Save our schools!

[motherrunner]

So, the Government has had ample opportunities to invest in schools to reduce the spread of Covid ie air filter systems but instead we were given a few CO2 monitors (one per 3 classrooms) and told to ignore the red flashing light and open a window.

Do we really think ex-teachers will ‘answer the call’ to save our schools?

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-retired-teachers-urged-to-return-to-classrooms-to-cover-staff-absence-as-omicron-takes-hold-12500466?fbclid=IwAR1-MPdPC7cU0AJB1pbgDY_oUYh-wOrQFoEUhhMdpaLXFMSrau22j2TeTJQ

We couldn’t even get paid in help… we’ve currently got 10 paid roles being advertised and 6 of those don’t even have one applicant

Exactly. We haven’t been able to source paid supply so I’m not sure if people will work for free knowing that the reason why they’re being called to help ie huge staff absence.

It’s not looking great. Not sure air filter systems will have a massive impact on staffing if I’m honest.

@manysummersago

I think if people felt schools were safer they may apply, lots of our people leaving are admin who are moving out of schools as can get an equally paid job in a more safe environment

We had two staff retire last week - they certainly won't be back!

DfE have condescendingly informed retired teachers that they can sign up with supply agencies, as though they didn’t know that already and clearly have no intention of doing so, not wishing to put their health at risk in an environment that every day breaches all workplace guidance with regard to Covid safety.

I worked on supply last week and considering the agency couldn’t even be arsed to pay me (they’re off now) I will not be completing my 4 week block booking in January.

I’m certain they themselves will be spending the commission though.

I can’t imagine anyone I know who has left teaching would go back into it-they were all utterly broken by the time they left and they aren’t going to risk their health to come back into unsafe classrooms for £100 a day.

Anyone who has left teaching to change job, left for a reason. And they have a job now.

A far better idea would have been to focus on procuring air filters for schools (no, not from Dyson at 4 times the price of any others), or simple things like scrap uniform for a term and tell kids and staff they should dress warmly so the windows being open isn’t so excruciatingly cold. They should also pause Ofsted-that is a totally unnecessary stress on heads at the moment-the Ofsted inspectors can be redeployed into local schools for additional staffing.

Let's hope the delta variant is indeed mild. Then hopefully there won't be such a need for so many mitigating measures.

@Blubells

Let's hope the delta variant is indeed mild. Then hopefully there won't be such a need for so many mitigating measures.

I would imagine it’s Omicron that’s the issue here.

Well, our school is going to have to need this - out of a staff of 13, 9 of us have tested positive in the last 12 hours!! Mass outbreak. The only problem is that our school has already spent its supply budget for the entire year so I don't know what we are going to do now.

Oh sorry of course I meant Omicron

The DfE isn’t expecting people to do this for free surely?

@Blubells

Let's hope the delta variant is indeed mild. Then hopefully there won't be such a need for so many mitigating measures.

There haven’t been any mitigating measures.

@LethargicActress

The DfE isn’t expecting people to do this for free surely?

No-they want them to sign up to supply agencies.

So they are asking teachers who no longer want to teach, to come back and do it for much less money than they were doing it for before.

I will be fascinated to see how many teachers sign up for this.

I retired last year. No way will l be going back.

Supply teachers have been treated appallingly and I think most of them have found other work.

Generally, people have left teaching because of the toxic accountability processes and let’s be honest, teachers have been put on the front line of Covid. No whatabouterry, people in frontline education have unique circumstances no one else has. Especially primary and EYFS.

No one wants to go back, especially when they are returning to such unsafe work places. We had to close two year groups. The supply we could get went down, no one left. Not even MDSAs, literally any warm body will do and we couldn’t do that.

People who have left teaching know what it's like in schools in normal times. Chuck in the risk of catching covid just like the staff member you are replacing and it starts looking as attractive as a DfE Christmas party hosted by Gavin Williamson.

I actually find this hilarious. I have friends and family working in schools in different roles and they have been treated like absolute shit before the pandemic and ten times worse during. The two I know who left over the summer (pre-retirement age) would rather gouge their own eyes out than go back into it.

They would be crazy to go back. Especially over 60s.

@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy

Well, our school is going to have to need this - out of a staff of 13, 9 of us have tested positive in the last 12 hours!! Mass outbreak. The only problem is that our school has already spent its supply budget for the entire year so I don't know what we are going to do now.

@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy Hope you stay as well as you can!

@noblegiraffe

People who have left teaching know what it's like in schools in normal times. Chuck in the risk of catching covid just like the staff member you are replacing and it starts looking as attractive as a DfE Christmas party hosted by Gavin Williamson.

Too right.

Behaviour management, progress targets, Ofsted etc and now you can have the added bonus of catching Covid. Woop!

Here is Nadhim Zahawi's impassioned video plea to get back in the classroom. You can tell it's impassioned and patriotic, because there's a flag in the background.

It appears to have been taken in a passport photo booth.

twitter.com/nadhimzahawi/status/1472833306421088261?s=21

The idea that he's doing everything he can to protect schools is rather undermined by the fact that he's done nothing to protect schools.

I am currently a primary supply teacher and the past month or so has been absolutely crazy!

I have been covering classes where 2 or 3 members of staff are off with covid, along with a number of pupils. The only protection available is to open windows and doors.
I have covered classes that have ended up sending several children home ill during the day and also to find out later that PHE (or whoever they are now) have decided to close the whole year group I've been working in due to high number of cases.

We are asked to test and show this to the head teacher on arrival, but nothing is said about the fact we are covering covid cases and they have started bubbling year groups again to try to contain the spread!
One school gave me a visor to wear as they had had a surge in numbers, but generally there is no consideration to the increased risk we are at.

Just hoping I remain negative until Christmas now.