The Forty - Eight Republic - countdown for DfE media agency to wake up

[StaffRepFeistyClub]

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

I wish the announcement re schools was today - it’s making me anxious that it’s happening after the start of term - even though it’s only a day. I’m not sure why.

I know what you mean smile, I think it's partly due to the joke that was the first day of term in January and partly because we have inset tomorrow and it feels pointless to use time making plans that may be completely wrong by the end of the day.

I wish it was today too : I have a full day tomorrow and will be distracted and on edge all day..

Thanks for the replies re LFT testing post Covid. Ours are "voluntary" too but will discuss with Head. Also interesting about waiting 4 weeks for vaccine. DH is in next group to be called up and we were thinking about that.

And noble I'm late to the party, but giraffes can't dance? I'm surprised nobody suggested that you just need a different tune. Or am I the only KS1 person here?

Mrsbrown yes I was gutted to find we'd got covid 2 weeks away from being offered the vaccine, especially since I have been on unpaid leave since January to make sure I didn't bring it back from school.

@KatherineOfGaunt
Michael Rosen made me cry (in a good way)! Isn’t he lovely?

Forgot to say: I don't see the point of LFTs as I don't go anywhere but school. I'm still taking them. That old compliance thing again, innit?

@Mrsbrownsgargoyle our LFT protocol says we have to ask if people have had a positive test and if it was within 90 days then they cannot be tested.

Professor Andrew Hayward on LBC whonis a member of a sub group of sage said March 8th would be reckless.

So does that mean the government will ignore them?

Who is!

@RigaBalsam

Professor Andrew Hayward on LBC whonis a member of a sub group of sage said March 8th would be reckless.

So does that mean the government will ignore them?

Of course they will. I have no trust in this government. It'll be all back in in the 8th.

@RandomGrammarPun

Forgot to say: I don't see the point of LFTs as I don't go anywhere but school. I'm still taking them. That old compliance thing again, innit?

I’m going nowhere but school but I’m not doing them until they become compulsory and I’ve no choice.

Current feed of 'Live News' from Beeb, reporting on Marr show where the SAGE professor, Hancock and Lammy all discuss schools. Yup they're ignoring the science, including concerns about the new variants.

(Also 😔 Jo Whiley....)

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-56144834

Even Keir Starmer is saying he wants everyone back on the 8th, if my Covid brain has it right. You're such a disappointment, Keir.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/schools-reopening-teachers-in-england-take-on-no-10-over-big-bang-plan-8q7hx2536

NAHT in the ST

@Mrsbrownsgargoyle

Even Keir Starmer is saying he wants everyone back on the 8th, if my Covid brain has it right. You're such a disappointment, Keir.

You may be right however apparently what he said was "with appropriate mitigations" - so it depends how you interpret that. Sounds like each side is claiming him for their own at the moment.

So glad to hear that I'm not the only one who wishes the announcement was today not tomorrow, neither am I the only one who feels like they've dodged being tested in school so far but might have to do it this week. One of my main issues is how do I leave the students I'm supposed to be supervising in the library for an indeterminate length of time? I mean I do nip out occasionally (they're Y9/10/11) but I don't know how long I'd be.

Sorry to interrupt the ‘back to schools’ talk but has anyone got an idea what I can comment on tomorrow at Yr 8 Parents Evening for a Performing Arts class who I see once a fortnight and most lessons have been held remotely?!

Keir seems to be excelling at appearing to agree with both sides. He may well be mentioning appropriate mitigations, but I am unconvinced that when the updated ‘return to school’ guidance is published (on the 7th?) the bit about ‘masks will not be required in the classroom even when social distancing is not possible’ will be any different and I can’t imagine Keir will do or say much then.

I’ve always voted anti-conservative (often Labour, depending on where I lived) but the high hopes I had for him are dashed every time he says something non-committal about schools.

mother

Brief comment on anything they’ve done in person, comment on engagement with remote learning, ask parents how they’ve been getting on remotely, any questions, looking forward to seeing them bla bla blaaaa.

Keir Starmer is being really wet when it comes to schools. Of course we all want them back, as a priority, but it’s no use without either much, much lower rates of infection and hospital inpatients than we currently have or some further mitigations in schools. People seem to conveniently forget that it was last March and April that figures first rocketed. The virus certainly isn’t scared of spring.

Thanks @SmileEachDay, good idea focussing on remote engagement.

Sorry for Fail link but summer schools and extended days are back in the press:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9283321/Pupils-attend-catch-classes-summer-schools-given-hundreds-millions.html

Keir Starmer is a useless pile of pants when it comes to schools and covid.

In fact, worse than useless. Schools back 'no ifs, no buts' meant 'no mitigation measures is fine so long as they're back'.

[quote motherrunner]Sorry for Fail link but summer schools and extended days are back in the press:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9283321/Pupils-attend-catch-classes-summer-schools-given-hundreds-millions.html[/quote]
Why is it when they talk about forcing teachers to work thorough their holidays, this is the comment that is made by the press... ‘Any move to require teachers to work during the summer is likely to meet resistance from unions’

No mention of pay, widespread dismantling of teacher terms and conditions, recompense for holidays people have already booked or parental wishes for their children to be in school all summer!

I have a really horrible feeling that the announcement re schools is going to be so awful tomorrow-with extended days, early starts, reduced holidays and increased pupil testing (academic, not covid!), that this is where all the teacher/union anger will be directed. Sending everyone back on the 8th will seem like small fry in comparison to this and we will all trot back to school with something new and bigger to object to.

Hopping I’m wrong though, and on the plus side...We still have two resignation dates left this year...

Ian Rankin, Guardian
Read about Jo Whiley and her sister this morning in this piece. So many scandals of neglect for the most vulnerable in society from the beginning of this pandemic in the UK.