The Thirty-eight republic - Covid Carnage - Schools still waiting for test kits

[SantaAssociationRepresentitve]

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

@SansaSnark it appears to be just that!!

A face visor should be used as a replacement for a mask as aerosol droplets can still escape or get in.

No way on earth would I consent to my child being tested by another pupil. Not a chance.

Hmmm wonder what the NEU will say or if it will have any impact.

Welcome @Ulelia
@Evvyjb, that’s horrendous. As a science teacher I have no more qualifications in how to carry out lateral flow testing than an English teacher.
It will make the science teachers more exposed though, as the kids will be mouths open and coughing/ gagging over them so potentially more virions in the science classroom.

I wonder how many councils will defy Gav

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4122390-Harrow-Council-defying-Gavin-Williamson#prettyPhoto

I'm guessing that science labs have non-porous flooring.

Are they suggesting science teachers are to supervise students testing each other?

Oh dear god no. Are we just abandoning teaching them anything, and we just do none stop swabbing?

It probably won’t be an issue. I have a horrid feel the NHS will be overwhelmed in a week and the government will have to have a rethink regarding schools.

Lancashire stood up to the expectation that all primaries would open up in June, but there’s a resounding silence about it now. Tory council leaders backed their DPH. Rates are only slowly going up again this time, but with a lack of clarity as to whether last peak was due to new variant who knows what will happen when they open this time.

I agree @WhenSheWasBad .

I suppose the Science lesson thing could "just" be observe your partner doing it rather than shove a stick up their nose???

That Harrow thread is very interesting.

BBC report about new strain increasing R by up to .7, small crumb of comfort I suppose:

Early data suggested that the virus was spreading more quickly among the under-20s, particularly among secondary school age children, but the latest results indicate that it is more infectious in all age groups.

Prof Axel Gandy, part of the research team, suggested that it may have appeared to spread more easily among school children simply because the early data was collected during the November lockdown, when adults' movements were restricted but schools remained open

@WhenSheWasBad

Are they suggesting science teachers are to supervise students testing each other?

Oh dear god no. Are we just abandoning teaching them anything, and we just do none stop swabbing?

It probably won’t be an issue. I have a horrid feel the NHS will be overwhelmed in a week and the government will have to have a rethink regarding schools.

I think the same.

But regardless, if anyone is asked to do anything they are uncomfortable with- like supervise a class of children swabbing each other, then I think the first step is to ask to see risk assessments and contact your union for advice.

I think we have to hold the line on some of these things, even if it's uncomfortable and our colleagues are going along with it for the sake of not rocking the boat.

@noblegiraffe

I'm guessing that science labs have non-porous flooring.

I suspect this might be relevant too.

Still wouldn't agree to do it!

@Evvyjb does yr SLT / Head of Science have form for batshit ideas?? (Sorry!)

have appeared to spread more easily among school children simply because the early data was collected during the November lockdown, when adults' movements were restricted but schools remained open
No shit, Sherlock. Do these scientists like stating the obvious!!?

Has anyone's school received tests for staff and students yet?

We play a game with the News in our house. Spot The No Shit News Story.
That is today’s. Possibly even the week’s or the month’s......

Oh God, I hadn't thought of glasses! I only wear them for reading but, being an English teacher , that is quite a lot in lessons!

I am allergic to quite a lot of masks fabrics so will now need to shop around ,again...

The tests are all being delivered on Monday. When my schol is shut.

@SantaAssociationRepresentitve

A face visor should be used as a replacement for a mask as aerosol droplets can still escape or get in.

I have no intention of using a face visor instead of a mask - no way. However, I do think it would be easier for my primary age pupils to understand me with a mask with a see-through panel. It was those that I was enquiring about.

Guys, I'm head of English. My 6th form form group are grouped by subject... SCIENCES.

@Piggywaspushed

Oh God, I hadn't thought of glasses! I only wear them for reading but, being an English teacher , that is quite a lot in lessons!

I am allergic to quite a lot of masks fabrics so will now need to shop around ,again...

I have glasses, and obviously wear masks outside home / school.

I have a very specific design that i made myself and like - essentially I use my glasses as a nose piece to jam the top of the mask closed with and it works pretty well.

Salty I currently don't wear aids. I used to but found they just amplified everything and didn't make filtering out voices any easier. I probably should go back to my specialist and see if there is any better tech now as this was a few years ago.

@Evvyjb

Guys, I'm head of English. My 6th form form group are grouped by subject... SCIENCES.

That was a cruel and unusual punishment giving you them 😂 My last form had a lot of further mathematicians in. It was traumatic.

I ahve no sewing skills.

Because of my allergies I have to wear a specific shape and style of mask and suspect this would be the very worst for glasses. These are new glasses and quite loose. I have to take them on and off constantly because I refused varifocals. Fun ahead!