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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Corona Cohort - Year 12 - 2021 - NO 'Self isolating' please.

999 replies

Oblomov20 · 07/12/2020 09:42

We just want our kids in school. Please. If at all possible.

And driving lessons. And good Mental Health. And happiness.

In-and-amongst all this Covid nightmare and lockdown debacle.

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Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 07:55

We haven't even been given 1/4 details tbh...

Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 07:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 07:57

Oops wrong thread. Hey ho!! Sorry guys!

Heifer · 18/12/2020 07:59

Can schools ignore the request to go back a week late? I can tell from our heads retweets exactly what she thinks of the shitshow.

I am very tempted to write to her to let her know as a parent I will support whatever they decide to do - whether that be ignore late start, start late with no online work set for 1 week as I don't want our staff to have to spend their Christmas producing online work. Although saying that last time they did have online learning, the girls logged in as timetable and and had the lesson normally, just online so maybe not too much work - but I'm guessing it won't be so easy for all year groups to do that.

DD has now finished. Collected GCSE certs. Had an virtual presentation for Yr11 & Y13s from last year - she was won the PE award (joint with another girl), got a £10 book token I believe. Also collect 6th form hoodies.

Received her Grade Grid and she is not happy...
Psychology - Aspirational Target A Current Attainment A
PE Aspirational Target A Current Attainment A
Biology - Aspirational Target B Current Attainment C

She really thought she had been getting A grades in tests and homework (they often don't tell them the grade just mark) so is really confused. She was given her target grade the day before and thought it was a B because she got an 8 at GCSE but it seems she isn't doing as well as she thought. She hasn't even mentioned the other grades which are bloody fantastic. Problem is that she wants to study Biology at uni so NEEDS to be predicted an A to even apply.

I did ask her to speak to the teacher but she didn't... so I guess she will need to see what she can improve on when she goes back as I don't want to email teacher during holiday etc.

Really hope all you that have been poorly get better soon and so sorry to read of those having to isolate over Christmas.

Take care all, and keep posting :-)

Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 08:05

Just o correct you there heifer, planning an online lesson takes twice as long as a normal lesson...

Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 08:05

Thanks for the support. Appreciated.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 18/12/2020 09:08

Piggy that's interesting, can you elaborate? Our school teaches online via Teams and, when isolating, most of DS's teachers carried on their lesson live online and the pupils joined in. Some just set work for them to do at home with no live connection at all. I don't know how far ahead teachers lesson plan but wouldn't it be the same work to just do that lesson online? I'd like to understand so as not to judge the teachers too harshly if they just set them a 5 minute video to watch on YT!

Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 09:21

I really can't explain very clearly. In a normal lesson you have a chat; it can be quite relaxed at times and certainly less silent and more responsive. You can improvise, you can see kids' facial expressions, body language and their work (although not so much these days with 2m rule). Remote is all much more intense and the teacher does far more talking. You also have to think through how to communicate what to do in a remote way. It might not seem all that much different at the student end but it really is! I also spend my whole time responding to their IT issues!

We don't have kids dial in from home when we are in person teaching. Our IT is not up to this . But when 100% are out it is definitely a different lesson, especially for the younger or less able. I am the mug in the department who planned all the year 11 stuff in the summer term!

A Level is a bit less of an issue but hen you worry about how to communicate complex content . But ppts in my subject are not 'lectures'. I also teach one subject that is nigh on impossible to teach remotely so everything needs replanning....

Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 09:23

I also have colleagues who don't 'normally' use ppts at all (my DH is also one of these,lots of maths teachers are) and for them it is masses of extra work and very draining/challenging.

Does your DS's school ahve textbooks? That makes life a lot easier al round but they have died a death in most state schools, in most subjects.

Chabbylis · 18/12/2020 10:00

Well done to your daughter @heifer! Roll on Lunch time today for school to finish! Feel so lucky not to have any isolation so far. We have not had any predicted grades here yet.

Chabbylis · 18/12/2020 10:01

We had online text books to start with but ended up buying the text books (maths and chemistry)

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 18/12/2020 10:06

Thanks @Piggyinblankets, that does make sense, I walked in on one of DS's Eng lit lessons online and there was a lot of silence when he asked a question, I think the students feel much more self conscious about speaking up when remote, so I see how there's a lot more 'filling' needed. This was when 100% were out so they were teaching to the whole class online.

We had to buy DS's textbooks so yes he has them and yes he uses them regularly. No textbooks for Eng just the literature they are currently reading.

ChristopherTracy · 18/12/2020 10:24

So it turns out that DS hasnt been going to his online lessons and he wont talk about it. If we go back online in January then it will be even worse. He needs to go in. Without the routine he is f*cked.

I am off work for Christmas now so I'm ignoring it until the NY. But still dreading the report.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 18/12/2020 10:43

Oh no Christopher, can you email the school about this today and ask for him to attend at the beginning of term. I know our school will have students in that are not participating from home.

KingscoteStaff · 18/12/2020 11:06

The Primary School attached to our church finished yesterday with an email to Year 2 and 4 that they are all close contacts and need to isolate until the 27th...

Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 11:10

Oh, that sucks so so very much.

ChristopherTracy · 18/12/2020 11:28

Well the just arrived report is full of 'goods' and two 'excellents' so clearly when he's in it is going well (so relieved!).

I am going to have to request that he goes in as soon as they are able I think. Thanks for that prompt @JustHereWithMyPopcorn

I will also restart the maths tutoring when he can go in person. I am determined to be all over this!

crazycrofter · 18/12/2020 12:42

Oh dear, @ChristopherTracy. The online situation is a nightmare. Ds (year 10), who sounds a bit like your son, wasn’t too bad in the first lockdown when he had to read stuff and submit work. Obviously I had to hover and check and nag etc etc. But the online stuff is worse because he can log on, but they’re not on camera so he can just chat to his mates/play his Xbox whilst logged in. He’s on mute and I’m not sure teachers are asking them questions to check engagement. He can’t concentrate anyway if it’s just listening (teachers aren’t on video either)

I’m very grateful he’s only been in isolation this week and I’m really hoping he can avoid it next term, after the first online week.

Glad to hear his grades are good anyway!

Decorhate · 18/12/2020 13:25

We have hit a problem with the staggered return. Our older dc is doing her finals via livestream that week & is freaking out at the thought of ds2 having live lessons that could potentially cause her livestream to crash. Gah. He will not be keen on going into school if none of his classmates are.

ealingwestmum · 18/12/2020 13:35

I cannot believe this is announced, but the guidance to testing process will not be issued until next week. On top of planning online lessons. I do get that the situation remains fluid as virus grows/changes, but when do teachers and schools/colleges ever get cut a break?

And sympathies also to those where home working for the household is just not ideal

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 18/12/2020 14:13

Agree @ealingwestmum I would not want to be a teacher in this crazy time, I do hope that they get a rest over Christmas despite the government's best attempts at otherwise!!

Wheresthebeach · 18/12/2020 14:42

Well this is a mad mess...first they threaten schools with legal action if they close before Xmas, then they announce they will be closed early January. Can't quite believe it.

School sent out a 'when we know more we'll be in touch' email, which i'm sure is a version of 'we found out from the BBC too, so F** knows what's going on'

Hope everyone has a 'good' Christmas. It all feels hard right now.

DD happy with home learning for a week, more interested in being able to sleep in! She seems okay with the work, but stress headaches continue to be an issue.

Shimy · 18/12/2020 14:57

Does anyone have a dc doing Core Maths? DS plans to study for this alongside his A’levels. They won’t give lessons but are happy to support the exam part. As he will be self studying, just wanted to know what resources others are using/how tough it is.

ealingwestmum · 18/12/2020 15:23

Does your school website/portal provide you with 2022 exam boards Shimy? Otherwise, I’d drop them an email to ask. AS, not Core here so sorry I can’t help further...

Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 16:09

Two unconnected cases at DS's sixth form announced just now. Thankfully seems not to involve him. Merry Christmas, hey?

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