St. Nics and a few others OPEN tomorrow! Options

[Me-again]

There are a few brave head teachers opening their schools tomorrow. I will be attempting the 1.7 mile school run on foot as my road is an ice rink. According to Met office, at 9am it will be -4 degrees. I am sure I will be wondering as my 7 year old, my 3 year old and I try to stay upright, whether it is worth it!

[Strafin]

Speenhamland is still closed, but their Dragon Club will be open 9-3 (but I think only if your kids are booked in).

[Torchy]

If Sainsbury's can open right through the current spell of bad weather, why can't our local schools do the same? The schools have heat and light, and, with a little planning (the snow wasn't exactly a surprise) they could have made arrangements to have enough staff available to teach, and enough salt to treat the school's paths.

I trust the lost teaching days will be made up by opening the schools on Saturdays or during the Easter holidays? Or is our children's education not important to our local schools?

[Chesapeake]

The wonderful, wonderful Rocking Horse Nursery has managed to open this week despite the snow AND serve the children food! They have been amazing and I wish to say, on behalf of my son and I a big THANK YOU.

[Jeven]

If Sainsbury's can open right through the current spell of bad weather, why can't our local schools do the same? The schools have heat and light, and, with a little planning (the snow wasn't exactly a surprise) they could have made arrangements to have enough staff available to teach, and enough salt to treat the school's paths.

I trust the lost teaching days will be made up by opening the schools on Saturdays or during the Easter holidays? Or is our children's education not important to our local schools?

Part of the problem, I imagine, is that Sainburys (and so on) mainly employ people who live local whilst teachers come from a much wider area. Some from as far as Reading and perhaps some even further afield. Camps were closed the other day because of staffing problems, and I imagine much of that was because many of their staff are more specialist and appear to come from much further away than most shops.

Having said that I guess if the teahcers were willing then the LEA could pay for them to stay in local hotels. Or perhaps the schools are worried about a child being injured / killed on the way back or to school.

[Jayjay]

If Sainsbury's can open right through the current spell of bad weather, why can't our local schools do the same? The schools have heat and light, and, with a little planning (the snow wasn't exactly a surprise) they could have made arrangements to have enough staff available to teach, and enough salt to treat the school's paths.

I trust the lost teaching days will be made up by opening the schools on Saturdays or during the Easter holidays? Or is our children's education not important to our local schools?

Good point. Could it be that Sainsburys workers are told no work no pay?

[JeffG]

Good point. Could it be that Sainsburys workers are told no work no pay?

This exact question was answered on the news yesterday - Sainsburys operate flexible working and if an employee (sorry, "colleague") misses a shift for any reason they are given 3 weeks (I think) to make up the hours without penalty.

[JeffG]

Another thing (secondary schools this time): they are talking about pupils needing to take GCSE and A level exams next week. Since time immemorial, these exams have taken place in June and July, so what is going on?

[user23]

Another thing (secondary schools this time): they are talking about pupils needing to take GCSE and A level exams next week. Since time immemorial, these exams have taken place in June and July, so what is going on?

Some people sit their exams early, in January.

[Berkshirelad]

Some people sit their exams early, in January.

Not so. January is the time for re-sits of last June's GCSEs. Some of these are known as 'legacy' exams as the curriculum (and therefore the exams have been updated). This is the absolute last chance for re-sits of those.

Also, the majority of exams these days are modular; exams are paced throughout the year.

Students who miss the exam modules in January will have to take them in June, along with the June modules.

[JeffG]

Also, the majority of exams these days are modular; exams are paced throughout the year.

Is that so that they only have to revise a small part of any subject at a time, which they can then promptly forget?
(A girl interviewed on TV about to take exams implied as much.)

[Berkshirelad]

Is that so that they only have to revise a small part of any subject at a time, which they can then promptly forget?
(A girl interviewed on TV about to take exams implied as much.)

You may think that, I couldn't possibly comment.

If exams passes are increasing, do you really think that kids are getting that much smarter...

[Jeven]

Is that so that they only have to revise a small part of any subject at a time, which they can then promptly forget?
(A girl interviewed on TV about to take exams implied as much.)

I think it is more that these days each module is similar to what used to be learnt over the course of a academic year (well 3/4 of it), mainly due to compacted term times, increased learning requirements and a general ambition to keep up with other nations in content. Therefore doing it in a modular manner means more can be tested and also allows for their exams to be more relevant to the content of their coursework.

Of course I'm sure many do forget what they learn, but then I've forgotten how to use my remote for my old TV so I can't talk

[Guest_noobree_*]

I think it is more that these days each module is similar to what used to be learnt over the course of a academic year (well 3/4 of it), mainly due to compacted term times...

That's correct. Our youngest is in the upper sixth and eldest is in the third year of a four year university course. I wish that my A level exams had been spread over two years instead of crammed into one month.