First ministers briefing

[Trichford]

Is there one on today? If so what time will it be? Thanks

Sock I will absolutely get professionally offended when yourself and spotted claim with NO evidence PURELY opinion that teachers will say everyone will do well. You may think that but I know that you are wrong. Why we would we be in tears submitting Ds and No Awards if that was the case?

Every time I come back with fact the topic is changed .

The teaching unions have a lot of power in Scotland. I think that's part of the problem. The message is about what teachers shouldn't agree to do, rather than about how flexible and creative they can be.

@Lidilfix no one is disputing that estimating for this year will have been extremely difficult. I'm facing an estimated grade after studying for 3 years. I'm sad about it as it is not how I wanted to finish but don't blame my lecturers in this case. They are working hard to make sure we get what we deserve.

What people are pointing out is that teachers seem onboard with this approach for the new school year! I guess you better hope "blended learning" doesn't work too well or it will be part time school forever more and who will be the first facing redundancy when they have a centralised online system?

I think it’s quite clear that exams won’t go ahead next year. You cannot expect a whole cohort to sit the same exam having all had huge variations in the quality of their education.

You’d have private school DC who’ve had full weeks taught online throughout, others who will be in school only part time but have good parental support for the rest and some who will get no learning at all for 2.5 days a week.

Having standardised assessments on that basis would not be fair.
The alternatives would be to have exam years returning in August on a full-time basis or offering a universal online full-time alternative (including equipment for those without). I can’t see the unions being open to either.

Where did I write that everyone will do well? I didn't.

I did say that there is a lot of talk about narrowing the attainment gap means that the Scottish government want people to do LESS WELL. Bring all attainment to the lowest common denominator. For NEXT year.

I guess you better hope "blended learning" doesn't work too well or it will be part time school forever more and who will be the first facing redundancy when they have a centralised online system?
Just go for it, I've had enough after the work I've put in during lockdown (like many, many other people of course) and the amount of unjustified kickings I've taken on here over it. Good luck.

My DD has just started S2 so not an exam year but I am seriously worried about the long term impact of lockdown on her education, career and eventual exam results.

She is doing all the tasks set of her, but that hasn't been much. I've been very disappointed in both the amount of work and the standard of work that is coming her way. Its too little and its too easy. Guess the chocolate bar anyone?

DH is very much of the "oh well, as long as she's doing it" brigade

I'm very much of the "maybe we should get her a tutor" camp.

DD would prefer to do nothing at all at home and go back to school to see her friends

it's not just that, @HakeFish. My S5's teachers were making assessments on the knowledge of him in the classroom from last June to when the schools closed on 20th March.

My new S4 has a new set of teachers who don't know her. They won't get to know her because she's hardly going to be in school. They won't be able to judge what she's capable of.

However, should the sharp decline in Covid cases continue - and there's no reason to say it won't - there will be ZERO justification for Nicola Sturgeon to persist with this ridiculous plan for next year. Kids back in school, full time. Deal with the care homes as that's where the problem is.

It shouldn't all be about fairness.
Some of it should actually be about learning. If private school children have learned more effectively due to better teaching, then they should have a piece of paper that reflects that. If some children are more self-disciplined and have worked more effectively at home for that reason, they should have a piece of paper that reflects that. Because learning knowledge and skills actually matters. And universities and employers rightly want to take on people who have knowledge and skills (and self-discipline too).
It's not a game - it actually matters. It's tough if the government can't get its act together so that less advantaged children can't also acquire knowledge and skills. But that doesn't mean that knowledge and skills are no longer important or relevant.

@Mistressgigi at no point have I given teachers a kicking! What teachers were able to achieve in 48 hours was nothing short of amazing. From our school anyway. They just got on with it.

My issue now is that teachers are just going along with the governments nationalist agenda and not in my opinion fighting for the children's right to an education. If your giving you union/council hell and demanding they be full time please do accept my apologies.

You will still have a full time job. What about those kids who get to go to school 2 days a week? You are only in the position you are because of your full time education. The teachers need to fight for that right for their pupils.

If you say but we areeeee working! I'm about to log onto seesaw where today's activity is about pairing socks. By anyone's standards you uploaded something. I will be doing your job today.

@spottedelk

We can’t have a system where top grades are almost exclusively restricted to private school kids who’re getting normal provision online.

It’s all very well talking about ‘self discipline’ and ‘working more effectively’ but that’s a lot easier for a DC at private school with good study space, supportive parents and plenty of resources from school. Not quite the same for a kid who’s living in a flat with multiple siblings, poor resources from school and no laptop.

Currently, the Scottish government position is "we can't provide a full online education for everyone because not all children have a laptop, internet, or even a kitchen table to work at. Therefore, in the interests of fairness, we are doing it for nobody."

Sock earlier in the thread Spotted said "teachers saying everyone has done well"your reply (your capitals) "EXACTLY ".

In schools in China each pupil has their own individual desk and it is teachers who move between classes, I would welcome this purely on reducing spread of vomiting and diarrhoea let alone coronavirus.

Surely this could be incorporated within the school building in Scotland which would cut down on corridor traffic and let social distancing be more easily adhered to.

Practical sessions like woodwork (in science there hardly seems to be any in S4/S5 anyway) could be scheduled separately and reduced numbers and in the earlier years a demonstration would be sufficient to spark interest and wonder (I’ve done volcano with bicarbonate and vinegar on the kitchen table).

I agree that this year has to be accepted,unprecedented times etc.
But next year has to be different.
Everyone in education has to focus on making sure that ,as much as possible,the children get as much of a normal education as possible, with a positive ,can do attitude
Even the slightest suggestion that the exams next year might not go ahead is totally wrong

The onus is on the government to provide support for disadvantaged children. Not to bin the efforts of all Scottish children. Why not revise their spending priorities and buy some cheap laptops? Offer Wifi grants? Prioritise certain children for extra help from teachers - eg a weekly phone call to check progress and give support?

Currently, the Scottish government position is "we can't provide a full online education for everyone because not all children have a laptop, internet, or even a kitchen table to work at. Therefore, in the interests of fairness, we are doing it for nobody."

This is bullshit a misinterpretation of the situation - or the teachers at my kids schools are saints. They are providing my kids, primary and secondary with lots to do. My middle one is currently in a zoom meeting/lesson with two teachers and other classmates in the next room (which is why I'm typing this quietly) and my primary aged son is getting frustrated with today's writing / reading assignment because it's "TOO HARD!" - Sulk sulk slam!

It's inconsistent though, @TheSandman. Our local council has a blanket ban on ANY real time video interaction between pupils and staff - no zoom, teams, facetime. All they have is an instant messaging facility, text only.

It's such a mixed bag because teachers and schools have been given zero guidance. Some areas are being proactive. Others aren't. My area is doing very little and if we raise it with the school, we're being told to shut up and stop moaning.

Very similar experience sockyarn. virtually no support from the school. It’s a shambles.

We don't get any live or videoed stuff with teachers. Just worksheets, choose a critical essay topic and write the essay, posters (for 16 year olds).

Posters for 16 year olds ??
It is all a shambles

Being handled amazingly by our school. Work set weekly, teacher replies almost within the hour, weekly assembly on YouTube etc. Can’t fault them.

Similar experience to Sock here, too.

Our school sent out a survey to parents yesterday. That was fun.

Be fair now, I don’t think there is anything wrong with posters for 16year olds: it’s commonplace for Science and engineering PhD students to produce posters with their findings. Even as a layman I would expect a 16 year old to produce a very detailed level of work though.