The Sixty-Sixth Republic - Who will be the medal winners on Results Day? Grade inflation predicted again

[Staffholidayclubrep]

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 for school staff to let off steam.

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.

Do not give the staffroom password to non-staff as it attracts the wrong sort of crowd.

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.

Say nothing....

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gavin-williamson-schools-return-covid-b1907175.html?fbclid=IwAR1GoHMUrjYSozX1cOSmS4_M_lCiIWKJ4R2IZz_MDa6b4UrPXHJSFLPAm8E

Yet more complaints about Gav, again, did Kate Green and Geoff Barton not read the guidance when it came out mid-July?

(Help me, I’m defending Gavin Williamson!!!)

It does say that Downing Street is in discussions about using schools for 12-15 vaccine rollout.

Yeah, I don't understand the fuss about theses LFTs at all.

Also Ireland have studied in school Covid rates mar 20 - Jul 21 and found that fewer close contacts went on to test positive in school than in the general population. Is that just another way of saying “they’re children”? And that 0-4s don’t get tested?

This is a good comment BTL

My kids' state secondary school announced before the summer break that there would be a staggered start to the school year, with all students first having compulsory Covid tests. Parents have had the details of when their kids should attend for testing and on which days they go back.
There is no chaos, and there are no surprises.
I'm no fan of Williamson, but Labour is making cheap political capital out of some very tired out news here, which they appear not to have noticed for some weeks past.

To clarify, 12-15 vaccination has not been approved/recommended by JCVI yet

Absolutely piggy, but what is BTL - Bedfordshire Telegraph Lite?

Below The Line!

I know all the lingo, me.

So does that mean “in the Comments”??

Link to the govt response to the petition about T levels on this thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4330953-new-t-levels-replacing-btecs-petition-the-government-responded

Yes, it does... if you read the Strictly or Line of Duty blogs they make points about the comments BTL.

Good to see the DfE writing with their usual clarity.

Am rather disappointed that Geoff is claiming staggered start ( - to term, this is getting confusing!) is a new concept too.

Is there ‘new’ news today about staggered starts for secondaries for testing or not?!

I’d imagine all secondary teachers got their Sept schedule, inc testing at the end of last term.

No, no new news Appu, that’s my point! It just seems that the press, and Labour --and ASCL— have thought “Oo it’s nearly September, what shall we complain about re schools now?” Tbf I guess parents may be only just realising what’s proposed for the start of term.

@noblegiraffe

Right, why are 63% of teacher tappers looking forward to going back to school?

I mean, I like teaching but I like the summer holidays better and hate going back in September which I thought was normal?!

I did not click that I was looking forward to going back to school! Like you, it'll be fine once I get back but I'd rather be off for a bit longer!

Hercisback:
it's a look forward to seeing staff/pupils. Not looking forward to the crap we will deal with

Yes - it would be lovely just to be teachers. I increasingly find all the other stuff requires me to really bite my tongue instead of saying what I feel which is oh just piss off and let me get on with my job.

Apparently it's CYPMHS now, not CAMHS. Things like this perhaps irrationally really piss me off - why change it? How much is being spent on rebranding, changing letter heads, signage etc? What's the point? How are you meant to pronounce that - you can't ergo you'll have to say every letter all so you can use the term 'young people' instead of adolescents?

I'm doing a mental health CPD and that's the main thing I've gotten out of it so far - otherwise it's all the usual big promises (schools should have a senior mental health lead, but it won't be a statutory role, there'll be funding for training, but only from government approved providers ((likely shite and money to mates)) ) but whilst signposting we're encouraged to explain the limitations of what the NHS can offer ie. massive waiting lists and trying to avoid you till your child turns 18 and you fall under adult mental health services which are also pretty much non existent.

Not sure that was even coherent sorry. Sketchy night's sleep and am in limbo as to whether to finish this course seeing as I've already put a bit of time into it or to just sack it off.

What does that stand for Honey?

Sorry - just seen you’d written ‘young people’.

Yes, young people.

One week left for me then inset. Must get ds to try on new uniform - dreading finding none of it fits at the last minute. He's just starting year 10 and is already 5'10 with size 11 feet - getting uniform that fits is becoming interesting and more expensive. Don't even get me started on shoes and trainers - hoping that his feet will stop bloody growing now.

Petty moan but I feel like you should be able to claim back vat on your children's clothes and shoes if they grow fast - they're meant to be vat free but that only goes up to a size 5 which ds was out of by year 5 or 6 at primary. Women with small feet benefit from cheaper trainers but you pay vat on shoes for your average boy by the time they're at secondary.

Yes, I agree! A vast proportion of girls are a size 5 shoe by year 7 too.

And blazers! OK, our choice to send ds independent, but he was tiny in year 7 (with big feet!), all his kit was like 24" chest sized but marked at men's XXS so attracted VAT. Total rip-off.

I so get most of DD’s uniform second hand at the PTA sales I must admit. Covid-wise you have been able to ‘order’ on the Facebook group and you get your bag at the end of the school day, which has been handy. 50p for branded cardigans, tops and pinafores is ideal
It’s just school shoes that are my current bugbear. School shoes for girls are so impractical, expensive and can cause blisters or get wetter feet when it rains, so I would love her to stay in ‘school trainers’ like all the boys but peer pressure has started to rear its ugly head….

The government are still doing a blindingly good job as usual:
Schools Week have an article that says Exclusive: Almost one in five pupils enrolled in the first year of the government’s flagship National Tutoring Programme are still yet to receive any tuition, with leaders blaming Covid disruption for the backlog

Absolute disgrace of them.