Exam invigilation and the furlough scheme.

sharpe106

Without knowing the actual cost who knows, but you are probably right. I think they are probably trying to do it that way so everybody doesn't tell them to get lost in the Autumn because they are so annoyed at the way they have been dealt with. If they can do it legally or not is a different matter. That depends on your contract with them. 

InvigillJill

My understanding from all of the documents I had seen on the Department of Education website regarding payments to staff due to the coronavirus, was that all supply teachers should be paid by the school if employed at the school at the time of closure, or by their agency if not currently in employment at a school - schools were to continue to pay their suppliers.      It also states that if schools need further funding due to additional costs associated with coronavirus, and you could say putting on the extra exams in Autumn term could be covered by this, then schools can apply for that funding from the Government - so in a nutshell schools saying they will only pay 50% due to not having the budget etc is a bit cheeky!   I also looked on the one of the teacher's union websites and had thought about contacting them if my outcome hadn't been favourable re pay. Good luck

Mike_in_Horwich

This may be contenious - so apologies if you are upset (please see the note at the bottom).

I have come to the conclusion that this country can only fully return to work (assuming most employees desire to return) if the teachers return to their work. Childcare is difficult to arrange at short notice, and expensive. Whilst many people are able to work from home (I have for over 30 years) it's not possible for all. Plus, it takes a certain mental attitude to do so especially when you have young children.

I have yet to receive ANY communication from the school where I've invigilated for 13 years - even after many, many emails asking for information. I suspect they are disinterested in matters slightly outside their immediate concern. This worries me.

I foresee a situation in September where, with the union's proactive lead, teachers will argue that it is unsafe to return to normal classrooms. They will press for delays in restarting - they will press for more money (already shaping-up for that now). I'm aghast to see that my (previous) school has two 'Inset Days' scheduled for the 7th/8th September, prior to starting real school on Wednesday, 9th Sept. 2020.

WHY?

They've had over five months of partial working. Could these 'inset days' not have been scheduled for the final days of the week prior to real re-start?

I used the phrase previous above; I cannot return to work at this school.

I warned this may be contentious. Live with it (please). It's free speech in action.

bradders1983

Inset days are five per school year here, I imagine its a rigid figure that cant be carried over from year to year. "Aghast" really is the wrong word 🤣

Mike_in_Horwich

I agree - aghast is the wrong word.

Shocked and Horrified is better. Let's use three words in place of one.

:-)

bradders1983

Also, calendars are decided at least a year in advance, long before little pandemics happen 😘 if they change them now then people will moan they havent enough notice for childcare etc. 

Mike_in_Horwich

bradders1983, I fail to see how bringing forward the first two Inset days from Monday/Tuesday 7/8 September to, say, Thursday/Friday 3/4 September can cause any issues with childcare. It would however provide two additional teaching days for the students who have lost so many days so far this academic year. It will of course cut into the teachers seven week holiday break but I'd argue that has to be acceptable given most teachers will not have worked too many full, five day weeks since 23rd March 2020.

Teachers who have already booked holidays (abroad or in the UK) that include the 3rd and 4th of September may of course be exempted from attending those Inset days.

bradders1983

You dont see how moving two days off  would disrupt the plans of potentially hundreds of parents?  Really? Think we will need to agree to disagree on this one.

strawb_shortcake

Agree with Bradders, every year our secondary school has an inset day the second Friday back in September. This year was our first time of being able to take advantage of this, we like many others of parents had planned a weekend at Center Parcs (thankfully we hadn't booked). 
But now the inset day has changed to many parents annoyance.
Obviously there is the additional changes to planned child care not just holidays.

Mike_in_Horwich

What am I missing here guys?

As things stand the pupils at the school (I was once an invigilator at) do NOT return to school until Wednesday, 9th September. The teachers return for the two Inset Days on Mon/Tue 7th and 8th. That was the plan when the academic timetable was laid out perhaps one or two years back and before the pandemic.

Things change.

I'm proposing the pupils return on Monday - 7th September. Any pre-booked on holiday would be given an exemption. Those teachers booked to be away on Thursday/Friday likewise exempted. They can catch up with issues the first week back - few will be affected I suspect.

Parents are unaffected as their children would now attend starting Monday instead of Wednesday. In fact, that's a plus for them as they could return to work two days earlier or save two days childcare costs.

Flexibility is called for here. We invigilators at the school have been VERY flexible to the extent that we'll earn nothing this summer and presumably will be asked to attend a full exam schedule in November for those wishing to sit the exam to beat their assessment.

Heck, if I was running things I'd be looking to open the schools throughout the summer for any students wishing to attend and take the opportunity to learn what they should have covered in the past five months.