I’ve just been asked about my personal circumstances and why I am STILL #bangingthedrum for improving covid safety measures in schools

So I’ll talk you through my journey from August to now (bear with me, I’m not known for my brevity!) 1/

#SafeEdForAll

I’m a parent in Newcastle-upon-Tyne of two boys aged 14 and 12

My youngest son has asthma and vocal chord dysfunction (VCD), whilst my eldest son has no underlying health conditions.

My youngest son was due to start high school in year 7 and my eldest son was starting year 10

Prior to school term starting I contacted the high school to voice my concerns regarding full return for all pupils in September.

I was asked to come into school during the week exam results were released and have a chat with the Head of Year for year 7.
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I went along for the informal chat

I wore my face covering (as I was in an indoor setting with a member of another household) the teacher I met with was not wearing a face covering.

At this point society had been advised to wear a face mask when in other indoor public settings

The teacher explained the changes the school were making to ensure that pupils returning would be kept safe from unnecessary exposure to infection.

Namely;
1. keeping bubbles of pupils separate from other bubbles,

2. installing sanitation stations,

3. removal of soft furnishings from classrooms,

4. seating pupils in rows facing forward in classrooms,

5. opening windows,

6. some specific measures around PE (outdoor primarily, no requirement for pupils to get changed into PE kit & cleaning equipment)

I asked a few questions.

I was not allowed to take a photo of the classroom, but I estimated it was no more than 8m x 8m.

I asked how many pupils would be in a class? I was told 30.

I asked how many pupils will be in a bubble? I was told “it’ll be a year group” = 300

I asked why were the pupils to be seated facing forward?

The answer “that’s what the Government Guidance says we need to do.”

I asked what is being done to mitigate the risk of aerosol transmission, when a small space is to be occupied by 30 members of different households.

I was told “the windows will be open.” When I suggested that that idea will be fun in Newcastle in November, the teacher laughed and said, “we’ll let them keep their coats on”.

I then asked whether my sons will be allowed to wear a face covering in classrooms.

I was told, “No, Government Guidance says they’re not allowed in classrooms.”

I explained that isn’t correct, the Government Guidance says they should be avoided in classrooms.

The school’s position was

I then sought a meeting with the Executive Principal & newly appointed Principal

I asked for the Trust to allow freedom of choice for young people to wear a recognised safety measure to mitigate the risk of aerosol transmission, when sharing a small indoor space.

Fast Forward a bit of the very long saga (I made it clear my sons would not return without masks allowed) I was told by the Principal that he was willing to remove a barrier to return to school by granting ‘permission for now’ for both of my sons to wear a mask in classrooms.

I was then informed if I wanted to continue discussions regarding ‘allowing freedom of choice for ALL pupils to wear a recognised safety measure in classrooms’ the Trust had exhausted informal discussions with me and I would have to enter the formal school complaint process.

This process involved 3 stages.

My complaint was not upheld at stage 1 or stage 2 of the process.

Both responses stated the reason was that the Trust were ‘following DfE guidance’.

My stage 3 complaints hearing was scheduled for January 8th.

I submitted a comprehensive dossier of evidence along with personal supporting letters from a GP, a member of SAGE and a member of Independent SAGE on the 15th of December.

On Saturday the 2nd of January I received a text from my sons school to say

My stage 3 complaints hearing went ahead as scheduled on the 8th of January and was upheld with effect from the 2nd of January.

The panel of judges (from the board of Trustees) agreed that the decision not to uphold my complaint at stage 1 and stage 2 was however justified

It has been an exhausting process, I have felt bullied and gaslighted throughout.

It shouldn’t have had to be so difficult to obtain permission to be allowed to use a recognised, scientific safety measure that is required in all other indoor settings where households mix!

The reason it has been so difficult is due to the guidance document published by @educationgovuk which still, to this day, has not provided any scientific, peer-reviewed evidence to support its statement below

It is essential that ALL recognised scientific mitigation measures are implemented in our schools BEFORE a full return to in-person education is considered.

It isn’t morally or legally acceptable that schools are exempt from the HANDS FACE SPACE REPLACE mitigations.

@educationgovuk has UNNECESSARILY exposed pupils, teachers, school staff and their families to increased risk of infection between September and now.

Listen to @NEUnion @IndependentSage @SafeEdForAll_UK @Parents_Utd @LongCovidKids and do what’s right!