Boarding Schools - when do you think they will reopen?

[Kinlocrhum]

I'm interested in other people's opinions on when you think they may reopen. I obviously appreciate it depends on government advice. I'm of a mind to say September. But then I'm also wondering if they may reopen in June - but only on a day pupil basis.

I think it opens a whole can of worms for overseas parents whose children may have to quarantine, and in addition I think parents who don't live in Europe will not send their children back at all. I would estimate that is 50% of boarders at my dd's school. Is it worth them opening boarding houses for just 5 weeks? Or can they afford not to?

Yes I would suspect September too unless the second spike has already started then

September for sure...

Thanks. Interesting you say that as a friend of mine has already had an email from her school saying "closed until September". Gulp.

September.
Just like universities.

Most boarding schools also have day students, so it will be interesting to see what happens. Many rely on fees from international students to remain solvent and it is probably not practical to maintain a full taught curriculum both in the classroom and online.

My view is that little children cannot social distance and Y10 upwards are heading towards public exams or equivalent non-examined qualifications. If there is a phased return, they should go back first.

I am keeping fingers crossed for something approaching normal school for everyone returning in September, but the reality is no one will know for some months whether even that is possible.

Not before state schools get the green light.

Then it will depend on the timing. DSs school finishes on 3rd July, so if state schools go back, say, mid-June, I doubt they will bring everybody back just for 2 weeks. Maybe just leavers?

I would also imagine it might be a phased return prioritising Y10 and Y12.

I think Sept might be optimistic. How will overseas students come easily back in the summer? How will social distancing work?

How will a staggered return work with some having a higher quality experience than others? Universities are preparing for a potential later return.

Quite a high % of overseas students only come to to the UK for a year or two. I think they won't come back at all. It will become too onerous to rely on UK guardians.

I suppose it's a case of watch and wait.

Some boarding schools in Germany and I think Switzerland are still open and have never closed because about 1/3 of pupils and teachers went into lockdown together. They haven't been home since February and will have to stay until summer now. As they were all in quarantine together they didn't have to observe any social distancing. On this basis I could imagine full boarding schools to go back to normal asap but can't see it working well if there is a mix of day and weekly boarders and pupils going home for exeats and holidays.

I think September is optimistic.

Dd1 is a college rep for her uni and they've been told Jan 2021.

Dd2 and 3 are day girls at a boarding school. I am planning fir Jan.

We did a virtual Open Day this morning for September 2021 entry. There were many questions about Covid-19, and the thoughts of the Head of School was that they were hoping to be back by September but would continue with their remote online lessons if not. It is a large senior school and the challenges of social distancing are huge, especially for boarders.

It was mentioned that they would take overseas pupils from mid August if they needed to quarantine for 14 days and keep them in the UK over half terms and Christmas if necessary.

My goodness I'm surprised people think January. I think it depends on the school too. My Year 8 dd is in a 2 dorm. Some schools don't have the space though. That's a big problem if social distancing does remain.

On this basis I could imagine full boarding schools to go back to normal asap but can't see it working well if there is a mix of day and weekly boarders and pupils going home for exeats and holidays

Or teachers that live out.

Absolutely about teachers living out. The whole in and out, in and out of school constantly.

Gosh knows why september is the 'month' flu season starts so the nhs will be busy again and that why we are isolating isnt it so we dont over whelm NHS

Dd1 is a college rep for her uni and they've been told Jan 2021

@Querlouse is that to delay the start of the uni year to January or open as usual but online only until January?

We were told September but there's lots of kids from abroad, so they'd be working on half capacity if that.
Not worth them opening before then.
I did think they'd just have day students, but there's not many of those either.
Mine is Y11, and has extension to A level courses online, starting soon. Just handed last work in on Friday.

I have no first hand experience of boarding schools but I assume that overseas students will need to be in quarantine for 14 days unless vaccinated (whenever that becomes a possibility) - how will schools cater for them? Do they all have single, en-suite rooms?

The same for social distancing in dorms?

Can they adequately socially distance in lessons, dining rooms etc.

Non boarding schools can limit numbers by only having certain years in on certain days but how could this work if the majority of children board?

I have no idea how any schools can safely reopen (maintaining the safety of both staff and pupils) and it must be even more of a challenge for boarding schools.

What’s the deal with paying fees atm too?

that to delay the start of the uni year to January or open as usual but online only until January?

They are discussing both but the prevailing view is that it will be online from.sept then "back to uni campus", freshers etc in Jan.

We are paying day school rates less 10% at the moment @Muchtoomuchtodo

@Kinlocrhum are your school providing the full daily timetable virtually?
Our state school is setting daily work according to the dc’s timetable but not live teaching.

Yes, the full timetable is live.

I'll be very surprised if they don't follow exactly what the state schools do, certainly in terms of day pupils. I would imagine that if the majority of overseas boarders don't return this term, there will be room in most boarding houses to spread out UK boarders.