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To no-ones surprise the noise regarding school re-opening, teacher and union views of this, and needless teacher baiting has of course grown louder since Wednesday. So here is my two-penneth...
1. Teacher vaccination would be helpful and would reassure those teachers who rightly worry about their own health. It’s a good idea if we understand it won’t stop transmission. It would though make all teachers (I’m one of them!) feel they are valued in this national effort..
2. AND I don’t mean other front line workers have no value - please be clear on that. Teacher vaccination would NOT solve the issue of in school transmission, and as a sector we need to be clear on this. But if you want to put a canary down a mineshaft, at least check the gas..
3. Reopening is vital. We want to be back; pupils on site. No-one likes remote learning really. It is ok, but it misses the interaction and relationships that make teaching an amazing job. Teachers are not risk averse. We work in the one of the most politicised jobs there is.
4. And we are used to stringent accountability. Let’s not call teachers names whilst they do a job most people couldn’t do. Or make out they are whingers. Parliament has been full has it for almost a year. Discuss.
5. Discussion around pupils falling behind is the right debate to have. But let’s not forget - each year performance tables show progress they tell us that each year up to 2019 pupils were ‘behind’ compared to their peers nationally - and some significantly so.
6. The accountability system is built on ensuring some pupils have to be being at end of year 6 or year 11. The statistical method means this is how performance tables work. And I don’t think that is right - it’s actually immoral.
7. The pandemic has had such an impact on the most vulnerable, but it feels like cheap points scoring to keep saying their future life chances and incomes will be ruined. It’s seems irresponsible to make such statements that amazing young people have to deal with.
8. Schools are now designing elaborate ‘will we/won’t we’ scenarios so at zero day , whenever that will be we will be ready to go. And we are working flat out to resolve a myriad of problems not created by us. And we love our pupils more than you can know.
9. There is no need to remind schools are pupils of the challenges we face. But schools and pupils should remind politicians and some media that we know what we are doing. Let us do it.
