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Dear @educationgovuk, I have a few questions about your leaked guidance, as reported here. Would find some answers super helpful when the real thing gets published! https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/school-reopening-whole-year-bubbles-full-guidance-covid_uk_5ef9dd4ac5b6ca97091288e4
1. 'Secondary pupils advised to stay 1m apart but not at all times.' Does 'The Science' tell us Covid is more contagious at some times than others? Surely otherwise this defeats object of keeping them apart at all. Plus teenagers not known for ability to resist physical contact.
2. 'Teachers advised to keep... away from colleagues as much as possible as if in a supermarket.' I speak as one who has, at times, avoided colleagues at a supermarket, but have you realised that this is a lot easier than avoiding them for a day at work? Where will they work/eat?
3. 'No face coverings for pupils or teachers... as they “interfere” with teaching and learning.' Are you being guided by 'The Cognitive Science' here? Pretty sure Covid outbreaks would interfere more, so it seems odd to dismiss masks if there is evidence that they might help.
4. 'Any temporary return to “remote” teaching needing to be of a high quality.' Can you clarify what you mean by this and what your evidence base is? The last time I checked, there wasn't a lot of research on which to base conclusions about what works. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Publications/Covid-19_Resources/Remote_learning_evidence_review/Rapid_Evidence_Assessment_summary.pdf
5. 'Some subjects for some or all pupils may have to be suspended for two terms to allow catch-up on core subjects.' Are you serious? How can you claim to be worried about kids missing out on education during lockdown and then take away their entitlement like this for 6 months?
6. 'Some pupils may have to drop some GCSEs... to allow them to catch up and achieve better grades in English and maths.' Why did we bother setting work for every subject through lockdown? Could have saved time and just set Eng and maths, since they are all that seems to count.
7. 'First year pupils at secondary school may have to be re-taught English and maths from their final year syllabus at primary level.' Got the point now! Don't you suspect primaries might have focussed more on core subjects and that greatest need might be in foundation?
8. 'Routine Ofsted inspections will remain suspended... but inspectors will visit a sample of schools to discuss how they are resuming classroom teaching.' Yay! Any chance the inspector could walk and talk while I do my wall to wall duties supervising staggered lunch breaks?
9. 'The decision to create “mega bubbles” of whole year groups for secondary pupils is seen as the only practical way to allow subject-by-subject teaching.' Do you care about different subjects then? You had me going with the idea that they could drop everything and just do core!
10. 'The separated year groups will be allowed to use shared areas such as dining halls at different times, after cleaning with bleach.' So do we need to get the bleach out and clean the entire dining hall and contents between each year group? Lunch really will take all day!
11. 'The guidance will state how low-risk young people are from Covid-19.' I get this and it's important, but forgive me if it feels like the risk to staff is being ignored somewhat here! How confident can we be that children do not pass it on, especially in secondary?
Looking forward to guidance which clarifies all these points, from a secondary senior leader who is keen to get kids back in and very supportive of sensible opening, but doesn't feel the government has covered itself in glory throughout this crisis and is a tiny bit sceptical.
