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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

So... What will actually be the situation after next week?

38 replies

GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 09:19

Will they, won't they?

As I understand it, secondary schools will have remote learning for the first week (except exam years), then back to how it was before Christmas. But worse, as we will use unreliable LFTs instead of isolating close contacts. Making the bubble system ridiculous (so a lot of schools are dropping it)

Primary - no change.

Still no masks in classrooms, still no social distancing, still no extra funding for those in classrooms with unopenable windows for air filters or similar.

Am I right? Or do you think the government/DfE might actually do something?

OP posts:

ducksfizz · 26/12/2020 09:55

As a KS1 teacher, I'm so upset we're not even considered when we spend much more time in close proximity to the children.

izzy2076 · 26/12/2020 10:02

I don't think any of us will be back in this January. It would so obviously be carnage with the infection rates as they are.

I don't think they'd dare....

Original poster

GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 10:13

Duckfizz - absolutely! And nursery / childcare / EYFS

izzy2016 - well that would be too sensible for our respected and valued DfE

OP posts:

WhenSheWasBad · 26/12/2020 10:40

Lord only knows what will happen.

Really not looking forward to trying to teach live lessons whilst home educating my own kids.

Original poster

GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 10:49

@WhenSheWasBad

Lord only knows what will happen.

Really not looking forward to trying to teach live lessons whilst home educating my own kids.

Me neither. My 4yo is a wrecking ball whirlwind.

The uncertainty is making me very anxious

OP posts:

Todayisgood2 · 26/12/2020 11:10

It's the uncertainty that I hate, I need to mental prepare for 2xdc home schooling and online teaching my class so I want to know but I think January will bring the announcement of what will happen.

izzy2076 · 26/12/2020 11:47

@Todayisgood2

It's the uncertainty that I hate, I need to mental prepare for 2xdc home schooling and online teaching my class so I want to know but I think January will bring the announcement of what will happen.

Yes. Knowing that it could be one of two horrific situatuons: in school which will be carnage, or at home which for me is equally if not more stressful as it means longer days chasing kids/worrying about kids/ teaching kids/being a senco and guilt around ignoring the education of my own kids. I want to know which of the two evils it'll be so I can mentally prepare myself.

reefedsail · 26/12/2020 12:12

I really think Primary schools will be back exactly as they were.

PumpkinPie2016 · 26/12/2020 15:18

@reefedsail I think you're right. Very little has been said about primaries.

I teach secondary- obviously currently planning on week 1 online (apart from exam years) and then all in school. Have a feeling that will change though.

If we are online longer, I just hope we can deliver the lessons from school which is what we are doing in the first week. I am rural so my internet isn't great which makes trying to deliver lessons from home quite tricky.

I would just like some certainty though but realistically I don't think that will happen.

DecemberStar · 26/12/2020 16:40

There was a No10/DfE meeting postponed on 24th, so it depends when that happens I think. And what infection /death rates are like by then.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 26/12/2020 17:08

I'm going for 'chaotic'.

Original poster

GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 20:00

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

I'm going for 'chaotic'.

Well, with the DfE in charge - chaotic is a given!

OP posts:

Dogsaresomucheasier · 26/12/2020 20:58

I live in tier 4 and work in tier 3. I have a nasty feeling I’ll be expected to go in but have mine off. Last time they could go to school but there was no wrap-around care available.

And I doubt there will be any announcements before 2nd Jan at the earliest.

Dogsaresomucheasier · 26/12/2020 20:59

And the uncertainty is the thing that’s really doing over my mental health at the moment!

wasgoingmadinthecountry · 26/12/2020 21:37

I think primaries will be in as ever. I hate hate hate it and feel as though I'm waiting to catch it and die. (I'm older and asthmatic.) I've been isolating all Christmas (day 9) as a staff member tested positive at the start of the holiday. We're being sacrificed. I teach in a tiny school with inadequate facilities (one staff toilet between all staff), I'm on break duty every single day and I'm genuinely scared for my life. Would leave right now if I could afford it. Honestly. Rate is 880 here.

Subordinateclause · 27/12/2020 07:25

Wow a rate of 880, that is truly horrendous. I think it depends a little on how well the Tier 4 restrictions stop the spread of the new variant - whilst rates are horrifying in the south east, where I am and in all the surrounding areas they are lower than they have been (under 150 for miles around). Honestly, I would rather be in my primary school than at home, and I say that as someone heavily pregnant. But I'd like there to be lower expectations for covering the curriculum - we are lucky to have plenty of outdoor space and our rural children are used to being outside a lot, but some aspects of KS2 work just require practising say maths calculations sitting down at a desk. If I could have them outside more without book and data scrutinies hanging over me (and I'd say our school is fairly relaxed about them as schools go) that would help.

Subordinateclause · 27/12/2020 07:27

I fully anticipate the government to announce something on 3rd Jan though 🙄 and us being expected to deliver online learning the very next day with no prep time. No I'm not spending my holiday prepping when I already prepared work to be IN the classroom, back when they were threatening Greenwich schools with court for closing.

Original poster

GleamingBaubles · 27/12/2020 07:38

@wasgoingmadinthecountry

That rate is indeed horrendous! We have rates in the 300s in my school's catchment area, and I think that's bad enough! I genuinely think it's time for a Health and Safety act, section 44 walkout unless schools get proper mitigations.

OP posts:

Hercwasonasnowball · 27/12/2020 08:40

I think we'll see secondary online for longer.

If the government had any ounce of forward planning, they'd announce a 2 week "half term" in Feb where ALL schools go online (aside from KW and vulnerable and possibly v low rate areas). This would mean people could plan childcare. Government could allow an extra childcare bubble for the week so one family could make a reciprocal bubble just for the week.

I feel for primary, however I completely understand that many parents rely on them being open (me included!).

lonelyplanet · 27/12/2020 08:43

I'm worried too and continually watching the news as I want to know what the plans are. I like to be organised with my lesson planning but don't want to waste too much time now on making resources I can't use. They need to make their mind up and let us know. I'm so anxious about opening as normal.

Cracklefraggle · 27/12/2020 09:27

Read this on TES yesterday
www.google.com/amp/s/www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-school-opening-exclusive-schools-decision-expected-after-christmas%3famp
Was sure I'd read 30th for new date of meeting but can't find that bit now

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 27/12/2020 09:55

They are pushing teachers up the vaccination queue, cos then this issue goes away.

winechateauxjoy · 27/12/2020 10:01

My prediction is that secondaries will not be back at all in January. I just don't see how there is any chance of getting the spread of the virus down without doing that. I think Feb will see secondaries back to school - and then on a reduced entry at first - year group by year group whilst they keep an eye on the infection rates.

I think primaries will stay open because of childcare issues. It's wrong but I think the backlash would be more than Boris is prepared to face.

I have been predicting for months that England will have to come in line with wales and Scotland with exams. I cannot see GCSE or A Level exams going ahead - giving a couple of weeks extra before they start is going to make no difference whatsoever to those many, many Year 11 and 13 who have missed weeks from school already. There is no way that it can be fair to make all students sit the same exams regardless of their school experience this year. I was due to mark for AQA this year but I just cannot see that happening.

wasgoingmadinthecountry · 27/12/2020 10:10

@subordinateclause exactly! I think we could teach a robust but slimmed down curriculum without the pressure of Ofsted (ours is due) requiring us to deliver quite so much of everything. There just isn't time with staggered starts, hand washing,extra flourish time etc. Trying to fit everything in every week creates a huge amount of the pressure.

wasgoingmadinthecountry · 27/12/2020 10:13

It's currently 924 near my daughter's secondary school (SE)! She's Y12 and finds online learning pretty successful.

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