Are private schools reopening to more year groups?

[CatsRock]

Interested as our DC are in a fee paying international school. The school seems to be struggling with the different tone direction from the Govt of diaspora it caters for and the U.K. Govt on school reopening.

They are telling us they can't open to more year groups in primary until the uk government directs them to. But they are still planning to take their (much longer) holidays from start of July.

So the chances of our primary DC getting the month at school before the holidays the uk Govt suggests are not looking good - as they will run out of time. and we're still being charged full fees!

What are other uk private and prep schools doing? Are they opening to more year groups faster? Are they extending their terms into the summer holidays? Have they discounted fees for this term?

I know a prep school that opened to other year groups on Monday as my friend has a dd in y5 who went back. She said 16/20 parents chose to send their child back and the others are waiting until September.

I don't see the specific moral argument. I mean, I see the moral argument against private schools generally, but given that they exist, I don't see why they can't open to as many DC as they can safely take (if insurance will cover them - if it won't, it's a moot point, obviously).

Education is not some sort of zero sum game where if one DC gets more, another one gets less.

As stated private schools must follow the government's guidelines. Our school has given us 25% discount this term, is providing full schedule of online learning, and have extended the term by two weeks. They stayed open all through Easter for 40 key worker children, and the boarding house housed children that couldn't make it home. R, Y1 and 6 have gone back with 80% attendance for R. Almost all for Y1 and 6. Y10 and 12 were to go back one day a week from June 1 but has been pushed to after June 15 as per guidelines. The hope is Y10 and 12s will go in more days as they see how the measures they have taken work out, and other years as the government allows.
Many of the support staff were furloughed and some are now coming back, the teachers are teaching full time, and of course the staff looking after key worker children are full time.
I think our school has done a fantastic job under the circumstances. They have kept us informed, have cared for the kids - particularly the boarders who have not seen their parents since Christmas in many cases - and are keen to provide consistent education. Part of this is of course to retain as many pupils as possible and provide value for money, but I do genuinely believe that the Head is putting the welfare and educational needs of the kids as his priority.

Our school are desperate to get Y5 back in for 11+ prep but have been told they’re not allowed. They encouraged key worker children in but still only got 6/22 - which to be fair probably is the right number without really stretching the definition.

They also wanted to get Y2 in as it was only an extra 6 children after key workers but again, not allowed.

We’ve been told all will be back just as soon as it’s possible. He doesn’t mess about, our head.

Everyone was offered a 30% fee discount - we didn’t take it as they have been in throughout as key worker children.

Private school in sw london
Not opening any more than gov lets them.
We might be getting a small reduction in fees, but probs less than 5%.
BUT: the online teaching is almost spot on, the kids are engaged, getting on and even enjoying it. So in this context we are paying for everything the same way, the fact that we are not using their facilities is because of a pandemic, not because they don't want us to. And they have to pay the costs of running a skeleton school building just the same.
If the educational part was not going so well i think I'd have a different opinion.

I work in a small private school (around 65 pupils). We have had keyworker children in throughout and on 1st June we opened to Reception, yr1, yr2 and yr6. We have every single child back in all of those year groups. The rest are still having full days of live online lessons at home.

@CatsRock

Sure they still have costs, but haven't they been able to furlough non teaching staff etc?

Honestly the 'but we have to cover costs' thing is spurious. I work for a large business. We have to cover all our costs too. But we refund where customers are not receiving a service, or discount where they are getting a lesser service. The competition and markets authority requires this. So we're making a loss right now. But that's what's necessary to maintain good customer relationships long term. And we'll have to cut costs to stay in business most likely.

We have online teaching but it is a lesser service than in school attendance and teaching. And there is a cohort of staff not contributing to online teaching (playground assistants, school nurse, library, PE). Full fees are not justified.

Another ignorant poster. I work as support staff in a school - I am the only person who does my role. I have been busier than normal dealing with out of the ordinary, unexpected work, as well as normal business. All members of support staff have either been working from home or working in school. If I had been furloughed neither Year 11 or Year 13 would have had any exam grades submitted.

Heard on Friday that Y2 going back on Weds. Other year groups they hope to get back before the end of term, or so they say. End of term is 10th July, so with only four weeks left if the other years do go back it won't be for long. My DS is Y4 so if he gets a week or two that will be all.

Our y5s are going back (private).

They largely only took back years R, 1 and 6 but now is at their discretion. My child in y4 is back the week after next, the school is taking everyone back. They will do bubbles etc but desks won't be 2m apart as not possible given the sizes of the rooms.

@zafferana

Heard on Friday that Y2 going back on Weds. Other year groups they hope to get back before the end of term, or so they say. End of term is 10th July, so with only four weeks left if the other years do go back it won't be for long. My DS is Y4 so if he gets a week or two that will be all.

@zafferana I'm researching SW London preps at the moment because my child really isn't getting any teaching at the moment, would you mind telling me which school your child attends?

It's not in SW London @Sweetnhappy.

@zafferana sorry, I have no idea why I thought it was

All of ours are back from monday (smallish Private primary)

Add on: we are in surrey

All years are back in on Monday at our private primary (c200 pupils Inc nursery). My two kids have been back in for the last two weeks anyway, it’s been great.

DS year 3 back in 4 days a week from Monday. Very pleased

Our Prep also having everyone (inc 7 & 8) back this week.

Year 2 back on Thursday full time and all other year groups on a part time basis.

people are saying things like "We cannot open to additional year groups without the government letting us" and "Only the allowed year groups at our prep".

There is no such thing as "allowed" year groups. Schools may welcome back children in all year groups IF they have capacity, and PROVIDING they:

1. have made provision available to children of key workers, vulnerable children and children in nursery, reception, y1 and y6.
2. can accommodate more whilst still following protective measures guidance and their risk assessment.
3. do not require additional funding, staff or classrooms.

There's a little bit more detail, but the main reason schools aren't welcoming back more children is probably because the leaderships haven't got the backbone.

above applies to primary schools

The primary schools near me (both state and private) are opening to all children in all year groups in some way (part time for some) over the next few weeks.

Heard last night that our prep will allow the return of years 3, 4 and 5 for one day a week until the end of term (three weeks away). So that's three days in school in total. It's better than nothing, but as there are only 18 in DS2's class and I'm sure they won't all go in, I do feel it's rather feeble.

The government has dictated a fair unfair rule across the board IMO. Years R, 1 and 6 are all getting six weeks of school. No other year group is getting that. Some are getting a few days, but that's all. How is that fair? Why can they not have offered two weeks to each year group with no more than two year groups in at once, or something?