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No doubt we'll find out over the next few days. Thing is, the Govt advice is announced as a strategy, the nuts and bolts of how it all works takes a little longer.
Mrs Scape is a teacher. She fully expects to be at work on a rota basis to look after the key worker kids, and more importantly the vulnerable kids who need school as a safe space and somewhere to get a meal. No doubt when she gets home tonight the actual mechanics of the distance -learning will have been thrashed out. Interestingly, her Head is currently self-isolating......
As for exams. Here's what I know so far and then a bit of conjecture as to how cancelling GCSEs and A's will likely pan out. Mrs Scape has already submitted predicted grades for all of her yr 11 and 13 pupils. These are based on coursework, mock results and the teacher's knowledge of each student's aptitude and attitude. She tells me her predicted grades historically have correlated strongly with the eventual results. There are of course kids who will (would have) crash and burn through exam nerves, and others who will (would have) really pulled one out of the bag, but they are very much outliers. SO her prediction is that kids will be awarded results based on those predictions and any other evidence the teachers can provide to justify their grades.
My daughter graduated in BSc Special Needs and Inclusive Education Studies last year and has spent this academic year on a PGCE course, on teaching placements in two mainstream primaries. She has been mentored throughout and has regular observations all of which have been highly scored. Her Uni has declared that she will gain her QTS as there was no evidence to suggest that she would not achieve the required standard.
Son's Uni closes as of tomorrow. His course (BSc Rural Enterprise and Land Management) was assessed on 50% coursework, 50% final exams. The finals were cancelled last week, but the Uni will set appropriate final assessments to be submitted online to a strict deadline. The assessments will be timebound but "open book".
Guidance from our (primary) schools teachers today is they've been advise they are going backward on a term by term basis. Therefore SATS will likely be in September to measure progress - currently - and they are measuring internally to relive pressure on external boards to focus on GSCE's & A's.
SATS aren't important to anyone other than the government, they can be delayed, cancelled, scrapped with no major effects. A levels and GCSEs have real world implications.
Just had the following message from a mate....
"... we're going to home school the boys for a bit, classroom down at river, will you be a guest lecturer for a day after lambing? Subject bike maintenance and mountain bike course/jump building, have digger K"
I look forward to it
Schools staying open for key workers children seems wrong and reckless to me.
It does not seem like a solution to the problem of how best to provide childcare to key workers children: more like a government bluff to cover their previous mistakes.
If we want to keep keyworkers working then we need to maintain social distancing between their families. If we keep schools open, then when one key worker catches this then they will pass it on ,through school and family ,to others.
A better solution would be for able volunteers ( eg including school staff) to offer key worker children child care in their own homes, whilst maintaining social distancing. This could be coordinated and supported by school heads , and kids could go to families with similar age kids to make home schooling possible. The big benefit would be that the covid spread would not burn through all the key workers connected by children at school. Id be happy to take a couple of children if it meant more doctor's could keep working. And it looks more sustainable than the government time bomb plan.
Please shoot me down if there's a big flaw I've missed, as I will be talking to our headteacher later today.
SATS aren’t important to anyone
They are an important measure of progress for teachers students and parents. Specifically as KJ01 goes to Secondary in September its important to us.
I don't think anyone stated they were more important than GCSE's or A's.
Welsh farmer. That sounds brilliant.
Please shoot me down if there’s a big flaw I’ve missed,
Agree with your logic, but would be scuppered by safeguarding, I think.
Please shoot me down if there’s a big flaw I’ve missed, as I will be talking to our headteacher later today.
I think there might be some safeguarding issues with that approach, needs some thinking through.
FB-ATB
Subscriber
One of the biggest problems is the fact that those people who look for any excuse to take time off work in normal times – are now taking time off work.We’ve had a few of those. My employer doesn’t pay any sick pay so people either use holiday or have to go SSP. Once it was announced there is no 3 day qualifying period on Monday they phoned in and left voicemails that they had high temps etc so will be off. When their supervisor called back to confirm they had to stay away for 7 days only getting SSP (ie c 1/3 of their usual pay) it’s surprising how many felt better and wanted to come back!
We had two from team on Monday asking about company policy around this virus - they were informed full pay and it wont go on their absence record ... three strikes and up before HR. The very next day one was off because she suspected a relative had it, and they had visited said relative recently; she had no symptoms. The other had a cough .. yet was vaping whilst video conferencing us to let us know. Both could have won an Oscar for performances whilst being told the LA policy was isolate for 14 days .... one had the audacity to let rip with "but I want to be there to help people" .... I am still fuming!!
loum
Member
Schools staying open for key workers children seems wrong and reckless to me...
A better solution would be for able volunteers ( eg including school staff) to offer key worker children child care in their own homes, whilst maintaining social distancing...
Id be happy to take a couple of children if it meant more doctor’s could keep working.
Please shoot me down if there’s a big flaw I’ve missed, as I will be talking to our headteacher later today.
Would you be happy to take delivery drivers, supermarket workers or carers children too? or just doctors children?
Am thinking specifically of DBs checked people in my " able volunteers" .
Background, I'm support staff in a primary of around 300 and thinking that if 50 of us - teachers, cooks, LSA, MDA, office, - could take 1 or 2 each then we might cover 75 to 100 key worker kids more sustainabley than if they were all together.
It's not a solution to the vulnerable kids, but it might keep acouple of social workers in work that could help the bigger picture.
Key workers hasn't been defined yet but in my plan , someone cleverer than me would rank their importance to the fight and prioritise childcare. I'd take what I'm given.
Hundredth, I am also marking one of my subjects, I have managed to get less than 50% in to do the write up so far. Lets hope Swinney throws us all a curve ball by having a sensible solution.
Most of the class will continue to use the school and wraparound care as normal.
Good luck with that.
I suspect by the time we have clarity and a plan the majority of the country will be in full lock down.
Good luck with that.
I suspect by the time we have clarity and a plan the majority of the country will be in full lock down.
Well, yeah, everything at the moment comes with an 'as things stand' caveat.
A better solution would be for able volunteers ( eg including school staff) to offer key worker children child care in their own homes,
Yeah bollocks to me sending my 13 year old girl to some random volunteers house.
You didn't read my full post .
Not random people, dbs checked school staff.
Just the same people that you already send her to, just not in the same place.
To enable social distancing.
But your family, your choice
Not random people, dbs checked school staff.
Just the same people that you already send her to, just not in the same place.
To enable social distancing.
I did you said teachers and volunteers in their own home. I’m not sending her to a stranger’s home, teacher, dbs checked or not. It ain’t happening.
That breaks every rule ever.
Unfortunately there is no easy answer to all this.
A good measure they are bringing in is to test those key workers for the coronavirus if they think they need to isolate ... that way its a deterrent to those trying to take advantage of the situation to get off work for 14 days.
At the moment my wife (a ward nurse) has been looking after a person all week who has just been tested positive for coronavirus. They tested the ward Doctor who was also tested positive, but as yet have not tested any of the nurses on ward - or even offered to test them; its bonkers!!
I am a key worker myself so I am not having a go at key workers before anybody starts complaining. Those working in the NHS or for LA are very fortunate that our jobs are not at risk as a result of all this - so with that comes the responsibility to do the jobs we are paid to do, and not be selfish if that means an inconvenience for the next few weeks/months.
Remote classrooms set up and populated with resources and now it’s up to the likes of
IdleJon
Subscriber
to get their kids to do the work. Should be easy eh?
Yeah. my wife and I are continuing to work full time until we are told otherwise, or get ill. We can go home and check how much work the kids have been able to do after we make food, do the chores etc. Perhaps we'll even be able to make sure the kids aren't going stir crazy before we go to bed. Thankfully, all three of my girls enjoy school, but how much will the 16 yr old be expected to do now, and how much can you teach an 8 yr old remotely? And how will they share the one laptop we have?
I did you said teachers and volunteers in their own home. I’m not sending her to a stranger’s home, teacher, dbs checked or not. It ain’t happening.
If only there were large public buildings that aren't being used over the next few weeks?
Should it turn out the WHO’s teams of epidemologists turn out to know more than Boris’s “experts”
Do you know who these experts are, just out of interest?
I'm starting to get a bit wobbly now just come back to my room to find messages on my board from year 11's I wont see again, no last day, no prom, no results day...hard to grasp.
It's alright to feel like that
I think you're at the front line at the moment aa
Thanks for all you're doing
Yeah the thing that triggers the reality AA is moments like that. I wish even half my teachers were as good as teachers are now. I may have taken more interest and even been pointed the right direction of support. Again thanks to you and your colleagues.
Just heard that a friend's daughter that was due to sit A levels has been to an impromptu "end of year" assembly today where the 6th formers were said good bye to and asked to hand their lanyards in.
Feel sorry for the lower 6th- missed both GCSEs & A levels being cancelled by a year!
Any heard/read anything about BOTH parents needing to be key workers for their children to still attend school? Guardian seems to have an article implying both parents need to be to qualify but I can't see it anywhere else.
I’m starting to get a bit wobbly now just come back to my room to find messages on my board from year 11’s I wont see again, no last day, no prom, no results day…hard to grasp.
Mrs OOB was in floods of tears for the same reason.
Was a bit dusty for me too, leaving school shouldn't be a non-event.
Any heard/read anything about BOTH parents needing to be key workers for their children to still attend school? Guardian seems to have an article implying both parents need to be to qualify but I can’t see it anywhere else.
Hasn't been announced so nobody knows.
Not a teacher, but should the worst come to my job I'm someone that's happy (being young, fit and healthy) to volunteer to do key work....most key work.
Letting random kids/teenagers into my home, even without the threat of contagious disease. Not a chance.
Just announced to Scottish teachers (at my school anyway) that all SQA examinations cancelled and graded will be awarded on evidence gathered and estimates.
Sounds like we're going to get redeployed across schools in the authority to teach, what I assume, pupils with learners in crucial services and industries.
They are an important measure of progress for teachers students and parents.
Not really, there's a very nartow focused on maths, English and science and they're done "teach to test", so kids lose skills for any other subject. They're teacher-assessed and are what primary teachers are judge on so you tell me how objective you think they are.... 😉 As a knock on, they're also used to extrapolate GCSE target grades, so if a child's SATS are.... optimistic, shall we say, that then screws the pooch for the secondary teachers who have to show progress. All sounds a bit pants to me.
Well...that was a big jobby sandwich from Swinney.
Swinney also suggested secondary teachers will be back in next week with senior pupils to finish assignments etc
NOT good
Just seen my Mrs (Secondary School SENCo) she's been told all teachers are expected in next week but they don't know where or what they'll be doing, although rumour has it they'll be providing glorified childcare rather than delivering the curriculum.
She's been told she can take our kids into school with her, which is a mixed blessing as i can't work from home with them scrapping over the TV remote, but also feel it defies the point of closing schools.
Total Clusterf*ck.
Mrs SWSD just texted to say her primary school will be staying open through the Easter holidays, so she'll be there doing extra classes for the kids that need to be in school.
Meanwhile I'm sat on my arse fiddling with stuff that really can't be progressed until this is all is over.
"What did you do in the great Coronavirus outbreak grandad?"
"I made sure my spreadsheets balanced really, really well".
She’s been told she can take our kids into school with her, which is a mixed blessing as i can’t work from home with them scrapping over the TV remote, but also feel it defies the point of closing schools.
But… the exposure risk of one of your household being in that one school (with vastly reduced attendance) is probably much the same as several of you being in there.
tiggs121
Would that be the same Higher pupils who voted with their feet THIS week? Honestly, I knew he was going to be a car crash, but not this bad. What is the point of the assignment anyway? I mark it; are they going to go ahead with them or are they now a ticky-box exercise?
ayjaydoubleyou
Member
Not a teacher, but should the worst come to my job I’m someone that’s happy (being young, fit and healthy) to volunteer to do key work….most key work.
If you, or anybody else, is serious about volunteering then I suggest you contact a local care agency. They are struggling for carers ordinarily - now even more so. There will be procedures in place to enable you to carry out caring duties such as personal care as long as your accompanied by a DBS checked staff member.
Why is it that teachers whinge more than any other profession?
Nurses, social workers .. even talk of the army too being redeployed to different areas and different locations to do their job, or things not ordinarily part of their job descriptions. Most will have family at home too.
Why do teachers think they are any different?
Why do teachers think they are any different?
Troll like behaviour, take it elsewhere.
Why is it that teachers whinge more than any other profession?
Because people like you exist.
I dislike the imported prom gimmick, but am quite sad that my daughter is missing her yr6 prom, residential, an end of year production yr 6 put on and the goodbye to friends moving onto different secondaries.
Shes also missing out on a host of scout camps and activities.
even talk of the army too being redeployed to different areas and different locations to do their job, or things not ordinarily part of their job descriptions.
That's part of their job, surely?
Not heard a single teacher complain in my school. Everyone is just working hard to support each other and our community.
Mrs Anagallis has volunteered to help in her school, mine are not sure whats going to happen, but obviously we cant both be out or we will be defeating the purpose.
Shitogram from the heid Yin's. Summed up as all schools closed apart from the open ones. No kids in apart from to gather evidence (pretty sure the sqa has a bit of evidence we could use). Key worker kids to be babysat and given meaningful work even though they might be in classes of age range 5-17. All classes to be meaningful online work including those for whom the exams are cancelled.