Weston Super Saint

A 'threat' doesn't need to kill 500+ people per day to be classified a 'threat'.

Source?

Obviously that is true if you discount smallpox, AIDS and seasonal 'Flu and pretend that none of these have been a threat since WW2. Other than that, completely factually correct.

From an education point of view, yes and you'd have no complaints from me. I'm sure there would be plenty of families moaning about the loss of their summer holidays though!

It's a juggling act. There are knock on effects to every single decision. Risks need to be evaluated, but no decision is ever going to make everyone happy and no decision is going to be 100% right.

I imagine the hospitality industry wouldn't be too pleased either! They're probably looking forward to earning some money next summer during the school holidays!

Ah I see. So your suggestion is that we have a full lockdown from January until September. That sounds practical. Back to my previous question, who is going to pay for it, genius?

And to be fair, that works in tier four areas which are full lockdown in all but name. To do the same in tier three (as the unions are suggesting) would be very different.

Go for it, enlighten us as to what they are....

Not sure how you would define 'safe' in this scenario. This study shows some data on infection rates in schools. It looks like primary school kids don't present an enormous risk.

How will the non-attendance of teachers be considered? Will it be classed as an 'unofficial' strike?

What happens to the parents who don't have child care when their kids aren't in school (grandparents haven't been an option for months)? Do we cancel their working lives until September as well? Who pays for this?

As you've demonstrated

Sounds like a terrific idea if it will teach them how to keep hold of their bottle when they have a voting slip in their hands

So how do you move schools online?

And you are living proof that people need education 😉

As previously mentioned, at my daughter's school (and no doubt many others), keeping the kids out of school is pretty much the same as cancelling their education, especially as it is their GCSE year. I'm well aware that GCSEs are largely meaningless in the wider society (but that comes with the benefit of age!), but try telling that to a sixteen year old who has spent the last 4 or 5 years 'gearing up' for the event. It's an educational 'right of passage' that will affect lots of kids in many different ways.

Damn those parents wanting their kids to receive an education - especially the parents of Y11 and Y13 kids.

Do you have the answer for how to save everyone?

It's not just the kids' education though is it? For some families one parent may have to stop working to look after their child(ren), there is no financial assistance if they are forced to do this. For some this may mean a stark choice between paying rent / mortgage / bills and eating food. Financial pressure will add stress / anxiety to the family. All of a sudden it doesn't seem quite so selfish for them to be a bit upset about it....

Just asked my daughter if her school will be holding her classes online from Monday - like lots of other schools up and down the country! Apparently they aren't. The reason for this is due to "safe guarding". No further explanation given as presumably everyone in the world will know why that would cause issues at her school but not at all the others! We shall be back to the tried and tested method of the kids being given a little bit of home work on Google classroom and we will only be informed what work (if any) they should have completed, sometime the following week when it will be too late to do anything about...

Good luck - I'd rather risk a limb or two than sit on the turbo! Mind numbing!

When they shut the schools (if indeed they are doing so to protect the teachers), are they saying that the lives of teachers are more important than bin men / women and recycling workers?

You didn't miss much, it was pretty grim out there!!! I waited about 2 hours longer than normal to head out to allow the ice on the roads to melt - still some twitchy moments even staying within a couple of miles of the sea! Got home just as it started raining / sleeting. Forecast is better for tomorrow and shouldn't be icy.

Is this any good if you are completely crocked like me? Back and knees are ruined so I have to rely on cycling for cardio (haven't been able to run more than 20 yards for 20 odd years as the knee pain is horrendous) and 2/3 sessions a week in the gym for strength training.