The Fortieth Republic - Schools are safe but they are vectors so go online

[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

But then, I am of the generation which did "easy" GCSEs and A-levels with loads of coursework ;)

I think I am, too. 100% coursework for GCSE English and allowed to take annotated texts in for A level!

@Monkeytennis97 brilliant!

@Appuskidu

But then, I am of the generation which did "easy" GCSEs and A-levels with loads of coursework ;)

I think I am, too. 100% coursework for GCSE English and allowed to take annotated texts in for A level!

I did have GCSE English exams, but I remember being allowed to take the texts in.

I think the idea of trying to analyse a text from memory is mad. How is that a useful skill?

Serial testing starting to be used in corporate workplaces too (as Boris implied with his original Moonshot speech, I think:

No longer self isolating. How can this be right? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4129860-No-longer-self-isolating-How-can-this-be-right

I'm older than most of you and had O levels, no such thing as coursework

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

Just had a good cry for 10 minutes

Yeah I did that last night. Feel much better today.

Same here.

Just got this reply from the Nas

schools should not have more staff on site at any one time then is necessary to ensure safe staff/pupil ratios. We would expect schools to establish rotas to manage minimum staffing levels.
If you are teaching pupils who are at home and not on site then you should not be expected to come into school to do this.
Our remote teaching guidance sets out some advice on teaching remotely. www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/health-safety/coronavirus-guidance/arrangements-for-remote-teaching-learning-support.html
If you have further concerns about specific aspects of teaching remotely which are not covered in the guidance you can contact our member advice team at [email protected]

@JanuaryChill

I'm older than most of you and had O levels, no such thing as coursework

I've got both

UNISON have emailed members outlining their current guidance for schools, nurseries, SEN and refuting Gav's claim that the unions have admitted their previous guidance was wrong. No, they've withdrawn it as it referred to the time when schools were completely open! Now members' safety depends on their local situation.

Our extremely proper head has referred to GW's "despicable" move in inviting parents to complain about online provision to Ofsted, and told us about a parent who's contacted her to assure her that she's contacted Ofsted to praise our provision.

My DH was the last year of O levels and still complains loudly when anyone will listen (we try not to!) that they cut half the content out of the course the year after he did them!

I'm tired today. I'd forgotten how tiring staring at a screen is.

Our local hospital has 350 patients waiting for a bed. One in the next county has 950.
This is not going well. Parents have overwhelmed local primary schools with demand for places.

@TheHoneyBadger

Definitely fuck that Malbec you can't be made to go in on a day off. You can't even be made to test. I declined consent and you can withdraw if needs be.

I've been virtually live marking all day and dealing with emails from students, parents and teachers. I should be able to switch off for the weekend work wise.

I'm at 3 days alcohol free now. Was relieved to find I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms therefore I will leave for everyone rather than booze.

I was definitely drinking a bit too much over Christmas.

Dry January’s very much needed this year.

I’m so tired, one of my year 7s actually said Miss, you look tired in the teams chat box.
He’s a sweet kid, apologised and promised better use of the chat function in future.

Monkey how come?

Name change :)

Spent all day dealing with toddler illnesses.

He's had on and off temperatures so we got a test and then dealing over the phone with another now ongoing issue which we really needed to be seen in person about.

Not much remote learning happening for Ds1 who I suspect will refuse when toddler around.

We had snow, but v slushy. It's like a deep slush puppy everywhere.

Body completely crashed at 1:30 after the sleepless nights and stress of the week and hasn't recovered yet. Can't wait for bed!

I think the idea of trying to analyse a text from memory is mad. How is that a useful skill?
Isn’t it that a text has to sing to your soul and leave an indelible impression? Which was a tough ask for Frost’s The Hired Man, I’ll admit.

@chocolateisavegetable

It still has the catch-all phrase "those who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home"

It does clarify this is up to the school to decide. I think we're using this to try and get some of our more vulnerable children in.

I think I am, too. 100% coursework for GCSE English and allowed to take annotated texts in for A level!

Think I'm the same as you Appu!

@TrashedWarrior

I think I am, too. 100% coursework for GCSE English and allowed to take annotated texts in for A level!

Think I'm the same as you Appu!

Did you get given a shiny red Record of Achievement folder as well?!

I put all my ‘very important’ certificates in mine and the bloody ink has come off the paper and onto the plastic

What a busy week and I’ve missed catching up with you all.
A full time live lesson teaching timetable x2 (inc DH) plus 5 year old at home with her schooling (we didn’t want to take up a space because we wanted her home safe (another self isolation period would be a risk and we hate not having daily fresh air and there are 18 kids in her class of 31 going in as it is!!)
We’ll do most of her remote learning work this weekend (as many working parents who are moaning should consider).

Getting sick of Teams!!!

Anyway, I’ve read back a few pages:

I agree that so much falls on schools to fix when many agencies (social services, CAMHS etc) get let off the hook in MSM.

I too am sick of the already predictable threads: Half complaining not enough work or live lessons and the other half complaining too much work/live lessons.

Lastly, I just wanted to say that you all have helped me get through this challenging week and I am very very grateful.

My school is running the full normal timetable with live lessons.

Has anyone’s school mentioned what the plan is if a teach is sick. It’s not been takes about in our school and I don’t want it to look like I’m planning a sickie

I just like to plan and I’d rather know that plan before I get sick, rather than find out when I’m very poorly.

Did you get given a shiny red Record of Achievement folder as well?!

I have one! My English GCSE wasn’t 100% coursework though. I did mine in 1997.

Memories

Just got the email from NASUWT about 'Vaccinate to Educate' campaign. Any thoughts? Will it work?

We had a you are failing my child on Day 2. I’d like to think it was a record but I suspect it isn’t.

Record Of Achievements. Now there’s a blast from the past. Funnily enough no one asked me for it. Ever. But I do still have it, just in case.....

@WhenSheWasBad

My school is running the full normal timetable with live lessons.

Has anyone’s school mentioned what the plan is if a teach is sick. It’s not been takes about in our school and I don’t want it to look like I’m planning a sickie

I just like to plan and I’d rather know that plan before I get sick, rather than find out when I’m very poorly.

Where possible (as in when timetable matches up) we will add the pupils from that class to another one going live. If no other class going on at same time, as we record our live lessons, we will share our finished lesson with that class.