Some Questions To Ask Your Head Today

In the wake of the DfE's announcement of school closures, there are still many things unclear. Some will wait for a few days, such as how Year 11 and Year 13 students are to be assessed. Others are more urgent.

Headteachers will be making difficult decisions, but they should not have to do so alone. There is no plan, so getting this right for staff, students and their families will involve the talents of the whole staff, asking the right questions and offering useful solutions where we can.

With that in mind, here are some questions and suggestions you might want to make today. Every school will be in a different situation, but hopefully these will be helpful. If you have your own suggestions, please comment below!

1. Gavin Williamson said that schools will need to be open over Easter for children of key workers. This staffing should be done by supply staff and the government should be billed.
2.   How quickly are the meal vouchers the government promised for families in poverty going to be in place, and what is the plan to provide FSM students until it is?
3. Are plans for regular deep cleaning in place?
4. Are plans for catering in place?
5.   We need clarity on how to open the school to a limited number of students and minimise the risk of spreading covid-19. Do we have a good idea of the likely size of the student body during the crisis?
6. The government advice to work from home where possible still applies and the numbers of staff sick and self-isolating is bound to fluctuate dramatically over the next few weeks. How do we ensure that learning is provided for as many students as possible and that those remaining in school for the whole school day are supervised adequately without the burden falling unfairly on a few staff? 
7. Would daily departmental briefings using a video conference system like Zoom help with planning?
8. Although this is not the top priority right now, it will quickly become important. For Year 11 and 13 students moderated teacher judgement should be used to assign student grades. For Year 6 a straightforward teacher assessment in a format that is thought best by Year 6 teachers, that can be forwarded to secondary, would give a more fair overall picture of the student and be more useful than SATs for secondary teachers.

More generally, we don't know what might come out from government over the next couple of days or weeks. We also don't know if all head teachers / employers will put reasonable expectations on staff. It's important that you have contact details for your colleagues. We can help with online meetings if necessary - just get in touch through kieran.picken@neu.org.uk

There is an NEU WhatsApp group that you can join too - text 07947 668 268 with your name and membership number if you would like to join!