Better late than never - CO2 monitors for classrooms in England

[lannistunut]

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/aug/21/classrooms-england-monitor-air-quality-effort-combat-covid-better-ventilation

Finally the government are taking the first step towards proper ventilation, frustratingly slow and late as ever, but every step forward is progress.

Some parents probably have very little idea how horrendous some school buildings are

Well it was interesting when l posted that a broken blind in my classroom was stopping the classroom being adequately ventilated as it was blocking the window and there just seemed to be utter disbelief that I could have reported it as broken and yet it not been fixed because there was no money.

Kids are expected to learn in conditions that can be intolerable. People wouldn’t accept it in offices.

I notice when the politicians visit schools it always tend to be the new ones

One of the classrooms at DS's old school only had ventilation because the windows were so badly fitted. You couldn't actually open them as painted shut, and if you tried to force them open there was a risk that the whole window might fall out.

Some of my windows were locked shut during an airborne pandemic because the stop on them had broken, they opened too widely and a kid might jump out. So it was safer to lock them as there was no money to fix them.

@ineedaholidaynow

I notice when the politicians visit schools it always tend to be the new ones

One of the classrooms at DS's old school only had ventilation because the windows were so badly fitted. You couldn't actually open them as painted shut, and if you tried to force them open there was a risk that the whole window might fall out.

Oh definitely. Never seen them anywhere near my school, with asbestos, painted window locks and dilapidated buildings. However, when the fancy new academy opened down the road, there were plenty buzzing around for photo opportunities. 😡😠

We do have a 'spanking new' (primary) school, only opened after Easter. I won't get in to how it isn't actually fully 'ready' for the kids to go in to.

But... still didn't stop bubbles popping throughout all the 'bubbles' despite all the big opening windows & doors.

Part 712 of the insulting shitshow of this government’s treatment of schools during Covid.

I have to close the curtains when the windows are open as the sun shines directly on my screen and in children's eyes. They then billow across the classroom and wrap around children head. The children can't hear me either when the windows are open as the nursery classroom play area is just outside and the noise is loud.

In a 1980's built block I have an entire wall of windows that face the sun from 8am onwards. Only the three small windows open. A tiny bit. The sun also glares onto my interactive whiteboard all day and if I pull the blinds down they blow onto kids and I get complaints.

The only way I can get throughbreeze is to open up my door and get my other opposite teacher to do the same. And this is despite our " fans" which are in the ceiling and so weak that our co2 monitors go red 30 mins after they have been put on to "solve" the situation.

What would you rather I do as a parent

This school is asking parents contribute financially to something the government should be providing

uk.gofundme.com/f/deighton-gates-primary-school-classrooms

We already had them in our school precovid. They don't beep they just turn red so most of the time I don't even notice because I am too busy teaching to look at a monitor! And the times I did notice it was red there's not much you can do. Some classrooms the windows barely open. I can guarantee this will be yet another fancy initiative that will make zero difference and more money wasted...

@lannistunut

I am not giving the government anything other than a slow handclap here, but if they have finally cottoned on to the need to open windows that is some progress.

I was not expecting them to do this at all.

Yes assume the rollout will be slower than needed.

Where were you last winter when I was freezing my tits off?