Anyone else heard NOTHING from their school?

[manicinsomniac]

All holiday? As either teacher or parent (I'm both).

Broke up on the 11th. Had a casual conversation with the deputy during the first week of the holidays where I asked if she thought we should be prepping online lessons for the first couple of weeks. She laughed at me and said def not. I emailed just before Christmas suggesting a date change into the summer term for a major school event I'm running and was told to keep in mind as a plan B but essentially not to be ridiculous.

Since then - radio silence.

I know the news only officially came out today and we do have complications (school has some primary year groups and some secondary year groups and a large number of our pupils live in an area where primary schools are remaining closed) but most people seem to have heard something - even if it's only 'ok everyone, don't panic, we're on it and will let you know what's happening asap.'

I've got nothing. Anyone else?

They only just found out at the same time as us last night. I can't imagine schools can start planning anything until they have been sent the official guidence. Since Christmas the school opening rules have changed twice, my only thought is I hope my headteacher is managing to get some sort of break with his family. I assume day 1 will still be inset, so everything can be figured out then, I'm not stressing.

I'm with you OP. Not hearing anything at all since two days before we broke up is increasing stress and is very different from DS's school who ahve sent five newlsetters over Christmas. my friend tells me there has been no comms with parents either. Also v different from DH's school where comms are regular.

HTs deserve a holiday, sure, but their contracts are actually different form ours and min HT earns in excess of 100k a year. It's not new, though.. He emailed us twice during the entire school term previous and once during lockdown. We don't have INSET so we really do need soem info!

Give them time op. The school SLT might have to meet to make plans. The news only came out yesterday evening.

Give it time. We were told before we finished that it was online for 7-10 and 12 and in person for 11/13 for week 1 (as was the guidance at the time).

Nothing since but remember that Heads and SLT heard the news yesterday at the same time as everybody else. Then they will have received guidance from the DfE which has already been slightly altered.

I know it's frustrating not knowing but they will be working on it.

I don't think the OP is just meaning yesterday's announcements. I wouldn't necessarily expect to have heard about that especially since Gav has u turned three times but to have not heard a single thing does increase stress. I think unless you are in a schol with an entirely uncommunicative SLT (and unsupportive in my case) you probably can't empathise.

(as was the guidance at the time). errmmm. No? That only became guidance yesterday!

@Piggyinblankets sorry I mean that before Christmas the guidance was that Y11 and Y13 would attend school in person with everyone else online. Obviously that has now changed and they are also not attending

I feel for people who have an unsupportive SLT it's hard on everyone but at least if SLT are helpful and understanding that's half the battle.

Yes, thought that after I posted. We remote taught on the last day, didn't take the optional INSET and that has led to no one in schol knowing anything!

Same, I was isolating/remote teaching at end of term so had a few emails, but nothing since then....

Monday is inset day and we have a packed timetable with groups doing face to face training in different places and different groups. We've tier 4!

@Piggyinblankets and @Flyingaway16 that's rubbish of your schools. We didn't do the INSET day but at least we got some info.

You would hope your packed INSET day would now be altered but something tells me it won't be

My KS3 co-ordinator has messaged me to say his wife has tested positive so he will now have to isolate for 10 days. At least he will teach live from home.

Even a message to say planning is underway is better than silence when it comes to reassuring people. Total silence for us.

Just got an email now. We're being asked for our opinions but the head is inclined to shut for most and go online for much longer than the govt guidance says. I'm actually really surprised and upset. I thought we'd at least have the primary years back on 4th.

Our SLT are total workaholics normally. They have their normal meetings in holidays and everything. Can't normally complain about lack of comms, to be fair. This holiday has been an anomaly when it feels like we need contact more than usual. But I do understand that it must be very stressful for them. They aren't making final decisions till end of today so I imagine phones must be ringing off the hook from parents.

Happy NYE

I teach in 2 schools. Secondary where I work 0.5 sent out an email at 17:08 yesterday saying "watch this space, SLT in today and another email will come out to clarify matters later on Thursday (today) or Friday". I think that's perfectly reasonable given the no notice from our beloved shit-shower of a government. Parents have been overwhelmingly supportive over the last few months.

Nothing yet from my primary school. We're now in Tier 3 so I expect they will be open as usual. They have INSET on Monday which, although isn't one of my working days, will I'm sure have information which I will then get later in the day. The Deputy is brilliant at keeping me in the loop.

I feel really sorry for both SLTs, especially the secondary. Just before October half term, the Head remarked that he hadn't had any downtime since February: OFSTED, COVID, remote learning, public exams fiasco, reopening with bubbles, kids being kept at home.... Another holiday ruined by that total twat Gav and his lying henchman Gove.

We are waiting for head’s email. We may well be in but online delivery

I drive pass Tesco and Sainsbury’s today - carnage - people queuing to get into car parks, parks full of families meeting up and little SD.

What pandemic?

I just looked and HT has e-mailed, with apologies for bothering us during the holiday, a few changes for Monday and a whopping letter to the parents attached so that we know what is being said.

The letter includes a reminder to parents that staff should not be abused for just doing what they are told!