The Thirty-Third Republic - End of term and DfE threats- cheers all!

[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 staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

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 booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

@OytheBumbler
Do any schools still do that though? Every school I've worked in has allowed one day for Christmas stuff (whichever day the party for your class is on) and the rest of the time it's a normal full timetable.

@OytheBumbler

Ah you see in Primary it is ESSENTIAL that children spend this week doing Christmas crafts and arsing about with glitter.

Tbh it's nice and normal and fun except for the fact it's Christmas next week and they'll all be mixing with vulnerable GP's and families.

Is it even Christmas in a primary school if there isn’t glitter?

No we're full on Christmas this week. Christmas maths puzzles and writing Christmas adverts for literacy then crafts in the afternoon.

In a normal year, we'd be doing parent assemblies, carol concerts and nativities so it's not really any different in terms of planning.

I just feel bitter that I'm having to put myself at risk for children who dont have any respect.

I'm a bit 'there' too.

We did normal lessons until 2.15, then did half an hour of free choice that could have involved some Christmas colouring/drawing. Have got another two days of the same - whole class reading, maths, writing, PSHE, geography - but it's xmas jumper day tomorrow, and party time on Thursday, so who knows how useful it will be.

Of course the DfE says 'vital'.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

I played the 'Pirate Game' as a 'Harry Potter Game' during lockdown a lot - we had Potter obsessed vulnerable kids.

OMG Pirate Game. I'd forgotten about that!

Going to do that with my Y7s tomorrow.

Oh, I just saw that the test stuff is being rolled out to primary schools in the spring term. Hahahahahaaaa.... how long have I got to hand in my notice? Is it Feb?

Just read the Schoolsweek article.

Sounds like it's rather more about creating social media opportunities than about keeping staff and children safe and in school! Weird.

What a huge thing for a head to have to set up, alongside everything else happening at present.

Some gems from the latest education data report, link published above (piggy I think):

The publication previously pre-announced for 22nd December has been cancelled. The next publication will be 12 January 2021 and data for 11 to 18 December will be included in this publication to ensure a consistent – full – timeseries is available, including the end of the autumn term. This will enable a fuller explanation of attendance trends which are complicated by schools starting their Christmas break or having INSET days by Thursday 17 December.

Data sharing
Data collected from the Education Settings Survey is shared as management information across national and local government for operational purposes. As part of the data share we explicitly highlight that the information is for internal purposes only and should not be shared more widely. The limitations of the data, which include variables with missing values, responses not being validated or issues being thoroughly investigated are highlighted to ensure recipients are aware that decisions should not be made in isolation and the risks of making conclusions based on the data alone. We engage with local users to try to prevent the data being shared inappropriately. Where we identify misuse of the data we work with those in receipt of the data to understand how it happened and to reduce the likelihood it will happen again.

Information shared across government includes variables that we have made a conscious decision not to share more widely at the present moment for a number of reasons including the quality of the data which could misinform or confuse users, however, they may provide useful insight for operational purposes, particularly at a local level.
The department is continuously reviewing what and how information collected from the survey is disseminated and we will endeavour to publish data at the earliest opportunity.

Is it me or does this basically mean "We hide stuff, OK?"

It’s a clear threat.

“Where we identify misuse of the data we work with those in receipt of the data to understand how it happened and to reduce the likelihood it will happen again”

If you have access to the good data, not this bland data, and you leak it, we will hunt you down and break your legs.

I just put out an advert for parents to volunteer to do covid testing in schools.

I wonder how many of the ‘I’d be happy to work in a school right now’ crowd will be up for it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4107652-The-government-wants-YOU-to-volunteer-as-a-school-covid-tester

Today, I have mostly been swearing. My SLT have decided to be complete dickheads to end the term. Have spent the day consoling crying and despondent staff. Fucking dickheads. Yes the progress is a bit shit...er...didn't you notice that the children missed a whole load of school and then have been bloody bonkers this term? No you didn't...thought you'd just blame your younger more inexperienced staff who are all exhausted and dreading a shit Christmas separated from their families. Dickheads.

Christmas everything all week at my primary too. And some of last week too. Unfortunately some of my class seem to forget all the maths they know when there are elves involved in the word problem.

We had our class party today... Realised that it is literally the only party I'm going to this year.

[quote noelgiraffe]I just put out an advert for parents to volunteer to do covid testing in schools.

I wonder how many of the ‘I’d be happy to work in a school right now’ crowd will be up for it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4107652-The-government-wants-YOU-to-volunteer-as-a-school-covid-tester[/quote]
OMG - no coordination amongst the muppets. Do you think any of them have thought about safeguarding?

I woke up wondering whether any other country in the world has school staff doing daily testing of large numbers of schoolchildren and then the contact tracing. Does anyone know?

@Piggyinblankets

I woke up wondering whether any other country in the world has school staff doing daily testing of large numbers of schoolchildren and then the contact tracing. Does anyone know?

Not sure what happens in Cyprus where I have family. I’ll ask today.

Hope today is better squashed.

What shits squash.hope today is better.

Bit fed up about the "pulling my kids out of school today" posts. I wish! And just cancelled seeing my parents for one day over the break. Too risky.

Hi ho, hi ho...

How many are awaiting test results? Fingers crossed for you

Hope everyone has an alright day today.

I'm teaching properly periods 2 and 4, with some "fun" lessons planned for period 1 and 3. I think my y9s will be a nightmare with it, but they have tried really hard this week and got lots done.

In terms of swabbing, it would be interesting to see what the kids who persistently refuse to wear a mask would do. Has anyone thought through the scenario where a kid is sent in by parents then refuses the test? Would they be sent home again?

The plan of testing close contacts with a 50% accurate test feels so dangerous to me. It's obviously being done to reduce school absence, but I think the long term domino effect will be more staff getting ill and more schools closing that way.

The sensible way to use the tests would obviously be for surveillance of the general school population, but as that would reveal more asymptomatic cases, they won't go for that.

I can't decide if they are going for herd immunity by stealth or it's just about egos?

I think its mainly egos! They dont give a shit about anyone but themselves and their mates. Hence only getting testing in schools sorted once London was hit!

Noble your post made me laugh out loud this morning. I mean its not even funny really it's a travesty. Thanks for making me chuckle though.

Dd is in year 6 and seems to be full on Christmas this week.
We've been banned from playing the pirate game . I used to love the chaos it created in every lesson on the last day. But I do agree that it's just not mathematical enough for secondary kids. It would be a mathematical challenge for my nurture groups but a) there aren't enough of them to be able to play it properly and b) they would take the piss with their behaviour and it's entirely possible they would get physically violent with each other over it.

So I'm constructing snowflakes. That's got loads of maths in it, I've talked about line symmetry, rotational symmetry, we've constructed hexagons with compass and ruler, reflected in a mirror line, and rotated. The kids barely even noticed they were doing so much maths, because they think they're doing "fun". Even my hod was impressed with what we produced, and commented that his kids can't draw a straight line with a ruler so how on earth was I getting weaker kids to construct such accurate and beautiful things.

Just spent another £70 on fpp3 masks for school for DH and I? Isn't there something about money back for work clothes/uniforms from somewhere? I've spent around £200 for masks, gloves, sanitiser, sprays for us both since September... if this shit show is going to go on until next Summer I'm sure there was somewhere we can claim for this. Does anyone have any ideas?

FFP3

The only time I got reimbursed was when I caught a nice frock on a sticking out nail and the Dep head at the time (sigh, those were the days) gave me a form and I claimed for the cost of the dress.

I think the masks and spray etc should already be paid for by the school? If you are supplying above and beyond what they are giving you they probably won't pay you back. What other jobs don't have expenses...?

Do we remember the halcyon days of August when we were told schools could exclude students for breaking Covid rules? LOL