The Forty Second Republic - Lockdown 3 online learning struggles continue

[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

Just tried to do the actual consultation and the link is broken!!

@Cantaloupeisland

I knew it! What the fuck is wrong with the DfE?!

Everything! How much more evidence do you need

I'm not you MrsHP but we sound like we encounter similar problems and similar battles for boundaries! I am going to do the 'note taking' in meetings and even wear my glasses that I always forget to wear to get into character. Though Iggi's actual recording them is a whole new level - I might have to build up to that

I want those lot to be interviewed by the lady who interviewed the dfe head - she was incisive.

schoolsweek.co.uk/rapid-covid-tests-not-authorised-to-keep-close-contacts-in-school-regulator-confirms/

Guardian not giving up

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/15/schools-demand-no-10-explain-unauthorised-use-rapid-covid-tests

'Although the regulator added that using tests in this way is not subject to their approval' 🤔 so does that mean the DfE can crack on and use testing to replace isolation anyway?

I have talked the trainee through overseeing a google classroom and live marking and grading, commenting on and returning work and screen shared with her to show her how to select the students who haven't done work and group email them. Quite proud of myself with my screen sharing and such Does seem like the 22 year old trainee shouldn't be 'I don't like technology' though. What are we doing wrong that even youngsters can't 'read' a screen?

I have then done all of my engagement registers for the week and I have literally shut every single window regarding work. HOD appears to be under the illusion that I will be at a meeting after school on Monday - I won't be. It's outside of my working hours as period 5 is blanked and non directed and slt know because they've already had to take off a cover lesson from that period 5 because I am not employed and have other commitments.

Am I going to turn into a complete bitch?

No, a kickass superhero!

@Cantaloupeisland

'Although the regulator added that using tests in this way is not subject to their approval' 🤔 so does that mean the DfE can crack on and use testing to replace isolation anyway?

Possibly but maybe it would give schools/councils a way to refuse it in place of close contact isolation?

@Piggywaspushed

OMG you couldn't have a MORE biased panel than Viner and Harries!!!

Absolutely.

This chap has quite a lot to say about what a gas-lighting shitstorm this bunch of ‘experts’ meeting will be.

Expect them to ‘prove’ that schools are safe to go back and should never have closed.

I suspect that Jenny Harries will have a lot to answer for later on.

I'm fairly sure councils legal advisors will say no fucking way can we make that litigation proof. I'm not prone to optimism these days but there's no way they're gonna be allowed to bring not isolating contacts in.

For context, the idea of people who have had covid in the recent past not having to isolate as a contact in the nhs is only now being tentatively explored given they should hopefully have some immunity.

Basically it leaves a very solid way for any council, union or school head to argue against the scheme. Only prob would be if the public and MPs don't see the potential harm.

I can easily see the government coming up with some bollocks to persuade the public it's fine. I posted earlier that our local authority had wrote to us advising schools not to use the tests for now but I'm sure that would change if they were put under pressure by government, much like in the cases of school closures

@MrsHerculePoirot

Sometimes deleting the app and reinstalling helps. Also checking it for updates.

@SansaSnark nightmare but nice early Friday finish?!?!

I mean, sort of- I've left some things undone but I will sort them tomorrow. Just can't face any more work this evening. I scratched my car this morning as well and I've just had enough!

Eurgh I'm not sure how much longer I can try to work with DS8. Every fucking thing turns into an argument. Even stuff he says he wants to do. Model student in school. Little fucker at home.

It would only take one decent journalist at a conference to look at his notes (channelling you January) and say, just to confirm, if I'm understanding what has been proposed correctly Mr Whitty, are you saying we no longer need to isolate as a close contact of a positive case and can go and mix with lots of different households? Oh, no hang on, that's not for everyone is it? So you're saying everybody else don't leave the house but if you're aged 11-18 you can travel on public transport in rush hour and enter a crowded building with members of over a thousand other households KNOWING you've been in close contact with a positive case? Are you confirming that's safe practice Mr Whitty?

But we don't have much in the way of journalism at the minute. There's no way any decent medical professional is going to stand up and say that's safe and ok and if they did then workers are also going to say fuck it I can go to work if my kids are going to school etc. It is just arrogant sound off rubbish that can't go through surely.

@Piggywaspushed

This MHRA thing is beginning to smell rotten to me. I smell a cover up.

While you can’t guarantee that any organisation won’t be corrupted I doubt the MHRA would cover this up. The damage to their international reputation would be huge.

I wouldn’t trust the government or DfE not to cover stuff up, but I do trust the MHRA.

I think mine can be a little fucker at home and at school I would offer you a drink but sadly all i have is bud light (as it low cal) but it is also painfully weak.

@TheHoneyBadger

I have talked the trainee through overseeing a google classroom and live marking and grading, commenting on and returning work and screen shared with her to show her how to select the students who haven't done work and group email them. Quite proud of myself with my screen sharing and such Does seem like the 22 year old trainee shouldn't be 'I don't like technology' though. What are we doing wrong that even youngsters can't 'read' a screen?

I have then done all of my engagement registers for the week and I have literally shut every single window regarding work. HOD appears to be under the illusion that I will be at a meeting after school on Monday - I won't be. It's outside of my working hours as period 5 is blanked and non directed and slt know because they've already had to take off a cover lesson from that period 5 because I am not employed and have other commitments.

Am I going to turn into a complete bitch?

I don't think refusing to work outside your contracted hours makes you a bitch!

I also think that's pretty poor from your trainee!

@TheHoneyBadger

I think mine can be a little fucker at home and at school I would offer you a drink but sadly all i have is bud light (as it low cal) but it is also painfully weak.

I've eaten chocolate again. Dieting is not going well

My shopping has arrived so settling down to watch Boris with a crunchie.

Is boris on now? Crunchie sounds lush.

I managed a 40hr fast now drinking bud light. Totally balanced approach 😆

A bud light sounds almost healthy! I am supposed to be dieting. The day the food arrives (and at the end of a crap week) I am choosing to ignore this.

@JanuaryChill

No, a kickass superhero!

This.

Thank you. You lot are either a very bad influence or a very good influence. I think it's the latter.

Sorry if already shared.