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

I'm staying (unless you all discord!).

Maybe MNHQ could post us the guidelines so we can ensure we stick to them?I can't work out how to get to them on my phone......

💐

I've got the fear about this coming term again. Can feel the anxiety rising again. Half term has been a nice break.

@CallmeAngelina We're currently only allowed to sing in the halls not the classrooms but its dependent on year group, i think a lot of us have decided to go with no singing just to be safe. Music has been interesting thats for sure.

I've got the fear rising as well. A knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat.
Feels like March did.

@WhyNotMe40

I think as long as we say eg "x thread looks interesting/relevant for teachers" we can't be moaned at. It is singling out individuals that is the problem, or talking about what is happening on another thread, surely?

I think that’s a good idea.

Well if this thread goes, think I will too. It's the only thing that's been keeping me sane and stopping me from rage quitting MN.

In fact, whilst I’m posting here, the thread about heading for another National Lockdown looks interesting/relevant for teachers .

DH says he feels like we are in the trenches and just waiting for the whistle to send us over the top. A tad dramatic but anxiety is definitely rising in our household along with numbers locally.

No singing allowed in my primary.

We are using our visiting peripatetic to do singing with 15 at a time from separate bubbles in the hall.
But this teacher today I heard from says they've been told (not sure by whom) that singing is "allowed" in primaries, but not in secondaries.
Who knows? I'm SO fed up with mixed messages and different interpretations of made-up rules wherever you turn.

To be honest, in primaries, as you are with the same children for so long every day, I doubt singing will make that much of a difference to transmission rates, especially if you do it in a large well ventilated room

Ah, not paying attention sorry. I wouldn't be mixing bubbles, or using a peripatetic! Massively increased risk

No, sorry, I wasn't being clear. Peri is taking bubble groups. So no mixing, if you see what I mean.

I'm SO fed up with mixed messages and different interpretations of made-up rules wherever you turn.

Oh me too. I've decided to stop engaging with things really, and just work on doing my best to look after my bubble dudes. I can't do anything else.

Away with my dad at the minute, 24 hour rolling news... jesus, it's awful. I'm wearing noise cancelling headphones right now.

I also threw a truth bomb into a thread over on health, so that'll keep people busy for a bit. Ha.

Hey everyone,

I'm not sure whether it's been spoken about yet, I posted towards the end of the last thread as a teacher in France, saying that we were waiting on news about a reinforced sanitary protocole for schools, following the announcement of France's reconfinement.

I'm in secondary, btw. The big change is that all children from the age of 6 will now have to wear a mask. Previously, it was all adults in primary and secondary, as well as all students in secondary. Students in secondary are to stay in one class and the teachers will move around, however, no change for us as my school already does this as part of its usual organisation.

Then the usual nonsense about opening windows, more cleaning (but no extra money of course...) and staggered canteen times. My school is enormous and has always had staggered timing for the canteen, as do most secondary schools. It currently takes 3 hours to stagger all year levels through the canteen, and this was pre-covid.

Sometimes I think the government is trolling us.

@FrencheFancie are teachers going to wear masks in the classroom and teach in them also? Thanks for the update!

@MrsHerculePoirot

Masks have been compulsory in front of the students since our return in May. Last year, we were allowed to remove them if we wished in the staffroom. At the end of the last school year, we had half classes and the rule involved so that teachers could remove masks when in front on a class, provided they could remain 2m from their students. Students had to keep their masks on at all times, except when seated to eat at the canteen.

However, since the new school year in September, they have been compulsory from the moment you set foot in school until the moment you leave the grounds. The rule applied to all adults (non teaching staff, teachers, parents, trade persons, etc.) and pupils over 11 years old, so year 7. As of our return on Monday, it'll also apply to all students over 6 years old. The only moment they can take them off is for PE (very strict 2m between each student and there are rules about shared equipment, but I'm unsure of the specifics) and eating at the canteen.

This rule is at a national level, so it's not just my school.

I don't post much but this thread literally keeps me going. Even in a normal situation I have a load to cope with, with mum having dementia and living with me and my kids. Now my life is barely tenable and I have few other outlets. Just seeing that others also deal with the same shit helps immeasurably. I will be apoplectic if they censor us.

National lockdown from Wednesday say the Times and the Mail tomorrow, schools to remain open.

@noblegiraffe this is so shit. Bastards. We are such an easy target. I pray that parents just start taking their kids out to reduce numbers. Of course I won't be able to see my DS again....

That's pretty much like Wales has been. Go to work, come home. Have no fun. Don't buy a kettle.

I wonder if I just wear a mask at school - to teach in as well as around school - if I will get bollocked? Currently we are a "no masks" school, even in corridors

[quote FrencheFancie]@MrsHerculePoirot

Masks have been compulsory in front of the students since our return in May. Last year, we were allowed to remove them if we wished in the staffroom. At the end of the last school year, we had half classes and the rule involved so that teachers could remove masks when in front on a class, provided they could remain 2m from their students. Students had to keep their masks on at all times, except when seated to eat at the canteen.

However, since the new school year in September, they have been compulsory from the moment you set foot in school until the moment you leave the grounds. The rule applied to all adults (non teaching staff, teachers, parents, trade persons, etc.) and pupils over 11 years old, so year 7. As of our return on Monday, it'll also apply to all students over 6 years old. The only moment they can take them off is for PE (very strict 2m between each student and there are rules about shared equipment, but I'm unsure of the specifics) and eating at the canteen.

This rule is at a national level, so it's not just my school.[/quote]
What are your rates in terms of numbers for 11-18 year olds? Ours have got worse week on week hugely from September particularly for 15-18 year olds.

@WhyNotMe40

I wonder if I just wear a mask at school - to teach in as well as around school - if I will get bollocked? Currently we are a "no masks" school, even in corridors

Do it. Trust me it will be fine.

It might help my anxiety a bit.
God I need sleep, but I'm too wired