Students returning for New Year and exams

FVFrog · 2020-12-28T23:33:27+00:00

My DS19 has announced he is returning to uni (London) before NYE so he is back to get back in study mode and prepare for exams. I have no doubt he is going back to party with his flat (and wider hall community) for NYE. Anyone else’s student DC doing similar?

Hoghgyni · 29/12/2020 17:42

No, because she doesn't want to increase the risk to her health. Is he going to to get tested before he goes back and when he gets there?

Redlocks28 · 29/12/2020 17:45

Yep-all my DC’s friends are doing the same. They have exams shortly after so want to get back and get some work done. Some need to get back where they have a bedroom to themselves to study.

RoobyMyrtle · 29/12/2020 17:51

No, mine is staying home until the last possible moment. She'd be in Tier 4 and not allowed to see her friends and non of them would go against that. I am worried about how much work she'll be able to get done at home but hope the better sleep and me feeding her will offset the late night revision sessions she normally does.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 29/12/2020 18:30

DS and cousin (at same university) are going back tomorrow. I think they are sensible to get back before any further restrictions are announced. They are travelling to a destination in the same tier as 'home'.

Original poster

FVFrog · 29/12/2020 18:30

@Hoghgyni why is he increasing the risk to his health? We are in a Tier 4 area and he’s going an hour up the road to another Tier 4 area. He has booked a test for January 2nd (earliest possible) and uni have asked them all to test once a week.

OP posts:

Hoghgyni · 29/12/2020 19:23

You asked if anyone else was going back early and I simply said that my DD isn't. She would be going back from a low tier to tier 4, so she would be risking her health.

Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst · 29/12/2020 20:09

My friends daughter isn't going back she's deferring until covid settles down. I don't understand the mentality of some people

Xenia · 29/12/2020 20:41

My son and almost all his friends have had CV19 or are immune so it is a different issue for them than for others perhaps.
Also everyone's family situation differs and rent/domestic set up varies too. Some need to be back to earn money to buy food and that kind of thing. These are not simple issues.

Original poster

FVFrog · 29/12/2020 20:44

Fair enough @Hoghgyni I guess with Tier 4 to Tier 4 not much difference, and he hasn’t been out while he’s been home

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SuePreem · 29/12/2020 20:46

My dd hasn't gone back yet - she's waiting to see what the guidance is. She has had covid19, but her university is currently in a lower tier.

Currently she's allowed to go back as she's a medical student and they fall within the exemptions.

My son is at university in the city that we live, he has been back to his room already as it's more conducive to study.

Original poster

FVFrog · 29/12/2020 20:51

@Xenia absolutely, our internet connection is unreliable (semi rural) and I have 3 in higher education, we don’t have enough bandwidth for all 3 to livestream a lecture/seminar. And they have time limited online exams which would be hopelessly stressful with our internet

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IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 30/12/2020 11:34

My daughter has decided to go back tomorrow. Level 4 to Level 4. She has not left the house since she came home three weeks ago and wants to get back to decent wifi and avoid the risk of travel disruption.

user1471555064 · 30/12/2020 22:49

New guidance...may be of interest!
www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-michelle-donelan-to-higher-education-providers

SpudsandGravy · 31/12/2020 11:07

[quote user1471555064]New guidance...may be of interest!
www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-michelle-donelan-to-higher-education-providers[/quote]
Thanks for this! I'd not seen it.

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 31/12/2020 11:24

I hadn't seen this. What are the implications for students who have already returned? My daughter left this morning. She is studying Chemistry which isn't on the list of exemptions.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 31/12/2020 11:45

I don't think they can do much about those who have already returned if they are off-campus. DS had always intended to only come home for circa a fortnight and went back yesterday. He would say that he qualifies under 'the Students without access to appropriate study spaces or facilities in their vacation accommodation' category' (I wouldn't be able to study in our house with everyone around 24/7).

Letseatgrandma · 31/12/2020 13:46

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

I don't think they can do much about those who have already returned if they are off-campus. DS had always intended to only come home for circa a fortnight and went back yesterday. He would say that he qualifies under 'the Students without access to appropriate study spaces or facilities in their vacation accommodation' category' (I wouldn't be able to study in our house with everyone around 24/7).

What will they do about students returning if they are on campus?

My DC needs space to study-which he doesn’t have here and is paying for in halls! He plans to go back at the weekend.

Xenia · 31/12/2020 13:48

I suppose it's only guidance and not the law that makes a huge difference.

JacobReesMogadishu · 31/12/2020 13:50

@Xenia

My son and almost all his friends have had CV19 or are immune so it is a different issue for them than for others perhaps. Also everyone's family situation differs and rent/domestic set up varies too. Some need to be back to earn money to buy food and that kind of thing. These are not simple issues.

Didnt realise we’d worked out how long immunity lasts for. That’s good to know.

tinkywinkyshandbag · 31/12/2020 13:52

No mine is looking forward to seeing her friends at home but happy to spend new year with us - free booze and food, a warm house, what's not to like?

Xenia · 31/12/2020 13:58

You are right we do not know how long immunity lasts although they all seemed to get it in September or October so I think on most calculations doctors think it will last until now, December and the vaccine is based on that period at least being how long your vaccine might last.

i did hear a doctor on radio 4 today by the way say that if you have had covid or even still have long covid they still recommend you have the vaccine although they are still unsure if the vaccine might make long covid worse (on balance they think it is worth it and one doctor on the radio herself still had a few on going long covid symptoms and said the vaccine she had recently had seemed to have improved them).

We are a family have been following all the rules closely. my older son even had his Christmas entirely alone as he does not live with me (he has been working throughout delivering food as that is his job and his employer has been doing daily temperature checks etc since March). I don't agree with the mandatory measures but I do follow them.

Eve · 31/12/2020 13:58

Yup,

1 of mine back already . in final year so is working hard on dissertation and exams

1 in 1st year going back at the weekend to revise.

Both had negative tests before leaving, DS1 had test done on return and is negative, DS2 has test booked on return.

Letseatgrandma · 31/12/2020 14:07

I’m presuming the wardens in the halls won’t actively stop them getting back into their rooms??

They’ve paid for them accommodation after all and all his books are there!

PlanDeRaccordement · 31/12/2020 14:12

Mine has decided to do uni as a remote student from home for the coming semester. So we do have to coordinate with accommodation and go and physically pack out her room in the next few weeks.
I think this falls under the moving to a new home exception.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 31/12/2020 14:14

That guidance says they’re allowed to access campus facilities if they don’t have appropriate study facilities in their vacation accommodation, or if they’re already back on campus, or if they have mental health issues or need additional support.