AIBU No going back to school I’m furious.

Real results speak far louder than any number of so called explanations.

Ideas wanted for putting 630 pupils into separate rooms with no more than 15 to a room, and 2 metres of space between children, when 42 rooms are not available, even using the library and staffrooms. Detailed instructions for managing the movement of all persons around the building without coming any closer to one another than 2 metres must be included. Answers on a postcard, please, addressed to B Johnson esq, c/o 10 Downing Street. The winner will be offered the post of Education Minister, with immediate effect. Second prize will be the post of Prime Minister, also with immediate effect.

I've only just joined this discussion, but Grandad, it strikes me if you're SO set on your POV, why you don't offer a solution?

Several examples of the conundrum have been posted. Pick one and give a work around example. You think it's possible. Prove it for ONE poster of your choice?

Galaxy

You seem to have quite an odd obsession with the educational establishment grandad, did something happen to make that the case.

No obsession with the educational establishment Galaxy. Just an interest in joining a discussion on a failing sector within the British infrastructure at this unprecedented point in time.

Grandad all I can add to this discussion is to say that of the teachers I know, both family members and those teaching my DGC is that they would far rather be in school teaching their pupils under normal conditions.

I think the biggest problem is trying to house the children. We are having to drop capacity by half. So a small Primary School has 7 classes of 30. We can only have 15 in a class. Where do we put the excess children? It's a vast number.

So where are the extra classrooms coming from? And staff as well.

Not sure if anyone's mentioned the reluctance of some parents to send their children back in for a variety of reasons.

My daughter in law teaches Reception at a medium sized primary school and only seven have gone back.

Seven. In the whole school

So how do we get past that problem?

Galaxy

You seem to have quite an odd obsession with the educational establishment grandad, did something happen to make that the case.

Yes.
Grandad has posted previously, Galaxy about a young member of his family who has been set adrift apparently without any support. He was due to take his GCSEs.
I feel very sorry or him and all others in that situation. They would probably not be in school anyway now, being on study leave and going into school to take their exams but they must feel bewildered and lost.

I don't know anyone personally of that age group so I don't know what has been organised for them.
All I know is that my DGC have had more than enough work provided online by their teachers and also class meetings for the older one.

Schools have to follow Government guidelines.

Their exams are all cancelled. Awards will be made based on their projected grades. ALL the exam boards internationally are cancelled.

We know that.

Although perhaps Grandad may not be aware.

Normally they may have got summer jobs but that is not really possible at the moment either.

They must feel rather lost.

Grandad has posted previously, Galaxy about a young member of his family who has been set adrift apparently without any support. He was due to take his GCSEs.
I feel very sorry or him and all others in that situation. They would probably not be in school anyway now, being on study leave and going into school to take their exams but they must feel bewildered and lost.

I don't know anyone personally of that age group so I don't know what has been organised for them.

Really? Because the above suggests you didn't.

Are you quoting me?
These are useful^^^^
Or use the new Quote

I have no idea what you mean anyway

No problem at all then.

Callistemon, Oopsminty, thank you for at last viewing some well-considered contributions to this thread. I would be the first to agree that there are no easy solutions to the problems in schools during this crisis.

In that, just has been the case in other essential sectors within the British infrastructure during this crisis, I believe that those involved within education will have to reach out to the expertise of others for assistance in solving those complex problems.

No industry or sector in modern times believes that within themselves will lay all the solutions to the problems they encounter within their operations. That is when they always seek the assistance and expertise of others outside of their organisations, often much to their benefit.

Anyway, work for me and my other half tomorrow, so good night all.

In other words you were unable to solve the problems that people have put forward.

All I know is that teachers, support staff etc whom I know have been working hard to try to ensure that their pupils' education continues despite all the difficulties they are encountering, which often means supervising their own children too while they work at home.

If the Government thinks that the private sector could contribute at all in establishing a safe return to school then they must make plans and do something about it.

Aahhh. Where are all the little sweet emojis that Grandad 1947 usually signs off with when hes run out of whatever it is hes pontificating about

May7, who is grandad1947. ???
Pontificate on that one May7.?

Again good night.

Better than Grandad1937

Just.

Ha ha couldnt resist hey. I'm pontificating

Given the choice, I would happily start my working day later and end it later. I would be up for the 'evening shift' at school. It wouldn't work just extending teachers working hours, because you still have to factor in work OUT of hours (e.g. planning/marking/reports etc) work which adds at least 3 hours to a working day.

Part of the problem is that many people STILL believe that teachers work from 9am to 3pm and then go home to put their feet up with a bottle of Pinot Grigio for the rest of the day, and that they have spent lockdown as a full-time holiday.

Some, like Grandad1943, see the performance of the one teacher they hear about from grandchildren as representative of the whole industry - as though one office staff member on the fiddle with their expenses, or one lorry driver picking up and harassing female hitchhikers is representative of the whole transport industry or the whole army of office workers in the country.

I suspect that having an offer to help re-organise their management strategies turned down by a school which decided they could do it themselves was the last straw.

This must be a logistical nightmare- does anyone have any knowledge on how all the other countries who have sent children back to school have managed to do so with their guidelines?

Yes Oopsminty my DGD is in Reception at a 2 form entry state school and only 10 have gone back in.
Her cousin is in Reception at a private school and on the first few days 78% went back. This has risen to 96% once parents had confidence that everything was safely and sensibly in place.
Therein lies the problem. Schools at the moment are not even close to having everything safely in place. All we hear is reasons why they can't. It should have been better planned weeks ago. Solutions could have been implemented and subsequently rejected if they didn't work out when the advice changed. I think it is the reluctance to be proactive and innovative which has rightly baffled some people not in education.
Now the tourist industry is getting back on track for July 4th. Next it will be all areas of hospitality. They have been chomping at the bit and putting measures in place for weeks. They have worked round ideas and gone back to the drawing board regularly. There has to be some urgency and drive to get all establishments, institutions and businesses safely back up and running. Schools are, of course, a very different beast and everyone recognises that. What is needed is a bit less rigidity and reluctance, and more of a let's try this attitude from teachers themselves.

I have a year 11 grandchild, taking GCSEs this year. They have been working from home, emailing teachers and getting instant response. Work has now stopped as it would have done by now anyway. However there is a lot of parental support, not everyone had that. Year 10 GC expects to be going in next week, one day a week as judged not needing extra support. The ones who do need this are going in earlier. So something is happening. However it depends on the school. I do have a year 7 GC different school and not a lot going on there apart from keeping busy.