Christmas plays private schools

[bellamountain]

So this is not to cause a state vs private school debate but for the past two years (nearly) most state schools haven't been entirely restriction free. My DS state primary went back for a few weeks in September this year to finally be able to eat with other year groups in the dining hall, have assemblies and play with the other year 1 class on the playground before it was stopped due to covid cases. They are cordoned off and not allowed to play with the other class outside. The Christmas plays for all the state schools in my area are cancelled, as are many school trips, Christmas fetes etc.

Meanwhile, the private schools in the area are carrying on as normal. Christmas events in full swing ahead and they have many more than the typical state school in any event. Parents allowed at functions, champagne the lot. Kids mixing freely with other classes. It's all normal. Kids might be asked to wear masks in chapel now but that's as far as it goes.

Of course a private education is going to be better and all the trimmings that go with it but is it only at state school kids who are disease vectors? It's just utterly ridiculous that everything outside of school is normal, parties, cinema, sports, nightclubs, restaurants etc etc but we can't see our kids in a Christmas play?? I don't begrudge the private schools at all, it's just precious moments taken away (kids are only little for a short while).

I was very impressed that DS private school made a lot of effort to safely allow sports day and summer performances to go ahead this year with parents. They did it as it was summer, all outside, big field so social distance between parents and children all in their bubbles.
He’s now at a different private school and so far all seems normal. Christmas fairs and concert all going ahead as planned.
I think children have missed out on too much so all schools should make as much effort as possible for normality.
I would guess a large number of kids have had Covid by now, DS has and at least half his class.

My ds 13 goes to a small rural independent. They have compulsory twice weekly lateral flow tests. No test, then log in from home.
They wear masks everywhere except when eating or outside. They have supervised hand washing. Parents are not allowed on site.

Our Xmas fair went ahead but masks were compulsory. The Carol concert is going ahead but with half the audience. Masks for the audience are compulsory.

Currently the school has no known cases.
It has taken a huge amount of effort and compliance. Not everyone is happy.

As far as I can see, the main benefit of private schooling over our excellent state secondary is that the local private school bumps up the predicted A level grades.

This a) gives their students an advantage at University interview I guess, but b) when the school was allowed to "make up" the actual A levels grades as well as predict them, then the private school grades were massively over-inflated artificially.

Bonkers.

actually "obscene" is another possible adjective. And "immoral".

My friends and I all go to different state schools in the same town. Ours is the only one where parents aren’t allowed to watch the play.
My daughter is in Reception. I have dreamt of seeing her perform in a nativity since I came off the pill. I’m worried that by the time she’s allowed to give any kind of performance to an audience she’ll be too shy.

We’ve used both - excellent state and excellent private

State is good but for us it did get hit harder with impact of Covid in terms of provision

There are other reasons for private, not grades really as dc have done well in both, but having access to the school activities and seeing it still going is a good addition, especially after such vast reduction.

Do you have any churches locally doing services for children?

Our local church has a Nativity Play as part of a service and children (and some of the adults) dress up as characters. It is great fun.

Before my DS was at school, we had a shepherd's costume for him that he used to wear to some of these.

We will have outdoor services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (so pretty likely to go ahead unless we are full lockdown) and small angels would be very welcome.

It's nice having the pictures from these events as well.

My kids state school are planning to let parents in to watch Christmas plays. Personally I can't see it happening and they have have said this might change though...

I'm Head of an independent school - it's everything online and recorded unfortunately for us this year, including Harvest and Nativity. We simply can't justify cramming over a hundred parents into the hall in the current times, with little / no ventilation. The CO2 monitors would explode! Children are no longer in bubbles as smaller class sizes, but many still wear masks by choice. The DfE have left it up to Heads' discretion (cop out) and thereby leaving Headteachers to face the wrath of unhappy parents over frankly necessary online concerts. According to the DfE, all is fine and good in schools now! (It really isn't, but they won't acknowledge this).

Re grades - our state school normally does better than the local independents (except when the marking is done internally). We're lucky that we haven't had children sitting exams in the pandemic,

Re extracurricular activities, it is possible to organise dance / drama lessons etc outside of school - it depends on the schools of course, but there is a lot more flexibility if you organise the activities outside of school, so I'm told by parents who've done both. Might be a thought if you want to boost confidence.

People can choose what suits them obviously wrt to clubs

Personally I’m happy with our choices

There are some fantastic state schools though but they tend not to have a stale old leadership.

Yeah, there’s that debate thing you didn’t want again

No Christmas play at our school my dc is in year 4. I'm not overly fussed though.
Anything that has allowed parents in my school has been subject to testing and an email to confirm we've tested negative before attending. Dc are in from all over the world plus boarding so I'm thinking it makes sense.

My dc does a drama club not related to school that is doing one so that will do for now and brownies are doing a Carol service so you could always join outside clubs if you really want your fix of Christmas plays.

Wonder if things will change following the press conference, and schools may tighten up on visitors/mask wearing

DD at state school. As it currently stands, she is going on a school trip next week, her nativity is the week after and 2 people per child are allowed to attend. Also she can play with other year groups and they have mixed test after school clubs. Of course this might all change after the current presser but it certainly isn't ALL state schools.

Dd is at a state primary and everything has been cancelled due to a huge rise in cases (1/2 the kids and staff in two classes with covid). They are no longer doing a Christmas show live or virtual, no Christmas panto trip and other Christmas sales cancelled ☹️

I do know of other state primaries that are continuing with live performances, but they don't seem to have as many cases.

I have one at each. DS1 actually goes to a state because it’s the most academic school in travelling distance, he is very bright and his indie wasn’t stretching him - it is a top 10 state school though so it is exceptional. Both take Covid seriously. More events go ahead at DS2’s indie but that’s because they have invested in outside covered areas so concerts, Christmas Fayre etc all take place outside. Overall, I would say communication is better at DS1’s state, the facilities are better at DS2’s indie. There’s more choice with extra curricular (e.g. private tennis coaching etc.) at the indie but there’s still loads of extra curricular at DS1’s state. Exam results are fantastic at the indie but on another level at the state. However, as I said above, it’s a top 10 state school nationally.

I work in both sectors. The private school has just cancelled all Christmas events and introduced mask wearing as cases are so high. The state school Nativities/carol concerts are all still going ahead as planned, but if cases continue to rise, then they will be cancelled too. It's not a state versus private school debate- just based on case numbers.