The Twenty-Seventh Republic - rules or guidelines - Pandemic or Pirates of the Caribbean

[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 and you will receive a detention

The exam issues are all the more reason to rota. If students are rotad, they're more likely to be in therefore can be assessed. Proper planned rota teaching would be better for everyone. A week off this week for kids to allow teachers to sort the rota would be ideal.

Golf really doesn't promote gathering. there are very strict booking conditions and you have to be a member at most clubs atm. They could limit rounds to 2 people very easily.

genuinely, they can't say fresh air and exercise are important and then limit that only to people who enjoy going for a walk, own a dog, or cycle, which is more or less what they are doing. It is actually a common sport for the clinically vulnerable and more elderly, too, who should be getting out to tackle isolation and get some exercise and air. I think government has shot itself in the foot by saying you can meet one other person outside, but then not allowing golf .

Mainly, I am bothered because DH will be an absolute pita . He went part time mainly so he could reduce his hours but the only thing he wants to do on his days off is golf...

Interesting new thread in staffroom about in person teaching. If I am allowed to mention it!

How are people managing keeping track of the work of kids who are isolating?

I had some Y9s/6th formers isolating before half term. 6th form isn't so bad as they are a motivated group and a small group so fairly easy to track. The Y9s are generally lovely and I uploaded work for them to do in their books but I know one or two won't have bothered - all I will be able to do is let parents know. We have assessment coming up so will see what happens with that.

Interesting about the exams.

I have signed the petition- personally if I was in charge I would shut the school to students for a week and allow teachers to plan for rota learning , then have a week of two full remote learning then go back on whatever Rita basis they thinks works. If possible using teachers more at risk to lead remote learning (although that might be too tricky to timetable). Secondary. Don’t know about primary...

Maybe its about keeping old men at home.

How are people managing keeping track of the work of kids who are isolating?

Badly.

The workload of setting isolating work and delivering lessons is taking its toll.

Interesting about the exams. I wonder what will happen. Is it hidden in the paper Piggy? As my teacher friends want to see it.

Gove on Sophy Ridge says the lockdown may have to be extended if it doesn't come down.

The SAGE scientist said the numbers will come down slower as education etc is still open but they aren't as bad as the first wave so he isn't sure how long it will take.

Sophy didn't press much on this which was annoying.

Quite buried, yes. Around page 8ish

Just checking in.

What is pissing me off so much is people talking like the only people in school are children.
Sometimes teachers get a mention but never support staff, 1:1, cooks, cleaners, mid day supervisors, caretakers, office staff, various therapists that come in.

In my class I sometimes have up to 5 adults.
3 children who need 1:1 support, 1 TA and me.

What about this mysterious mass testing?

There's been crap all in the papers. Unions clearly know buggery. Nothing in guidance.

My Gp friend still claims vaccine is due in December to a few but has never mentioned mass testing. (He's in a commissioning role too so would know something.)

I suspect a piecemeal pr stunt.

@StanfordPines indeed. I looked up the latest DfE figures and basically about 1 million adults work in schools. There are 1.1 million adults working for the NHS in England, so roughly comparable.

[quote GravityFalls]@StanfordPines indeed. I looked up the latest DfE figures and basically about 1 million adults work in schools. There are 1.1 million adults working for the NHS in England, so roughly comparable.[/quote]
Good name.......

Yes, staff seem to be forgotten.
And this is before you factor in children being dropped of by parents who stand around in huddles chatting.

How are people managing keeping track of the work of kids who are isolating?

Honestly, for KS3 I’m not managing, unless they miss one of my special coloured paper tasks. All lesson resources are uploaded into Teams so it’s there if they want it.

KS4 - I’m producing booklets for them to work in, I’ll get them to date the page as we do it so it’s clear what has been missed. It’s time consuming to produce, but once they’re done.... I think they’ll also be helpful if the whole year group go.

Halfway through doing this term’s Macbeth one...

I am noticing more and more scientist now saying ' we know that transmission in schools is high' and that politician are no longer denying this.

Why are so many on MNHQ still peddling the opposite myth? Are they so bored of the whole thing they don't watch the TV any more?

Or do they only read the Try press which always hunts down contrary evidence, always from other countries.

Chair of The Wellcome Trust on Marr. Very even handed; talks sense. He seems to think secondaries might have to change within 4 weeks.

Tory press

Apparently , Gavin raised eyebrows at a cabinet meeting, furiously ranting about tracking down the source of the leak. Sure it wasn't you, Gav? You have form...

Re vaccines, there was a post last night on the Data thread (iirc) of a press release from the Head of Vaccination saying they'd be available to over 50s within weeks. Sorry no time to find the link now. Sophie something was the Head's name I think.

I'm predicting school "Christmas" holidays which start about the 2 December, when the lockdown will be renewed.

I reckon a week later, so holidays start on about the 9th with a 2 week lockdown before Christmas. People then allowed to visit family from 23rd and students to return home.

I think the Christmas holiday will be brought forward by at least a week too.

Keir on Marr; appreciates we are 'tearing our hair out'!

@Piggywaspushed

Keir on Marr; appreciates we are 'tearing our hair out'!

But states clearly we must 'manage the risk' and schools must stay open. Cheers Keir - thanks for sod all.

Can't we start something on twitter about challenging Keir and our Mps and Gavlar to stand maskless in a full classroom for an hour or in a corridor at lesson change over? #standwithus or something?

I just saw on AIBU on a close the schools thread “It’s a difficult one because everyone knows transmission occurs in schools”

It feels quite big given how it was repeated over and over on here during the summer that the virus wouldn’t transmit in schools. I’ve also seen lots of posts about how shameful it is how little protection teachers have.

Us4Them have well and truly lost the argument.

Neil Ferguson is calling for action on older teens...