The Seventh Republic - the debate rages on but for some it is half term!

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff. Baiters and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here only if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the toffee vodka is hidden.

If you are fed up with cakes and biscuits there is now a cheeseboard on offer

Piggywaspushed I just don’t understand at all the lack of any guidance.
I have a year 10 dd and have heard nothing at all.
Then my year 12 nephew (different school) has got a timetable to return either mornings or afternoons after half term. In classes of 12 but no lunchtimes or break times in school.

The DfE have tried to spin the SAGE guidance on Twitter. It hasn't worked.

I can't believe this is what the Sun had taken from this.
Silly me! Should have known better.

Apparently the working classes are the least likely to be returning their kids. The Sun feels it is their job to brainwash their demographic.

That's it piggy!

I think the secondary guidance was clear as in some form of face to face contact before end of summer term. Heads interpreting that as back to teaching in schools are bizarre imo.

I took it as meaning it’s impossible for secondary schools to go back until at least September but next years exam groups should have the opportunity for some facetime (virtual or in school) to check they’re on track and understand home learning objectives as it’s particularly critical for them.

I literally lay in bed last night wondering where Noble had gone and hoping she was ok... I’m sad. She was an excellent poster.

I’m even sadder that @phlebasconsidered and others are being treated so badly by their SLT. Unions all the way.

@TheHoneyBadger are you in a northern county? With a navy blue school uniform? D-m? If not, I know another school in exactly the same situation! (I don’t work there, but I’m in the same county)

I think I had it in my head that @StaffAssociationRepresentative was @noblegiraffe with a name change!

I’m sad she’s gone-she’s been around forever and was great at posting breaking edu-news on here.

Just catching up. Noble left - , government shit - no surprise, SAGE - need to read the updates on this. GCSE grades finally signed off ( HOD). My HT is very sensible and not making clear plans until guidance provided (secondary) head of MAT has final say and again I trust them. It's half term, I've had and and now chilling. Looking forward to the week off (except for reports to write, day in school and planning for next term). Happy half term!

@phlebasconsidered so sorry you SLT are so shit

Sorry to hear Noblegiraffe has left.

I've heard it all now. Apparently (on the SD in schools thread) it is teachers's fault that we're plunging into recession now.

I love that the report says that there is no threat to children and that teacher haven’t shown to be getting it any more than anyone else.

Firstly it’s not just children who will be in the building. I’m not so worry about contact with the children as with the other adults. And those adults aren’t just teachers. There are TAs, cleaners, kitchen staff, dinner ladies, office staff, parents dropping off and picking up. All those adults who needn’t be there.

Secondly since the schools closed to most pupils teachers have only been in to school a few times with a handful of children in.

In my own experience the average age of cleaners, canteen staff and a fair number of PSAs too seems to be older than teaching staff, so in a higher risk group.

No I am not the lovely @Noblegiraffe.

HT emailed today to say have a lovely half term and that he would be back in contact after half term. We are not rushing back. But the on-line teaching has been exhausting for both myself and the students.

I will need to recreate tests etc onto Teams. I am going to do more multiple-choice as at least that marks itself.

Staff you can do self-marking with one word answers too, don't know what you teach but say the answer could be "America" or "USA" you can type both in as correct answers and it will be marked the same way as multiple choice. Or can have a mixture of each. (Sorry just learned this want to share!) They would need to spell them right though!

Primary kids aren't going to be able to access and use Teams properly, are they? Half of my class can't log in to their school accounts or open a word doc without help.

Fuming at bbc report on "the science."

So much spin and buried truths!

Also, I've just read up on Cummings. I reckon he's your guy regarding the National curriculum, not just Gove. Dominic Cummings: Who is Boris Johnson's senior adviser? www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49101464

Cummings links to school policy ate well known. All policies are essentially his. Horrific influencer.

Just seen this on Twitter :

And if you want an illustration of the priorities of this government, detailed guidance - and a dedicated parliamentary session - has been provided to the estate agency profession. Teachers can whistle, but house prices must be maintained.

@pfrench maybe you have KS1, but my 9yo has been totally fine navigating Teams by himself. He's learned loads of really useful IT skills from online school.

Loads of my year 10s can't upload a Word doc!

The real issue with older children is they use phones for everything and parents won't let them near family laptops.

Oh dear, the headteacher on BBC is quoting ISAGE advice as SAGE. The right wing will go for her and this undermines her. I wish heads were made clear.

I loved ISAGE yesterday but their impact ahs been to confuse. I am sure their choice of name is rather dissembling.

For those following his story, Michael Rosen is out of ICU and on a ward after 8 weeks in hospital. Hopeful news.

My year 10 don't seem to be able to upload stuff to Moodle. I have detailed instructions on how it should be submitted. Most of the class emailed me several photos of their written work. At odd times as well, so I woke up to 5 emails sent since I went to bed at midnight.