The Seventeenth Republic - The Pick Your Grade Show continues as we edge towards INSET days.

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders 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 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
Do not give ‘The Every twat for Themselves mob’ the staffroom password as a number of them are operating in an alternative reality.

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 goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom. Close the door quietly on your way out

@MrsHerculePoirot
they needed to differentiate between different ages eg primary and secondary in the comment box...

But not make it over 11s when the research says 10s and over. Year Six (and possibly Year Five) classrooms shouldn't be ignored.

Is English and maths resit date different due to colleges doing some of the resits?

Kitchen stuff is interesting, county council only offering sandwiches or equivalent to begin with. Pre schooler doesn't get FSM yet and I want him getting a hot dinner. I'll be questioning that with them. (I'm going to become that parent!)

Is this the first mention of mobile testing units to test all if more than 2 cases?

Schools and colleges will also make plans for providing remote education if needed. This means that if your child needs to stay at home, due to shielding or self-isolation, their school or college will support them to continue learning.

This is going to be TOUGH.

schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-that-followed-advice-to-deflate-grades-must-now-be-given-appeal-route/

When you can (and should) stand up for yourself without pissing anyone off. SLT are like the kids sometimes in that they will push boundaries if they think they can get away with it. I say this from experience

I'm sure work frequently say it's 4 hours then a break. We've had TA staff part time half a day on that sort of timing due to the 4 hour thing, I think.

Salty, similar here. Small person here wakes a lot more on the nursery nights too, and if the anxiety party kicks in...so I just feel like I'm about to plunge into a nightmare.

to Phleb and why and all others starting to get sleepless nights and worried children. It does help to have comrades.

Lidl, well done. That's shit that you have to have a test, is that definitely what you have to do? I'll be getting one every week!

When, you could ask your union rep what has happened previously. They will know how Slt respond in these situations even if no-one has complained about this issue previously. An important part of being a good union rep is knowing your management and how they will respond.

I think the English and Maths exams are about when they normally are in the November series.
When - you really must raise it with your union rep. I had an NQT a couple of years ago with the most appalling timetable. She had very little of her subject but three other courses she'd never done, let alone trained for. She was advised to speak to her union as a protection for herself - had it got to the point of her ability to meet the standards being questioned at all, they needed to know. As it happened, the AB was all over it, and she got through - but she's been given all the leftovers ever since. She won't stay in teaching long, which is a shame because she's brilliant in her subject.

@MrsHamlet I thought the Nov resits weren't happening this year? Or being pushed back to Jan?

Does this mean Eng and maths will be last on the timetable? 🙏

First as far as I know! I'll check my email...

[quote Iamnotthe1]@MrsHerculePoirot
they needed to differentiate between different ages eg primary and secondary in the comment box...

But not make it over 11s when the research says 10s and over. Year Six (and possibly Year Five) classrooms shouldn't be ignored.[/quote]
Totally I said in the comment box between ages. I think with primary it is age but also depends on how they are running things. My kids school for example are keeping strict class bubbles with no crossover but I know other primaries are running year groups bubbles essentially with free movement/mixing/changing groupings within that.

At secondary if I was going to teach one class all day in one room I would be far less bothered about the mask thing than I am though tbh. It’s the seeing six groups of 30/32 per day in different rooms when those children also aren’t staying in the same groups that is concerning me!

This is what's on the AQA website at the moment.

www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/dates-and-timetables

I see they’ve explicitly said masks to be removed in that guidance. Why they can’t allow those that want to wear them to do so at the very least is beyond me.

@MrsHamlet

I think the English and Maths exams are about when they normally are in the November series. When - you really must raise it with your union rep. I had an NQT a couple of years ago with the most appalling timetable. She had very little of her subject but three other courses she'd never done, let alone trained for. She was advised to speak to her union as a protection for herself - had it got to the point of her ability to meet the standards being questioned at all, they needed to know. As it happened, the AB was all over it, and she got through - but she's been given all the leftovers ever since. She won't stay in teaching long, which is a shame because she's brilliant in her subject.

Completely agree. When someone comes to me with an issue I usually support them to raise it them self (you already have) then I would make a decision as to how well SLT would take a chat from me and if I think it would be a nightmare I then seek support from our area rep who will happily step in anytime!

I really think next year isn’t going to be easy for anybody, but particularly NQTs and those in new schools. I would definitely advise you to raise it. Especially if you a have a form group/PSHE every day AND the 20 mins every day in the morning.

Guardian want comments from teachers on re opening...

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/21/teachers-and-parents-across-the-uk-share-your-thoughts-on-the-reopening-of-schools?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

@MrsHerculePoirot

I see it as a bit of a six of one, half a dozen of the other kind of situation. I read materials that suggested that the increase of time with the same people increases the likelihood a lot. I'm less likely to have a kid with Covid-19 in my room but more like to get it if I do. You're more likely to come across a kid with Covid-19 but less likely to get it if you do.

Think the previous guidance mentioned mobile testing units.

@Iamnotthe1 true - I hadn’t really thought about it like that. I was just thinking about it rampaging through the school/taking it home rather than my risk but yes that makes total sense.

[quote MrsHerculePoirot]@Iamnotthe1 true - I hadn’t really thought about it like that. I was just thinking about it rampaging through the school/taking it home rather than my risk but yes that makes total sense.[/quote]
Oh yeah the year group bubble idea is a load of bullshit and doesn't protect anyone. Not that bubbles are an actual protective measure anyway. If it does come into your school then there's naff all in place to stop it spread.

Hmm think this bit's been rewritten hasn't it:

Face coverings
Based on current evidence, Public Health England does not recommend the use of face coverings in nurseries, childminders, schools or colleges (except in some specific circumstances).
This is because:
• children, young people and staff are mixing in consistent groups
• not using them correctly may accidentally increase the risk of transmitting the virus
• there may be negative effects on communications and therefore on your child’s education
The guidance on face coverings will be kept under review

Staff aren't mixing in consistent groups!!

We're consistently mixing in lots of groups. Maybe that's what they mean

I reckon no one putting this guidance out can remember what secondary schools are like at all

Consistent group of the entire school, I guess they mean?

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/21/coronavirus-iurope-dozens-schools-report-infections-berlin-germany-spain

This story ahs been changed to admit that children are now involved and it is looking very much like a child may be the index case

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-53870198