The Thirty-Sixth Republic - New Year approaching, no clear idea of what is happening next week and has Gav been sacked yet?

[SantaAssociationRepresentitve]

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I'm an exams officer (amongst lots of other roles - what used to be 3 people's jobs before the school run out of money...) There's no way I'm doing testing on top of all my other work (which I'd still have to do as well!). Fortunately my school are very reasonable and I don't think would ask me to, and I'm in Unison if they do... I'm pretty amenable with doing 'stuff' that's helpful in school even if not strictly my job but supervising medical testing is an ask too far!
We have a good team of invigilators but they're mostly past retirement age - they were happy to come in the November resit exams because these were small numbers and they could socially distance. Doubt very much they'd want a day spent supervising students swabbing!

This is before all the logistical issues that everyone else has mentioned... in a rural area you can't just get all your students in before school because they come on a bus!

We attempted to test 2 year groups back when the army were in doing the lfts. The kids had just come back from isolating as year groups.

I'm sure we had to put the 2 years together in the canteen (probably sat on each others knees) as the hall was being used for the tests (usually bubble area for one of the year groups).

Some kids didn't get consent so straight to lessons. Some had consent online but it didn't register so mix in canteen for a bit then back to lessons. Some tested positive so sent home. Some tested negative so, after mixing with positives in canteen, back to lessons.

Took the army, most of SLT and pastoral, much of the morning and massive disruption to lessons but obv will run like clockwork this time

Message from school - don't know what the fk is going on so as you were.

We have a job for our exam invigilators in January already (and an extra use for the hall) - we have exams, real ones (not mocks), starting next week for BTEC students in y12/13. So I think they will be quite busy enough...

Hello! Thank you Staff.

Who is this loon?!

Yeah, schools that do Btecs are a bit screwed, aren't they? Mocks can be moved, actual exams not so much.

Forgot to say: I will be pretty furious if just tier 4 schools close. Our rates, whilst not rising as much, are much higher than LOADS of places in tier 4.

My head has sent a few emails detailing the plans for testing as they are at the minute. He said no to participating in the pilot testing scheme which, funnily enough, was supposed to be next week. Then the government dropped the mass testing farce on us in that last week and he's sorting it out to start on Monday (staff) and Tuesday (years 11, 13 & KW children), then the other years are being given times between Wednesday and Friday to arrive for their tests. He doesn't seem to know how inaccurate these tests are.

@MsAwesomeReindeer

My head has sent a few emails detailing the plans for testing as they are at the minute. He said no to participating in the pilot testing scheme which, funnily enough, was supposed to be next week. Then the government dropped the mass testing farce on us in that last week and he's sorting it out to start on Monday (staff) and Tuesday (years 11, 13 & KW children), then the other years are being given times between Wednesday and Friday to arrive for their tests. He doesn't seem to know how inaccurate these tests are.

I was hoping heads would just start to refuse .

What is your head doing about consent forms??

We do actually have a space to use for the testing, as we have more than one sports hall. So the gym and the assembly hall are in use for the mocks, and the sports hall will be used for the testing. I think they're planning on holding the kids who are waiting for tests/results in the tennis courts, the kids have been told to dress warmly as they will be outside for a considerable time. We're pretty lucky that we have the buildings/facilities to set this up.

Consent forms were sent by email on the last day of term. The parents can consent electronically or send in a paper copy with the child on their test day.

I was hoping heads would say no too, but the decision not to participate in the pilot scheme was in the local press and the comments from the public/parents were brutal. I don't think he could cope with the public vilification if he said no to this.

@MsAwesomeReindeer

Consent forms were sent by email on the last day of term. The parents can consent electronically or send in a paper copy with the child on their test day.

I was hoping heads would say no too, but the decision not to participate in the pilot scheme was in the local press and the comments from the public/parents were brutal. I don't think he could cope with the public vilification if he said no to this.

Wow.

Did the consent letter make it clear that testing was only 50% accurate and would ultimately replace self isolation of positive contacts?

I will not be consenting for my DC.

Thanks for the new thread @SantaAssociationRepresentitve.

I have no idea. I only know the forms were sent because my year 12s told me. I haven't seen any indication that the head himself knows that the tests are only 50% accurate.

My goodwill has also vanished. I've decided that I will be fully off until I am healthy even if I just have a cold from now on instead of soldiering on in. I'll test for ANY likely covid symptoms and they'll just have to suck it up. And when I do get it (I will - we are in the fastest rising area of tier 4- the local graphs are awful) I shall do fuck all on google classroom and be off for as long as I need to be.

My local fb page is already moaning about secondaries opening later and staggered. They'd pitchfork us if primaries shut. Some of the kids in my class would be chucked over the fence regardless even if we did ; such is their parents desperation to fob them off on anyone else. Most of the kids we had in last time, aside from those on the register, were in because we knew they'd just be left roaming around feral if not.

I am ordering a shit ton of vitamins today and a new book trolley to make myself feel better.

Having a very heated discussion with dp about testing for our kids. He just has no idea how unsafe any of this is. And no way do I want my kids getting told they have tested positive and being put in some holding area.
I agree about the kick in the teeth for the north of only tier 4 go online. Although don’t think we will be far behind.
More schools asking for volunteers on their social media pages today.

We've advertised for paid help with testing so our HT Has gone with it. Not a surprise really.

I'm listening to the Jeremy vine show and raging!! There does seem to be a twist in public support towards vaccinating teachers though.

Us4Them are fine with vaccinating teachers so they're bigging up that one.

Suggest vaccinating their kids though...

The schools announcement will be tomorrow, along with the review of Tiers I reckon.

And then a few people who have been going 'happy with schools closing in Tier 4 but staying open in other tiers' thinking they're sitting pretty will have a rude shock.

I think all parents and heads should read this before consenting to go along with lateral flow tests instead of self isolation

educontrarianblog.com/2020/12/29/lateral-flow-tests-in-schools/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Thanks for the thread.

Yes @phlebasconsidered I'm with you on that. My TA was really ill with covid just before Christmas (she was off and caught it from her self-isolating child). She had no energy and had to crawl to the kitchen to get food. Awful. I will not be dragging myself back in and I'll be getting a test, lying about having one of the big three if needs be.

We're heading for Hogmanay here which is big, bigger than Christmas in terms of socialising for many, big drinking time too and no one is as cautious with a few drinks in them. I'm really glad I'm not back in on the 6th as previously planned, I expect a sharp rise in cases post new year

Sky News not really buying the military bit. Dermot just said 'apparently' twice in one sentence!

Tory MP calling for schools not to open. He says 'we now know children spread it'. Roger, there is no 'now' for teachers!!

Tiers are set for review tomorrow. Wouldn't surprise me if they put the vast majority of England into tier 4 and then announce that tier 4 schools are moving online. Might be wrong of course but I think they are holding out for tier review day before making further announcements about schools.

Had a nice morning- didn't end up walking as we got ready and then DS wanted to sledge in the field so we did that. Have come in now to get warm!