Reopening schools question.

In normal timesI get to work at 7.30 but usually leave by 4.30 unless we have meetings. I do an hour or two a week at home, but likely to do quite a lot in holidays. I try to get all work done at school, but I’ve been doing it a long time and actively shun responsibility, before when I was in charge of stuff my work load was much more, still didnt take much home, I was just home much less.

Oh and I’m in next mon, tue, thurs for the foreseeable.

Teaching year 10’s. Kids stay in bubbles teachers move around.

This highlights an important point with teaching and I expect a good many other public services, they only manage to keep going based on the good will of those in the jobs

Been there, working on surveillance teams paying for our own pagers and then phones to get the job done, turning out for any old shout, buying our own covert radio kit, screw that now. We were told a few years ago if you stop to do your shopping on the way home, not even deviating from your route just stopping, in a job car you’d get stuck on. Fair enough, goodwill works both ways and it’s like virginity – once it’s gone it’s gone.

you’ve got your textbooks

Must be a public school!

Nope, state Sixth Form College – every physics student gets their own textbook to take home for the year.

On working at home, there have been times when I’ve done a lot and times when I’ve not done much. When my entire timetable was coursework assessment it was non-step on most evenings and weekends.

Now that I’m teaching an exam-based course and have been doing it for a few years so know it backwards, I don’t do much. There are times around assessments when I do though – I pretty much never mark work done in class or homework, just tests and mock exams. We split groups, so I teach two lessons a week to each of the four Y13 classes and two lessons a week to each of the four Y12, which hugely reduces preparation time.

My wife’s a primary teacher with a TLR (classroom-based SENDCO) in a primary with a very reasonable head who understands that most marking is pointless and she often has a bit to do each evening, as well as being at school, from 8am to 6pm.

This highlights an important point with teaching and I expect a good many other public services, they only manage to keep going based on the good will of those in the jobs

Not just the public sector – we never seem to have the kit we need in the private sector either and 3/4 of my colleagues are using their own PCs during lockdown.

Impressive Mike. I had to use eBay to get all my daughter’s A-Level text books as cheaply as possible for her.

Our dept has run a “jotters are theirs” policy. We will take them in at the end of month 1 to make sure they are doing what they are meant to and then spot check them twice monthly after that. But no marking per se of jotters. That’s a load off. Loads of other stuff to do though. I try to avoid work home, I’ve been doing it for 20years so work hard at work to not being home.
Recently spent £40 on rocks for an assessed practical which now isn’t assessed. Bugger.

We split groups, so I teach two lessons a week to each of the four Y13 classes and two lessons a week to each of the four Y12, which hugely reduces preparation time.

Sounds like bliss although sixth form colleges terms and conditions arent as good.

After moving school this year I havent taught either 12 or 13 for the first time in about 12 years, quite enjoyed not having that extra wirk and having more doubling up of 9’s and 10’s

Having watched our great leader wiffwaffing this afternoon, I noticed he said something about a ‘major catch-up’ for (English) children before September, to be announced in due course by your diligent Education Secretary.

First I’ve heard of it, and I can’t imagine any one in the education sector has been consulted, but has any teacher heard of an imminent threat to their August?

Been following this thread with interest even though my children are now adults.
Amused that boomer has now adopted radio silence after being challenged.
Will be interesting where he/she next pops up and what they have to say.
Williamson is as inept as the other members of johnson’s clown circus.

First I’ve heard of it, and I can’t imagine any one in the education sector has been consulted, but has any teacher heard of an imminent threat to their August?

Our trust CEO warned staff in March that schools might need to be open over summer, but I think that was from a key worker perspective. Not heard anything else, but we normally get expected to introduce major change with no warning and no support from Gov, so nothing would surprise me!

Certainly seemed to be teeing up a big announcement of some kind from Williamson, although his vocal delivery style can make it tough to extract any information.

bet its the 1st williamson has heard of it too!

First I’ve heard of it, and I can’t imagine any one in the education sector has been consulted, but has any teacher heard of an imminent threat to their August?

Only what you have from the news. Unless the thorny issue of childcare is solved I wont be involved much.

Just to add my other half works in a private school, they are reopening for 2 weeks, but 2 weeks later than state schools and then closing again until.september.

Thought for the day, can I organise a school trip to the zoo next week?

Thought for the day, can I organise a school trip to the zoo next week?

🤣 it would be rude not to!!

As long as you walk to get there 😉

As long as you walk to get there

Not the safari park then!!

Our trust CEO warned staff in March that schools might need to be open over summer, but I think that was from a key worker perspective. Not heard anything else, but we normally get expected to introduce major change with no warning and no support from Gov, so nothing would surprise me!

I’m sure it’s being discussed.

Here in Wales they’ve now said that Keyworkers care places won’t be open over the Summer break, they were open over Easter. At home we’ve assumed that means they’re planning to open private child minder services again, not that it effects us personally as key workers.

The Chief Medical Officer of Wales offered 3 options to the Welsh Gov. for reopening schools. Their 1st choice was to remain closed until the 3rd of August, effectively bringing forward the Summer Hols to next week. Again this is very Wales-centric but with infection rates here down to tens a day and deaths below 10 even on the ‘big’ reporting days it looks like we could be very close to eradication by then, in theory at least.

There was a rejection of that plan from the Teaching Unions, so we went with Option 2 of very scaled back opening from next week, close again for a 5 week summer break and then reopening with whatever regulations are appropriate in Sept, with a two 2 half-term break in Oct.

If the Unions have the same sway over Westminster it doesn’t seem likely kids will be in school in August.

https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2020-06-04/schools-reopening-in-june-is-second-best-option-says-wales-chief-medical-officer/

I know that the headteacher at the local school was told by KCC to ask her staff if they would volunteer to come in over the summer. This was at a headteacher meeting for none academy schools. This was over a month ago. Not heard anything else since.

Been following this thread with interest even though my children are now adults.
Amused that boomer has now adopted radio silence after being challenged

The more this thread develops the more I question the purpose of schools and what “education” really means.

I get the basic ideas that seem to be:
a) Hold most kids back so everyone has the same chances to get an education at 18 and turn out good little workers for the economy
b) Provide free childcare so both parents can work
c) Assume all parents want to murder or abuse their own children as a default unless they are teachers

I’m just increasingly having problems rationalising these against posts from teachers and school communications that seem disingenuous?
At least admit the school system is for 5% – 10% .. stop sending emails saying how children’s “education” will suffer if you mean the 5-10% .. I’m supportive of (a) … I’m less convinced (b) is a good idea and I find (c) abhorrent

As I say, I’m now questioning what “education” means?
Jnr is doing some busy work…. I just checked and told him it was factually incorrect. He replied he knows but the teacher doesn’t understand and he needs to give the answer she expects not the correct answer.

Part of me is thinking that’s a useful thing to learn… give your boss the answer they want making sure you CYA in case it costs money or someone dies as a result…
Part of me is thinking teaching factually incorrect science is just wrong …

Amused that boomer has now adopted radio silence after being challenged.

Not a bit. I was away with work yesterday. I don’t usually try and catch up with old posts, coz what’s the point?

Boomertroll, I can only suggest you move your son from that school, from your description it sounds a bit crap.

Indeed. But the assertion that all others will be paragons of learning is false. My (3) kids go to three different schools, my wife works at another one. The consensus around here is the same. Minimal contact. Maybe it’s a NW thing, but I doubt it; most of the guidance is from the union.

It’s a bit odd though if a school wants to provide online lessons surely they provide the teachers with computers to achieve this?

Do you know what? They do. But you have to request one. If you have no intention of doing anything for an indefinite period then why would you ask to loan a laptop?

If all the teachers on here are at best average, at least half your profession are worse than you.

Good on you for making an effort; lots don’t. Sorry if you don’t like the feedback, but a good proportion of your colleagues are making you look bad to the consumers of your product.

I think boomer needs to take up a school governership position

problem with North West is that one of Johnsons reopening conditions was that community infection had to be under control

but NW has highest R rate in country https://www.lep.co.uk/health/coronavirus/covid-19-r-rate-above-one-north-west-highest-england-2876483#gsc.tab=0

Not the safari park then!!

The guidance is just keep your 2m distance and it’ll be fine.

I think boomer needs to take up a school governership position

I used to be a parent governor. I think all sides found it frustrating.

but NW has highest R rate in country

If the teens were in schools and not milling about parks and other outdoor spaces it might be a bit less. Who knows?

Not setting them work gives them excess time to slouch about rather than doing something constructive.

Jnr is doing some busy work…. I just checked and told him it was factually incorrect.

My daughter was set work on the Titanic a few weeks ago. It started off by stating that ‘the Titanic was made in 1997’

Some misuse of Wikipedia went into that nugget, I feel.

Also wonder how much of this is to do with fractured nature of our schooling

private schools, academy trusts & chains, free schools etc

Acaedemies act removed powers of LEAs to oversee all schools

Head of OFSTED today on R4 pointed out that they are not inspecting schools homelearning, which goes someway to explain why there is so much variability in how things are being taught

She pointed out that OFSTED were not consulted before Johnsons announcement & they were not being consulted on the plan Johnson mentioned for catch-up over the summer

Johnson looks to be setting himself up to fail on this again

no doubt he’ll blame teachers & unions rather than admit his own mistakes

If the teens were in schools and not milling about parks and other outdoor spaces it might be a bit less. Who knows?

we do know

https://www.businessinsider.com/risk-of-coronavirus-transmission-lower-outdoors-evidence-2020-5?r=US&IR=T

Do you know what? They do. But you have to request one

I asked, got given a memory stick.

Not the safari park then!!

The guidance is just keep your 2m distance and it’ll be fine.

Have the Lions been given the memo?

Johnson looks to be setting himself up to fail on this again

no doubt he’ll blame teachers & unions rather than admit his own mistakes

Its a win win for him!

My daughter was set work on the Titanic a few weeks ago. It started off by stating that ‘the Titanic was made in 1997’

Accurate dates? Who cares?

Near, Far, Wherever you are..good enough for me.

Have the Lions been given the memo?

Apparently the lions are among those petitioning Downing Street for a reduction to 1m.

My daughter was set work on the Titanic a few weeks ago. It started off by stating that ‘the Titanic was made in 1997’

This is a correct date. Titanic was made in 1997 and had its premiere in the November.

The more this thread develops the more I question the purpose of schools and what “education” really means.

Once it’s been established that kids can be taught at home it wouldn’t be a giant leap to get rid of “schools “. Give everyone a laptop and have them log in to centrally broadcast lessons of a uniform curriculum.

“Once it’s been established that kids can be taught at home it wouldn’t be a giant leap to get rid of “schools “. Give everyone a laptop and have them log in to centrally broadcast lessons of a uniform curriculum.”

Yep – thats what my daughters school has been doing since the 22nd March when they got sent home.

Both my children have been in real time online school with a timetable that reflected the normal one, register in every lesson and homework. All work is checked in lesson and homework marked the next day or whenever its due in. They have break and lunch as per normal and school finishes at the normal time. Pastoral care teachers for each year check up on mental health by doing a questionaire every few weeks and contacting children by phone if the results are worrying or if children are not logging on or submitting the correct amount of work.

According to my children its basically as good as school without the downside of uniform….

Once it’s been established that kids can be taught at home

If anything is being established at this point it’s that being taught at home over the internet is not a great thing for a great many pupils.

If all the teachers on here are at best average, at least half your profession are worse than you.

That’s not how averages work.

Stats isn’t my strongest point but, assuming a normal distribution, only about 16% of teachers would be more than one standard deviation below the mean.

Both my children have been in real time online school with a timetable that reflected the normal one, register in every lesson and homework. All work is checked in lesson and homework marked the next day or whenever its due in. They have break and lunch as per normal and school finishes at the normal time.

I’ve deliberately not done that for my students, because it relies on every kid having access to a decent device at home, a place to work, and an internet connection. This style of remote teaching will widen the gap in outcomes.

All the work I’ve set has been asynchronous and can be completed with no specific digital resources.

I’ve just watch a head make his staff all hold hands to make a point about not social distancing. This is at a school in an area with a high percentage of multi generational households. Obviously still doesn’t get that he has a responsibility towards the community, as well as staff and pupils. I suspect he’ll have fewer teachers very soon.

“’ve deliberately not done that for my students”

All the childen in school have a school issued Chromebook paid for by the parents. Parents that genuinely can’t afford one, or broadband have access to a hardship fund. The school IT department sort out any issues and have been working incredibly hard since lockdown, as have the teachers. It is a very well run school.

“This style of remote teaching will widen the gap in outcomes.”

Yes, yes it will.

Once it’s been established that kids can be taught at home it wouldn’t be a giant leap to get rid of “schools “. Give everyone a laptop and have them log in to centrally broadcast lessons of a uniform curriculum.

I’m not sure it’s everyone…

If anything is being established at this point it’s that being taught at home over the internet is not a great thing for a great many pupils.

Multiple things are happening all at once… but first there are a great number of kids…and being taught in school is not a great thing for a great many of them.

The first thing ….

My daughter was set work on the Titanic a few weeks ago. It started off by stating that ‘the Titanic was made in 1997’

Why assume that is any worse than usual? Just because you see it?
Jnr’s teacher had set some work on coastal erosion which would have been fine had she not tried to explain how arches and sea stacks occur and missed something as exciting as Alta last week.

However that being the case I’m left wondering what the educational part is? Is it knowing the teacher is incorrect but giving them the answer they want or knowing the Titanic was built in 1911 or knowing that “when was the Titanic made” is different in google to “when was the titanic built” ???

My real issue is more the first point I made… if the academic value of school is primarily for the 5%-10% then it’s failing but its failing more visibly at the moment whilst the parents of the 90%-95% see the actual “facts” being taught whilst the 5-10% don’t see or care or even realise.
It’s hardly creationism being deliberately taught … but at the same time it’s disturbing 1997 didn’t ring a bell on the Titanic?

Following my earlier post I had some of this explained to me by a 10yr old… “if we did that then (list of names) wouldn’t be able to take part”

So I’m back as confused as I was …

If anything is being established at this point it’s that being taught at home over the internet is not a great thing for a great many pupils.

What do you mean by “great thing”?
Surely it’s established that teaching all the kids together is preventing the majority from learning as quickly as they can but is that “good” or “bad”?

I’m the first to acknowledge it’s not a race, there is plenty of time later …
On the other hand in a global economy UK kids will be increasingly disadvantaged.

If you look at test results from SATS as some sort of metric then on paper not going to school has been a great success for my child. I’m not really fussed about the results so much as him organising himself to do an hour a day without adult interference and finding he can teach himself and do much much better than predicted by his teacher. Obviously we’ll never know but I feel had he been at school instead of lockdown and just doing an hour a day by himself he would have performed “as expected”.

kelvin

I’ve just watch a head make his staff all hold hands to make a point about not social distancing.

I watched the staff zoom before they opened up….
The head was sat at a 1m table opposite one of the deputies coughing. Quite a few staff we sitting as far away as possible… a HOY asked the head how they were going to social distance and the answer was “we will tell them we will try where we can”

I know your OH had to make a decision a the time… mine asked for unpaid sabbatical right after watching that zoom.