Oxford and Cambridge current students discussion thread

[sandybayley]

Starting a new one as we filled it up!

Can't believe DS1 will be home in 2 weeks. Must remember to adjust the Ocado shop for when he's back. I suspect we may end up with a few days of his favourite meals 😊

DS is expecting to have collections in the week commencing 11th, and his college seem happy for him to arrive 10th or during that week. However, DS is in a very small college so they seem very relaxed about these things. (The first years are all in one building and most of them got Covid last term). So "normal"-sized colleges might have a bit more of a structured plan.

DS would like to go back to college the weekend of 16-17 January if possible. He has mock exams on 18th (online but he would prefer to do them from his room in college rather than attempting to do them from home) then lectures / practicals / supervisions scheduled from 21st onwards.

DS2 (O) has been told it would be best to go back on 17th Jan rather than 10th Jan and I think had to confirm this recently with his college. I think collections may be done on a trust basis from home or college room.

DS1 (C) will most likely go back on the original return date of 16th Jan.

DD(O) is back on 14th Jan; she had no choice of dates as they are allocated strictly by subject. DD and her friends normally arrange to return earlier so it does seem quite late to go back.
DS (C) back on 16th Jan. All first years are in same building and could choose to return on16th or 17th Jan, regardless of subject.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/948669/LetterrfromMichelleeDonelantoohighereducationnproviders_.pdf

I'm not sure any previous plans still stand unless your DC is on the 'list'. DS1 was due to return on the 9th but if Oxford adheres to what the Minister has asked for in the letter above that won't be happening. Ds1 is very disappointed.

I'm really struggling to understand what advantage this dumb guidance has over Oxford's plan to test each student on their return, isolating as necessary.

The staggered return of students makes no logical sense.

If the government is clear that this will suppress infection rates then presumably it will be prepared to refund all the accommodation costs for accommodation not used as well as refunding costs associated with disrupted travel.

It really doesn't seem to have a clue.

It would be really good if some unis just tell the government to pee off.

Good plan @goodbyestranger! Let’s hope Oxford stick with their own arrangements. I expect our DC will be told soon what’s happening.

I agree @goodbyestranger - throughout this whole sorry mess Oxford's approach has been sensible and careful.

I know that DS1's college had taken a liberal interpretation of the previous guidance (everyone was going back) and I suspect (hope) they'll take a more considered approach than HM Government.

I really really hope that they feel that they can go back safely as planned. Cambridge, though different colleges had slightly different approaches in general got it right. They were testing students weekly, have plans to test everyone on return. Staggering the return just prolongs the risk of outbreaks.

Surely the right approach is, get them back in, keep them socially distanced back in their households, test them, and proceed as before.

w/c 25th!!!! DD will be hopping mad when she finds that out. Her crit is on 26th.

I guess most unis aren't set up with a collegiate system & therefore having students travel into already vulnerable communities needs to be prevented. I know quite a few people with kids at Manchester ( far enough away to live away from home, close enough to bob home of an evening if they need washing doing) - the conditions their kids were in were awful. They were having to take bags of food across and pass them through gates.

DD is due to go back on Sunday as she has Mods at the end of term and needs to revise like a maniac. I am genuinely worried that she will fail and get chucked out. She’s clever enough but lacking in diligence, to put it mildly, and it’s a notoriously difficult course.

Most students (not Oxbridge) are in private rented accommodation which makes a mockery of the staggered subject return. I know students locally who have already returned to rented accommodation ready for New Year partying.

... and that’s without any half-arsed, last-minute guidance from the government which makes no sense whatsoever.

It’s all very last minute. Perhaps it’s significant that the education secretary used to be defence secretary. He assumes the ‘the element of surprise’ is a valid tactic in education.

You're being a bit generous there with half-arsed PantTwizzler.

DS1's (C) college are now saying 'watch this space' and that they may not let students return - as planned - on 16th Jan but have to wait until 25th Jan.

DS2 (O) is still expecting to go back on 17th Jan - one week delayed - but is also now thinking they may be told not to come back till 25th Jan. I presume accommodation bills will be reduced accordingly.

DS3 went back to Cambridge yesterday and DS4 is travelling back to Oxford now, although they're postgrads so slightly different. Still, I'm quite relieved that they've done that before any barricades go up.

Hopefully Oxford will put out a notice on its news page very soon. Fingers crossed the uni is bullish in the face of stupidity.

Maybe I’m guilty of confirmation bias, but I don’t recall seeing any evidence that students were responsible for any significant numbers of Covid deaths last term. True, many students caught the virus, but largely without ill effects and largely confined to their own halls/colleges. So, I’d say that was good evidence that the rules were working fine last term and, if anything, could be relaxed now given that there is likely to be some level of herd immunity. If I were in charge I’d ask students to return as normal and I’d open up sports, drama, music. But then again, if I were in charge I would have kept schools and universities open throughout, kept the economy going and would have focused on protecting (and now vaccinating) the most vulnerable. The current approach is exacting too high a price from our young people in my opinion.

Given the above, I’m obviously hoping that Oxford tells the government to pee off. The letter was asking rather than telling I notice.

Oh, I should probably add, before anyone accuses me of being a NIMBY, that I live close to three universities and would be more than happy to see students return here.

Absolutely SnapSnap, to the whole of your post.

I'll be extremely disappointed with Oxford if it goes along with this diktat.

Cambridge have sent a letter, saying that apart from some exceptions, anyone who isn't there yet shouldn't come unless it's would be very difficult not to come and perhaps they'll be able to come on the 25th depending on what our twattish government dream up next. obvs paraphrased greatly.

Poor our kids.

DS1 (C) has now received that notification too about not going back till at least the 25th Jan but it's not clear if it even is that date. As the 25th is a weekday too, that's going to be tricky for working parents to take their DCs there, unless they mean the weekend after 25th Jan.

I just wish there was some clarity and certainty really as the constantly shifting dates make it hard to plan ahead. DS2 (O) hasn't had anything further to say he can't return on 17th Jan but now thinks he'll hear shortly about more delays.

Does anyone think that students won't be allowed back at all this coming term? As Oxbridge terms are so short, it's going to be a substantial proportion of the term in any case.

I also feel sorry for the international and other students who've had to remain at uni. all during this vacation and may not have seen anyone at all. More lonely weeks for them too now.