The Tenth Republic - what is the new normal?

[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

If you come with a stick to beat us with then please do so elsewhere and not in the staffroom.

I'm so confused by advice. If you're clinically vulnerable (not extremely) are you still supposed to be observing 2m?!

Fuck knows. When I checked on Weds the advice is still to stay gone as much as possible, if you do have to go out avoid contact with people outside your household. Work medical assessor was keen to know how much stringent social distancing was possible within my role/with reasonable adjustments.

I am also interested that teachers aren't bubbled. This is clearly more practical but will, ultimately , lead to high staff absence won't it, if there is an outbreak in a bubble?

Yes. And I think the big difference between what will happen in the UK is that the virus has essentially been eliminated before the schools went back. The chances of anyone getting ill are negligible.

It may look different once the mandatory quarantine for anyone entering the country is dropped. But In England I think you are right, it’s going to lead to entire schools being shut down.

If people would social distance and follow the rules as much as possible between now and Sept there’s a much better chance of schools being able to go back with something like this.

@Piggywaspushed

I am also interested that teachers aren't bubbled. This is clearly more practical but will, ultimately , lead to high staff absence won't it, if there is an outbreak in a bubble?

It would under track and trace. If there was a case in my bubble among children there will be 3 or 4 staff members I have been in contact with for longer than 15 mins during breaks etc (I know, the luxury of Breaks!). That’s following guidelines on minimising number of staff in staffroom at any one time.

It's only morning and I've already cracked and told a regular TBing poster (who loves links about teacher's jobs) to fuck off but it was probably worth it even if I get a ban.

Mistress

Fuck knows indeed. I haven't even twigged the 1 m rule wasn't actually in yet ( Apparently?)

Chatted to a secondary teacher while out with the kids. He couldn't work out what would happen bar they're just going to give up on schools in terms of any restrictions. Extra hygiene and hand washing. (He was being slightly facetious in that but you know it's probably true way teachers do.) Also said zero kids turned up on weds this week.

I have been in a different bubble every day this week. Plus there are the Waitrose/M&S/Sainsbury bubbles

At least I am not in a Bournmouth bubble!

Bubble bubble bubble ....

it is too hot and I still have 50 reports to write

And not only is the turn up to physical school not great but tuning in online has plummeted the past couple of days because it is so hot.

Summer school teaching would be torture ..... so glad we are not doing it

#almostthere

it is too hot and I still have 50 reports to write

I've got 21 left. It's almost harder this year than normal - I can't remember the detail of their work (unless it's really good or really bad), I can't remember what they are like in class. So hard.

Still, I am going going going on them today, even if it takes overnight, I'm going to finish 'today'. I want and need to start thinking about next year to reduce my stress levels on it, and can't do that until these buggers are out of the way.

@Piggywaspushed

There are 2 threads going about holidays and quarantine and September restart atm. One posted in education where the OP is getting a lambasting and one in AIBU which is generally more sympathetic.

People clearly trawl the education boards looking for teachers to scold.

Don’t they just?!

Phew, my school has just confirmed no summer school.

Mine hasn't, but I can't imagine my head will want to enforce it. He doesn't even like revision with y11 in the holidays, and frequently tells us to relax in the holidays and look after our mental health. This may just be words, but his wife (who also teaches at our school) says he does take most of the holidays as holiday himself, so clearly does think it's important for his own wellbeing.

When do we find out what these great catch up plans actually are?

I really really can’t see my head doing summer school.

Our head has already confirmed that even if the school was open in summer it would be paid volunteers. Think the government float ideas and then test the reception. Think it’s a resounding get to fuck for summer and it’s been heard loud and clear

Poor Mrs Gove will have to look after her own kids.

I’m genuinely surprised how many people have summer holidays booked. How organised are you all? I’m pleased if I book more than a couple of months in advance! (Probably reflects my lesson planning the night before too).

We always book in January : DH says this is because I am fussy.

Really regretting it presently.

Always last minute here. Can’t see a holiday happening this summer but I’m desperate to swim

I would have booked in January too, but partner said no. We've got skiing booked for Christmas (always planned to drive down anyway), so hopefully that will be OK. Urgh, probably not. Don't have to pay the balance until November though.

I would have booked:
A week in a gite in France for May half term
A week in a gite in France beginning of school holidays
Trip to Morocco for me and the child at October half term.

About a fortnight before lockdown, I almost went and joined the local really expensive gym too - I didn't go on the day because child was kicking off about something and I couldn't get her in the car to go and do it. Luckily - i'd have been paying £80 a month for nothing since March!

Grateful that none of those things happened. Am seriously thinking about a week in France for the first week of the holidays though still.

My head has also confirmed no summer school. Apparently we are already doing targeted catch up sessions in addition to year 10 stuff, which I was unaware of.
My kids'school have confirmed no holiday childcare is going to be running. This will be a major blow for lots of parents as it's used by lots of children from other schools as well - it's the main summer playscheme in the immediate area. It will also put a hole in the school's finances I imagine.

We've been told by child's school that there will be some things running. I'm not sure what to do with her this year though. We're going to our place in Cornwall for the last 2 weeks of the summer holidays - were planning to go with friends, and might try really hard to keep it that way. Then we can go and stay with partner's parents in Manchester for a bit too. That only really gives us a week or so, during which I'll probably need to work.

I book summer holidays at Easter so have not really missed out. But I would love a pool in the garden right now.

Just finished Year 10 reports and now onto Year 12

End of term today (Scotland). I have just received two timetables for Plan A (blended learning) and Plan B (full time). We'll find out on July 30th which one we're using! One INSET day on August 11th to plan. Hurrah.

Happy End Of Term fuckweasel!

That sounds tight fuckweasel 😮 We actually booked our holiday in France last November but have managed to shift it to next year. Just a week in a Eurocamp. It's too muggy to work at the laptop so I will leave it till later on.

Summer holiday ‘camp’ at my DD’s school will still be running this summer in London, so maybe some others might also run, helping parents.