doing LFT routinely, but the staff are, I believe.

@motherrunner

To those saying ‘no cases’ in schools, how would you know?

We only alert the year group affected, not the whole school.

Just for future reference (I guess you're only worked in one school and have no children) all schools are different.

From the anecdata of my friends and family they are all told how many cases there are in their schools and in my case which year group or if it's a staff member. From previous threads I've read I've got the impression that this is quite normal

OP, you seem to be digging for any bad news and criticism of schools going back.
You've gone from 'two large outbreaks' to you don't know actually how many students were affected in a couple of year groups - with no schools closed.
What's your agenda? You know that Covid will be around for years, right?
It's like you just landed.

As you point out @FlyingBurrito every school is different. If it wasn't for WhatsApp groups and friends with children in different years I'd have assumed no cases in either of my children's schools (secondary is a 7 form intake).

We have not been notified of any cases since late September.

None in ours.