Impact of new quarantine measures on boarding schools?

[uptailsall]

Just that really. We have two DC as day pupils at a mixed day/boarding school, with quite a lot of international boarders. My understanding is that the Covid impact on numbers so far has been minimal - a few children have left, but the spaces have been easily filled. But I'm a bit worried now about whether the new restrictions could have a more serious impact on the school, particularly if they go on for a while? Quarantining for 10 days when you return to school is already a bit of a pain, but hotel quarantining at a cost of two grand is a whole different ball game. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

My first gut reaction is that if you can afford overseas boarding then the additional quarantine cost probably is not a deal breaker (although I appreciate there are different circumstances that lead to overseas boarding so it will impact some).

I would have thought the requirement that the quarantine take place in a hotel rather than within the school would be the bigger issue. That sounds utterly horrible for the child and also a bit of a safeguarding issue.

My DH's school have created a 'spare' boarding house which is used for quarantine. I expect this will be pressed into service as a 'hotel'.

They are lucky though, I expect not every school has a spare house knocking about.

I wouldn't have thought that would be allowed for red list countries, would it reefedsail?

I think if it were definitely a one off (say just quarantining once for coming back for the summer term) then it wouldn't be a big issue - some will come and quarantine, others will decide to learn remotely for the rest of the year - fine. I think my bigger concern is about the ongoing uncertainty, and whether fears about the quarantine situation carrying on longer term might make parents think about withdrawing their kids.

Assuming this applies to after the Easter holidays, I would think the kindest thing might be if the children didn’t go home. Half term would be impossible I think. It’s a very difficult situation for everyone but the idea of children living in hotel rooms for two weeks might be worse than not seeing parents. Just awful in both scenarios really.

There is a comment on this in a Mail online article, sorry I don't know how to link. Nothing has been put in place for children retuning to school to be exempt. A social worker from Hillingdon has been drafted in to help. Sounds dreadful esp for dc based in UEA who have GCSE's/ a levels this summer. It must have a knock on effect for admissions in Autumn term.

Well the dc are here now presumably. So they won’t go home. Lots of the parents may well have London houses anyway. That was the norm for uae and Saudi girls at DDs school. But isolating school children is not acceptable in my view.

The local borders here are quarantine in the school, they have a separate block with nominated staff members. They are in twos and have a buddy for the duration. They have a test on day 1/7/13 prior to leaving quarantine.

They’ve all been fine.

Most of the international boarders at our school never came back after Christmas, so they're not here now (we were in the 'extra shit' tier before lockdown, so it was already clear that schools wouldn't be opening for at least a fortnight in Jan). I can't see them coming back for 8 March if schools reopen, as that's only three weeks before Easter (unless they decide to stay for the rest of the year, I guess).

The quarantine issue is if children have to stay in hotels. They won’t get to the schools. Hopefully this will not happen to them.

Our school has a boarding element and a number have not been home since September. Before when you had to just isolate, they did it at the boarding house. Now I doubt they will have supervisors for children at the airport hotels (the kids tend to fly in on their own or with siblings) so I guess they either won't come or will have to get to the boarding house somehow? Interesting question.

The article implied the parents will have to come with them & stay in the hotel, a child can't stay in a hotel room on their own for 10 days for safeguarding reasons. No doubt more will come to light when it launches tomorrow.

The BSA (boarding schools association) have had confirmation from Government that boarding pupils will be allowed to quarantine in their boarding houses (providing it can be done safely) rather than in hotels.

Both the DCs schools are offering for international boarders to board at school

Just be a little smarter to avoid this sh@t and unreasonable rules that are aimed only at grabbing money while they can. If travelling from a red listed country go to a country which is NOT on a red list eg.Turkey etc that does not have an enforced quarantine hotel, stay there for 10 days and travel back on day 11. That's it. You will still have to pay £210 for free nhs tests, which are 2 pcr tests that you do yourself and post back. But at least this way you are not required to stay in a horrible quarantine hotel with disgusting food and treatment - and you can also enjoy some rest elsewhere before coming to the uk.