So when are we going back to school?

[RaraRachael]

I was under the impression that NS had announced that all schools in Scotland would start back on August 11th. I have had surveys from my local authority asking when we would like the week's holiday in lieu and if we want 1 or 2 in-service days before we start back in August.

Last night a colleague posted a piece showing all the start dates from the different authorities - some were 10th August, !1th, 12th up to the 18th and 19th.

I am totally confused

If I’d been on the fence about private and maybe planning a move at some point the awful blended ‘plans’ that’ve been unleashed would’ve pushed me over the edge - not surprising enquiries have risen given a lot of them are planing a full time return.

I’m sure the govt will back-peddle over the summer as it’s clear it stinks, unless there is a second wave.

Unemployment already looking bad, the numbers may worsen given the school shambles.

Is it not £30,000 pa for private schooling in secondary, going up each year? That's nearly my full salary alone.

I've not read the whole thread, sorry, but:

Can anyone tell me if
a. Scottish Schools are planning on blended learning Aug -Dec, or ALL of the next school year?
b. the Nat 5's will therefore be predicted grades
c. there is a national policy, or is it up to individual areas / schools?

I am planning a move from England to Scotland this summer and dont know what to think?

a, we're being told all year by JS and 'wait and see' by NS
b, again its 'wait and see'
c, individual school approach

@nextslideplease - thank you, that's helpful, even if the policy isn't.

Mind, it's also a dog's dinner in England. Am hoping they will announce plans there this week and then I can make the best decision for my ds, who is GCSE / Nat 5 year and SN and SEN and doesn't have a hope at this rate ;(

*I've not read the whole thread, sorry, but:

Can anyone tell me if
a. Scottish Schools are planning on blended learning Aug -Dec, or ALL of the next school year?
b. the Nat 5's will therefore be predicted grades
c. there is a national policy, or is it up to individual areas / schools?*

Our high school inGlasgow will have every one in mon-Friday with everyone put in a morning or afternoon group. I'm not sure what the junior school is doing but seniors will do one subject per day for 3 hours in class of 15. But s4s do 7 Nat5 so will be in for two full days. Not sure what's going to happen on exams yet, or if course work will be used instead.

@nextslideplease costs of schools vary, its more like £12-15k per year per student where i am for a day school. £30k would be somewhere residential as a full boarder

Some private schools are renting space to ensure all pupils can go back. It costs money but surely this can't be impossible in other schools.

I thought it was £10,000 per term minimum? so there are 3 terms aren't there in private school?

Anyway anyone watching that NPFS webinar.

@nextslideplease yes I'm watching. 'blended learning' to continue as long as social distancing continues. Fuck.

@nextslideplease not in Glasgow, its around 3k per term for primary and 4k per term for secondary so somewhere arpund 10k to 12k per year, plus a few extras for lunches, school trips and sports clubs. maybe up to £16k a year all in. This is for a day school.

Boarding schools would be about £10k a term but obviously that includes accommodation and lots of boarding schools offer scholarships. One of my best friends got a full scholarship to attend Strathallen where fees are usually about £30k a year. It cost her family nothing and she is now a successful entrepreneur with 4 businesses to her name

Still not affordable and DD wouldn't want to leave her friends, even if her school is nearly the lowest performing school in Scotland. We did consider a better school in a neighbouring authority but she wanted to be with her friends (primary school had a great reputation, attached secondary not so much). Now with blended learning the difference between the authorities and schools is even more apparent sigh

Blended learning is going to be an utter disaster. For me, when I compare what I was or would be paying for full time childcare from age 1-4yrs old vs private school fees it isn't that much more per month. My kids are still very young (P1 and nursery) so I feel like its an option but not one I think I should have to choose, it seems so unfair thatbthe state cannot support all our children properly. They desperately need a sense of normality and to get their education back on track

Good state education is the way to Boise the attainment gap and get children out of poverty.

This is a disgrace .

I’d got as far as looking at a few private school websites - but I didn’t want to commit to private forever, I can’t see how well it would go yanking them out of a school where in normal circumstances they’re very happy until COVID is OVER

I am very concerned of how this is going to impact already disadvantaged children, I joke about my own, but I know in all likelihood we’ll be fine - a few bumps and bruises along the way.

I missed the webinar with John Swinney this evening, was it any use or just more rhetoric and vague placatory nothings?

Apparently it was meaningless twaddle, buck passing and nothing helpful at all.

I just can believe this is happening. It’s a disaster.

It was dire.

And questions about uniforms took precedence over matters such as exams and ASN provision. Says it all.

Questions about uniform? Seriously???

Am guessing my question about whether parents would be compensated by the gvt for providing unpaid labour during the hours our children are being homeschooled was not asked then. What a joke

Also about £12k in Edinburgh @nextslideplease but we haven’t been told how much school they’re even getting. I have heard that only two small ones can manage full time, but we will see.
Also surprisingly, ours is still full so you wouldn’t necessarily be able to just choose to put them in anyway. Even if you had wanted to.

I have a mix of private and state educated children atm.

Questions about uniforms are causing lots of concern though as they need to ordered now from some stockists if they are to be available for August.

It's another area of total inconsistency with some schools relaxing dress codes and others still insisting on ties and blazers . While the risk assessments state clothing should be washed at 60* .

Perhaps the people asking those questions were anxious about the financial aspect and looking for a from the top answer.

Who honestly gives a shit about uniform right now? What about kids who are reliant on school buses to get to and from school. What about the kids who have no where to be the 3 days they won't be in school in the week who will be plunged into poverty if a parent has to pack in their job to accommodate that? The attainment gap is already a joke, this year is going to make it even wider.

I know it's secondary (forgive the pun) but I don't want to be laying out a couple of hundred quid for my giant and growing child to wear for a few weeks of part time school.