Thirteenth Republic - School’s out for summer, no more pencils no more books!

[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

Just seen this on another thread. Makes for interesting reading

www.google.com/amp/s/www.thelocal.it/20200630/outdoor-lessons-and-smaller-classes-how-italys-schools-will-change-when-they-reopen-in-september/amp

Eventually a study has shown that there is concern over live lessons and 'zoom zombies'. Harvard are recommending max of 4 hours lessons for older children and 2 for younger. That's Harvard!!

The Times also reporting that middle classes are flocking to private schools. Funny how they are all in huge financial straits then and not awarding pay rises.

The worst thing that could happen is private schools reducing fees to lure the less affluent worried parents. Consequences for both sectors there.

I looked and can't find a 'horrified' thread about Oxford's promise to let students from 'poor schools' (as the Times calls them) in with lower grades!

A familiar looking poster on another thread is talking about deluded unions demanding masks in schools-I can only find the Telegraph reporting this but it’s behind a paywall.

Does anyone know any details?

I think unions should be pushing for masks in secondary school. Or more 'blended' learning options to reduce class sizes/make it easier to distance.

@ohthegoats

I think unions should be pushing for masks in secondary school. Or more 'blended' learning options to reduce class sizes/make it easier to distance.

Completely agree.

I have such a bad feeling about September.

NASUWT are calling for masks in schools in line with the requirement for over 11’s to wear them everywhere else.

I certainly hope there is a requirement for masks to be worn in secondary school. I've said that to my family, but they think I'm bonkers. They've completely bought into the "schools are safe, masks aren't necessary" line, as they continue to stay at home for the foreseeable future (my parents are retired and not going back to their volunteer roles, my sister has been made redundant, brother is now wfh until at least January).

Imo if children 11+ can wear them and still parents choose to take them
Zoos in the entry exit shops
Shops
Public transport
Planes

Obviously the hours are much longer.

There’s now a thread in Chat with a link to a petition against wearing masks in schools.

I’m not going to even post as know will just end up into a bashing.

It had the longevity of a fart in a wind tunnel anyway. 👍

Ha! Have seen the thread got deleted 👏

@MsAwesomeDragon

I certainly hope there is a requirement for masks to be worn in secondary school. I've said that to my family, but they think I'm bonkers. They've completely bought into the "schools are safe, masks aren't necessary" line, as they continue to stay at home for the foreseeable future (my parents are retired and not going back to their volunteer roles, my sister has been made redundant, brother is now wfh until at least January).

It’s the same with my family. They are all either retired or can WFH indefinitely but think teachers are being absolutely hysterical about going back with no SD or masks.

I can usually see the other side to disagreements even, but that organisation mystifies me.
We want to keep children, staff and all the families linked to them safe, but they don’t want that? 🙄
Covid 19 is not going away just because You For Ours don’t believe in it. There’s no 👠👠to click together and make it go away.

Hello, I've just found the staffroom, may I join?! I'm a part-time SEN teacher, and I've been in school one day a week since Easter, working from home the other day. On holiday now though, which I love! It's going to be a bit strange going back in September, isn't it?

More changes! Not sure what though.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak?utmsource=6e7eaa1a-c9d3-4b6b-9489-35d1ddd4312d&utmmmedium=email&utmcampaign=govuk-notifications&utmmcontent=immediate

Quite an uplifting piece on BBC News just now about BAME teachers. the woman they interviewed was quite inspirational and it was also lovely to hear the three teenagers they interviewed referring to teachers as inspiring, as role models and as people who have succeeded. Quite the tonic. Watch it if you can .

You are very welcome Katherine!

I spy a few changes : toilets get a mention!

Face covering and transport. it says things at the beginning about where the updates might be if you look really really really hard.

I watched that @Piggywaspushed and thought the same.

I read the guidance, it’s just all blurring into one now! Are we cleaning toilets now? 🙄

I think this is new:

direct close contacts - face to face contact with an infected individual for any length of time, within 1 metre, including being coughed on, a face to face conversation, or unprotected physical contact (skin-to-skin)
proximity contacts - extended close contact (within 1 to 2 metres for more than 15 minutes) with an infected individual
travelling in a small vehicle, like a car, with an infected person

As is the bit about older children being told not to touch each other (good luck with that!!)

There is also more emphasis on the fact that older children are not risk free. Hmmmm

I all saw that masks are still not needed to be worn though but schools should have provision in place for the safe removal of them once pupils enter school.

*also

Didn't read to the end. Still looks bleak for school music