Secondary school open evenings back to normal

[noblegiraffe]

Lots of secondary schools are gearing up to having sixth form and prospective Y7 open evenings over the next few weeks, entirely back to normal - this means adults and children crammed into classrooms and corridors and lots of mixing.

Teachers are obviously used packed classrooms, but I'm not sure what parents will be thinking about it? Particularly ones who may be working from home or in workplaces that still have covid measures in place.

Ask if there is an online option (if suitable I really hope parents evenings are online!) Otherwise ive had a vaccine, masking up, lateral flow test before, handwashing and sanitiser on the way in and being careful for the 10 days after.

Not free and easy, but I can take precautions which aren't too onerous.

Relieved I can actually make an informed decision about what might suit my DD best. We 'attended' the online ones last year as we were moving house. They weren't useful at all.

More to life than Covid.

No doubt it will be more useful for parents, definitely not disputing that. Just thinking of how parents might be feeling around how busy it's going to be.

Ours is staying online this year as they are still getting several confirmed cases a day in the school, as well as the feeder schools all being quite affected too.

Already attended Son's year 11 presentation. All in the hall, tea and coffee and biscuits after (we escaped without staying for this) a long speech. I still think this is the relatively calm before the storm. I find it bizarre how schools have done a complete 360 despite what we know about covid.

I went to a welcome evening for my year 7 last week - first time I’ve been in the school. His older brother started there last year and it was lovely to actually see where they spend their days! Great to meet other parents and some of the teachers too.

Everything was one way, seats spaced out, hand sanitiser if you wanted it. Also all the info was put online for anyone who didn’t feel comfortable. So overall it felt very safe even with a lot of people there

We've had ours for dd already (year 12). It was online, which was fine by me, though I would have been happy to go to a f2f one too - I've been back in the office for a while though, so used to being in a busy environment.

Tbh, I had assumed that schools would probably stick to the online parents' evenings going forward, perhaps with f2f options for those who would struggle to access them online. It must be a much more efficient way of managing the events for teachers, as the slots are set up so that they cannot overrun?

My daughter has just been a helper for her schools year 7 open evening. She said they tried to stagger the parents going round to reduce mixing, not sure how successful that was. Apparently it was busy, some people wore masks, most didn’t. I suppose parents will be willing to attend as they know how important it is.

Our MAT is having a pre covid open evening. Sanitiser and windows open but that's it, plus it is expected to be extra busy as the new y7 parents didn't get a chance to visit

I find it bizarre how schools have done a complete 360 despite what we know about covid.

Schools haven’t. The government has. Schools just follow the guidelines.

We’re doing 6 open evenings instead of the usual 1 to mitigate the business. Fabulous for the parents. Not so great for us as teaching staff…

It autocorrected to busyness to business. You get the idea…

OMG Pottering, hope they have taken that into account in directed time!

@noblegiraffe they have! We’re getting a random day off to cover it (which I am very much looking forward to!)

I think most parents will be bloody relived to actually set foot in the school their child is attending! I still haven't seen my new year 7 child's school

I guess that parents will get a flavour of how working in schools feels for the staff. Mega busy, very few protocols in place. Doing quite so many sessions has a massive workload implication Pottering. That’s very tough for you guys.

Oh God not another person whinging about life returning to normal!! Get over it. Life is going back to normal. Get on board.

Nope, we’re still online. Ours is this week coming. Sensible decision, as covid is ripping through the school already.

We had online parents' evenings last academic year - they were fantastic. Everyone on time, no waiting around, teachers all seemed prepared (knowing which kid they were talking to) and all from the convenience and comfort of our own home. Please please please keep doing parents' evenings online!

We don't need to attend open days and the thought of large crowd crushed into corridors and classrooms does not appeal personally. But if I were a prospective parent then I expect I'd just mask up and go anyway, regardless of the crush. Thanks to the teachers and students who participate in these.

@AttaGirrrrl

I find it bizarre how schools have done a complete 360 despite what we know about covid.

Schools haven’t. The government has. Schools just follow the guidelines.

I hear you - I work in one

Catchment school has 'slots' depending which Primary School your child attends. No head teachers talk- just a tour. Plus online tour available.

I admit to having more concern about the Lottery school... anyone can apply there, and its small (50 children per year). So likely to be a lot busier.

In two minds about visiting the next nearest school... no childcare so ill have to take both children.

It someone's concerned about it, then they don't have to go. Same as literally anything else that is now open.

Not for us, I went to a gig last night with 5000 people dancing, singing etc but no cannot visit secondary schools with my year six.

The idea that you think all non teachers are living like 2020 is naive to be honest and in my experience schools are a lot more worried than a lot of other places I go to..bars, theatres, family parties etc

It's not quite the same as opting not to go to the cinema though.

The idea that you think all non teachers are living like 2020 is naive to be honest

I didn't say that they were. But I do know people who have been far less exposed to 'normality' than, say, teachers and was wondering what they might be thinking about it.