Schools told by the DfE to buy air cleaning units to reduce covid spread

[noblegiraffe]

The DfE has announced it is going to deliver air-cleaning units to special schools where 'quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible'.

Other schools will have to buy them themselves, although with what money is a mystery.

I'm guessing that the CO2 monitors that have actually been delivered have shown that schools aren't particularly well ventilated? (My school still hasn't received any).

schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-to-provide-1000-air-cleaning-units-for-ap-and-special-schools/

Just another thing to add to the long list of failures by this government to actually fund schools properly. Now if schools are stuffy and covid-ridden, it'll be their fault for not buying air cleaners.

Beggars belief.
EU report being told this at unions’ weekly meeting with the DfE/PH:

• ON VENTILATION: 270,000 CO2 monitors have been distributed. That covers 99% of secondary schools at a rate of 1 monitor per every 2 teaching rooms, the same for FE and more than 75% of primary schools. All schools will get them before Christmas. It is important to read the NEU advice on ventilation in conjunction with the use of these monitors.

Doesn’t make sense, most secondaries haven’t received them AFAIK. We certainly haven’t.

I'm guessing that the CO2 monitors that have actually been delivered have shown that schools aren't particularly well ventilated?

Ours have just arrived, and that has shown to be the case in the classrooms where the monitors have been placed in a sensible position. The monitors we received aren’t wireless though, so the only safe place they can be fitted in a couple of our classrooms is either right next to a door or window, the areas that have by far the best ventilation.

Brilliant.

So, can we buy any old air-cleaning unit or do we have to buy it from a company owned by one of Boris Johnson’s mates?

You have to buy it from one of Boris's mates, Appu. At a 'reasonable price' from the DfE marketplace.

Have you seen the videos on Twitter about how to make your own? Fan in a wooden box plus a few other bits iirc!

Here’s one from the States but I’ve seen English versions of the instructions

www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2021/08/17/diy-air-filters-for-classrooms-experts-are-enthusiastic-and-a-citizen-scientist-makes-it-easy

Not that I’m advocating we do what the DfE should be doing of course, but when do you give up….

We've got our CO2 monitors and what they actually show is that a room with closed windows is poorly ventilated, but that opening windows a crack makes a big difference very quickly. Who'd have thought?

What are these mythical CO2 monitors you speak of. Not seem one in my school. My room has 2cm opening windows and a door opening into a corridor. It smells by the end of the day so no ventilation going on.

Just got to buy a box fan and some 20 inch Merv filters whatever they are.

Or the DfE could fund schools properly.

@noblegiraffe

You have to buy it from one of Boris's mates, Appu. At a 'reasonable price' from the DfE marketplace.

Oh quelle surprise.

I’m still seething about the Ofsted funding, this is just the icing on the cake

I thought the absolute piss-taking might end when Gav finally fucked off, Appu. Sadly not.

My school has received CO2 monitors!

Of course, about 1/4 of the number we needed, but hey!

@Haskell

My school has received CO2 monitors!

Of course, about 1/4 of the number we needed, but hey!

Ours has arrived.

Yes, "has". We have one.

Well hark at you Ms Fancy-Pants Haskell

My current classroom is well ventilated, I think. It is, however, also freezing. We've already got coats on and it's only November. A CO2 monitor might let us shut some windows.

We have one co2 monitor for 16 classrooms plus 6 other teaching spaces

Hip you couldn't make it up.

I expect that one to be prioritised for the Head's office too.

Head used it to make a whistlestop tour of the school. No one has seen it since.

I haven't seen any CO2 monitors in my primary school, or heard anything about them. So... we're still waiting.

In the meantime, windows and doors remain open and we wear coats a lot of the time. Because, you know, that's conducive to learning. Keeps your brain fresh. Apparently.

No monitors here. No money either due to supply costs.

@Invasionofthegutsnatchers

We have one co2 monitor for 16 classrooms plus 6 other teaching spaces

That's all you need though. Ventilation today will be the same as tomorrow. So use it in one room a day and establish how often you need to open a window.

It seems that the point of the CO2 monitors is to drum up business for Delboy and DfE's 'reasonably priced air cleaners' trade which is probably Rodney out back with box fans, cardboard and some sellotape.

Which leads nicely, noble, into this article I’ve just read:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59334952

We have big air purifying systems in every room in our primary school. Got installed last year and cost a fortune. My room is also well ventilated. Considering 30% of my class and both my TAs had covid ATM, I don't think they work too well...

That’s interesting (and horrid), @OliveTree75.

Perhaps proves that ultimately nothing can stop it? What year group?