The Twenty-second Republic - the DfE have no idea, Gav MIA, bubbles in and out

[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.

No DfE muppets allowed

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, especially if you have not used the hand gel. Close the door quietly on your way out and put your mask on

Have been back at school for 6 weeks now. It's a long weekend and I am so, so happy to be off.

@noblegiraffe I might chat a bit too
Although the novelty of being able to pee when I want may just get too exciting!

@Appuskidu

What’s the betting that even if they decide to make October half term a two-week holiday instead of one, we’ll be providing KW childcare during it as well.

Don’t give them ideas!!!

We're this week coming Mistressgigi. Enjoy. You deserve the break

I can't. Official Secrets Act. Non disclosure agreements...

There are loads of secret testing places...

OK piggy, I know it's Friday night! 🍷?!

Mention has been made at our school re the possibility of spot checks on social distancing and any arrangements we have in place.

Our school, despite having room, has desks in circles. No facing forwards like other schools. I've queried it. Noone cares. Wonder if spot checkers would approve.

We have ended the week with cases in 2 year groups and about 70kids sent home, they went by the seating plans for contacts. Another secondary in the same town has done the same thing. We have tests for some year groups soon and papers have to be isolated for 72h before we mark them, and then for 72H afterwards 😳
We are teaching synchronously online to those isolating home, am waiting for the complaints re behaviour in my y11 low set.

Partner suggesting that if there is a 2 week circuit breaker thing, it'll be before half term. Next we or two, v short notice.

Meh.

That's how I think it should be, but remind us, does yr partner have basis for authority on the issue? 😃

I don't see the point in a circuit-breaker lockdown if schools are still open.

@ohthegoats

Partner suggesting that if there is a 2 week circuit breaker thing, it'll be before half term. Next we or two, v short notice.

Meh.

I got the impression it was two weeks around half term?

Though I should know better than to get my news from my parents .

Yes, how on earth is a circuit breaker going to work if there's a huge transmission risk still at large?

Maybe the circuit breaker idea is a mini U turn (re 'Schools must stay open'.)

What??? At least they're getting smaller! 😂

Oh crikey just remembered the curfew! Off to bed for me, nighty night all

Breaking curfew to say bollocks.

We were both so tired both forgot to complete the fucking online shopping.

Just a bottle of champagne being delivered.

Bum shit wank.

Everything I've seen on the circuit breaker thing says school stays open. I'll one up the two week half term keyworker school thing and predict an extra week teaching in the summer to catch up.

I agree but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if it's not. My anxiety cake kicking in the middle of the night.

So, on the bright side, the champagne is out of stock. Which is good.

Both bottles.

I'd forgotten that I'd reserved a delivery and a pick up as we'd just bought a delivery pass to make everyone's lives easier (in laws are going to use it too).

Except it won't be used today ffs!

colourofblue walking from class to class with SPD must be an absolute nightmare. I’d keep getting signed off with it if I were you.

Really bad your school hasn’t done a decent risk assessment.

Dh has asthma, it popped up in conversation that he has the lungs of a 70 year old. Shit shit shit. I go from just accepting the inevitable Covid infection we are all bound to get, to being really scared again.

Agreed I absolutely cannot see the point of a two lockdown if schools stay open in any way. Even for key workers.
I also can’t see that lasting until the end of October either.

The thing is, based on what I now know of a number of truly awful
Safeguarding incidents at our place, I think they will try their best to keep schools open if they can.

I feel it's a completely lose lose situation. I personally feel like a sitting duck, and can't imagine how awful it must feel if it's your partner or people living with you who is CV or ECV when, and the many other people here in that situation.

Lack of masks for primary is a joke. The whole "primary kids don't spread" is a joke.

This whole thing is a joke. I'm so angry with them right now.

My biggest problem is that in RL I am quite an upbeat, smiley person. Even my OH has no idea usually when I’m in pain or upset or worried about something - I internalise it all. I know that isn’t healthy and probably stems from having a sibling with an exceptionally dour nature growing up! I always felt I had to be the happy twin

Im still really conflicted as to what to do - my friends keep telling me I shouldn’t start maternity leave yet. It just seems wrong somehow that I have been employed and paid to work somewhere for nine months but only spent six weeks in the actual building, although I was WFH for some of that. I just feel guilty all the time.

I know it feels wrong but you'll forfeit more time with your little one the other end. I went through exactly this but you wouldn't be in this situation if they'd looked after you better.

That’s the problem. If I started maternity leave now, I’d reach the unpaid element of it by the beginning of July - not really optimal time to be job hunting as a teacher I’m mostly worried about getting a terrible reference.