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CONFIRMED: Big change from previous government policy which has insisted on schools operating as close to normal as possible. In secondaries only exam year students will return in the first week of term- other secondary pupils on remote learning until 11th January.
Will be accompanied by increases in school testing
Have been speaking to teachers throughout the day already on this. Their big questions:
1) Why was the Dept threatening legal action about some schools closing in the last week of term only for staggered start next term?
Have been speaking to teachers throughout the day already on this. Their big questions:
1) Why was the Dept threatening legal action about some schools closing in the last week of term only for staggered start next term?
2) How far will staff be responsible for administering a new testing regime? They say capacity for doing so is slender
3) Why has the Dept taken the decision on a day which, for many schools, is the final full teaching day of term? Planning for remote learning is considerable
3) Why has the Dept taken the decision on a day which, for many schools, is the final full teaching day of term? Planning for remote learning is considerable
Have asked the Dept if there's any further detail on how the testing programme is going to operate- they've confirmed there's nothing at present
So to recap
Return to school on the 4th January for
-exam year pupils
-primary pupils
-special schools
-children of key workers
Everyone else: "face-to-face education for all starting on 11 January."
Return to school on the 4th January for
-exam year pupils
-primary pupils
-special schools
-children of key workers
Everyone else: "face-to-face education for all starting on 11 January."
All this applies to England only
As ever, keen to hear from teachers about what difference it's going to make for you, your staff, pupils and school. Do DM.
As ever, keen to hear from teachers about what difference it's going to make for you, your staff, pupils and school. Do DM.
Fair to say teachers are incandescent.
One head tells me: "When they said mass testing I thought naively they meant a mobile testing unit manned by the army. I didn't realise it was my job to use my own staff and sort out every aspect of logistics around testing myself..."
One head tells me: "When they said mass testing I thought naively they meant a mobile testing unit manned by the army. I didn't realise it was my job to use my own staff and sort out every aspect of logistics around testing myself..."
..."The government has hit a new low. Just shows how little the govt really cares about education. How does that fit in with teaching and learning?"
Schools have received a guidebook on how to set up their own testing regimes
Some of the guidance is...ambitious. As you can see, schools are being asked to man the testing themselves, even asking parents or "Volutnteers" or retired nurses to conduct the tests.
Some of the guidance is...ambitious. As you can see, schools are being asked to man the testing themselves, even asking parents or "Volutnteers" or retired nurses to conduct the tests.
St John’s Ambulance people are also recommended
Not sure there’s going to be enough to cover the whole English school system, I’ll be honest
Not sure there’s going to be enough to cover the whole English school system, I’ll be honest
Teachers have been telling me all term how much time is being consumed by managing Covid within schools. This govt flowcharts shows just labour intensive it can be if just a single child tests positive. Education is already buckling under all of these extra duties.
Another teacher raises the issue of who can credibly conduct these school tests: "What is of great concern to me and my colleagues is the expectation of testing pupils weekly. Though some of us gave basic first aid and dispensing of medication training, none of us had..."
training in invasive testing of the sort these tests require... So who is going to do it? My students will not be able to do it properly, so unless the govt provides a nurse or other qualified person to perform the tests weekly on our students, I suspect it just won’t happen."
Logistically there are also problems with this idea
This is what the DfE document recommends in terms of a location
But not all schools have this sort of space, especially to conduct tests in a socially distance manner, which is, well- pretty important for a testing site.
This is what the DfE document recommends in terms of a location
But not all schools have this sort of space, especially to conduct tests in a socially distance manner, which is, well- pretty important for a testing site.
In the example the DfE doc cites, with 100 students being tested, it would require up to 9 staff. The DfE says they'll reimburse "reasonable" staffing costs but what might that mean? Most schools don't really have the cash on hand for such major staffing investment.
And remember, this is all supposed to be getting up and running for when schools return on January 4th! To set this up heads have...yes, one day of term left- tomorrow.
Bear in mind too on staffing- any volunteers would have to be DBS checked to comply with safeguarding requirements, lest they have to be supervised at all times. Which, once again, will drag in teacher time they don't have.
Another insight into logistics problems from another teacher: "Every inch of space is currently used for social and catering zones to allow for bubbles. I was already wondering how I can use the sports hall to hold mock exams in January..."
(which will be required to generate centre assessed grades in the event that exams don’t go ahead) when it is currently set up as a temporary canteen. And now I need to think about using it as a testing centre. And at the same time remembering that ofsted will be expecting..."
"to see some PE in there as part of our broad curriculum. Genuinely schools want to do this testing but how can do it properly when given such little notice. Liverpool had weeks to set it up and the army to help! And that was with adults!"
This has been a tough year for many. But often school leadership teams have barely had any respite, including weekends, since the first lockdown. The mental toll has been considerable. One head tells me: "At the start of next term, we are expected to be simultaneously....
"teaching real children, teaching virtually, accommodating key worker/ vulnerable students, and implementing a mass testing regime, all with zero school days' notice. My leadership team and I have been working twelve hour days on site..."
"One of my deputies fell asleep at the wheel last night and nearly crashed on the motorway. We are resilient leaders, but today has been the final straw."
More on this on Newsnight shortly, tune in
Schools minister Nick Gibb told @skynewsniall this morning that teachers won’t have a role to play in testing- “teachers have their hands full”. But that isn’t what the schools testing handbook suggests. And even if they’re not doing it personally, seems incredible school...
...leadership teams won’t have significant extra work to undertake as a result of a major and consistent school testing programme week after week. And if school staff aren’t going to be involved, how credible is it that it’s going to be up and running any time soon?
Remember, as I said last night, any staff conducting tests would have to have DBS checks otherwise they’ll require supervision from school supervision anyway. This is a system which the minister said this morning should be getting organised in the first week of January.
Already generating extra work 
https://twitter.com/alunedwards1/status/1339887370712326144
https://twitter.com/alunedwards1/status/1339887370712326144
Not just state sector worried about this- spoke to an independent head this morning: “Even with our resources this is an impossible ask. We are having now to work for much of the holiday to get things in place. This really is a moment when all schools have to simply say no.”
DfE holding a seminar with senior school leaders this hour. Am told officials have briefed the testing scheme will start w/c 4th January and that is not “mandatory” but an “offer” and is “strongly encouraged.”
