Corona Virus & Independent Schools/Academys

[Jamman960]

Evening all, how are other Independents faring in this situation? We're an Independent Prep school in outer london/kent

 

Fortunatly our switch to home learning has been received well by parents so far, We've been 1:1 with iPads in the prep department for a couple of years but never sent them home, They were all sent home with the pupils and they've been working via SMHW/Showbie for the last week and a half. I've pushed the use of Teams between staff and am planning to make use of it with pupils after the easter break.

 

We've reduced fee's by 10-15% to reflect reduced costs, we're hoping a good proportion of the fee's are paid ready for the Summer term.

 

Also are Academies affected in the same way? I met a teacher from an Academy the other day who said they've been warned that if they don't set a good amount of work they'll have their pay reduced.

[hardtailstar]

I met a teacher from an Academy the other day who said they've been warned that if they don't set a good amount of work they'll have their pay reduced.

 

Im sure they could contact their union about that as they have got together to issue advice and stressing that teachers would not be expected to carry on the same work load.

 

We are run by an academy trust although not in the trust as we are PFI and the trust has basically said the same.

 

Although there will be some that'll use those comments as an extended holiday!

[Brimstone]

I’ve got an independent academy who started a 1:1 iPad program last September for 2 Yr groups. The school are using a Seesaw, as it’s a prep school. With the coming remote working arriving the school were contacted by a number of parents who were not part of this wanting to use it for home learning.

 

As a result, they have just ordered another 60 x iPads, all will be managed and supervised via DEP and Jamf Pro, with a staggered approach for parents to collect the iPad from school and activate them at home with apps being pushed out via Jamf.

 

I’m not trying to be flippant here, but it’s at times like these you really do see those schools that innovate in their teaching and learning practices and use technology successfully throughout their schools. This school, like many have had some challenges but this situation has had very little impact on the teaching and learning.

[Jamman960]

I agree, our Prep department has been 1:1 for the last few years and have coped very well with the change, our Pre Prep haven't been able to integrate tech quite so well so are finding it more difficult - we're looking at deploying iPads to Y2(50) early as they would have received them in September anyway but teacher and pupil training is making the powers that be reluctant at the moment. I'm currently in talks with our supplier to get the iPads despatched directly to parents and then provisioned via DEP if we do decide to go ahead.

 

The cloud in general has been a godsend, if this had happened 5+ years ago we'd be looking at a very different outcome.

[elsiegee40]

Independent schools and academies differ in their funding sources.

 

Independent schools can only spend fee income and their teachers may not be paid in line with STPCD. Staff are vulnerable to pay cuts and furlough.

 

Academies spend public money and will continue to receive their allocation. Employers that receive public money are not eligible for more public money through the furlough scheme. So if they furlough staff, it won’t benefit the academy trust budget.

 

Where publicly funded schools and academies stand on imposing pay cuts, I don’t know. Teachers paid under STPCD are undoubtedly safe unless they are supply. Support staff may not be so lucky.

[Brimstone]

Independent schools and academies differ in their funding sources.

 

Independent schools can only spend fee income and their teachers may not be paid in line with STPCD. Staff are vulnerable to pay cuts and furlough.

 

Academies spend public money and will continue to receive their allocation. Employers that receive public money are not eligible for more public money through the furlough scheme. So if they furlough staff, it won’t benefit the academy trust budget.

 

Where publicly funded schools and academies stand on imposing pay cuts, I don’t know. Teachers paid under STPCD are undoubtedly safe unless they are supply. Support staff may not be so lucky.

I’ve got plenty of other LA funded schools doing this successfully as well, this was just one example.The Prep school in question has been extremely short of money over the past few years.

 

So please don’t make the argument about money because is isn’t, it’s about schools using technology that’s simple and reliable to innovate their teaching and learning practice. The Prep only gave out a 1 page document to give to parents, instead of armfuls of printed and copied home working packs that probably get lost.

[Primus]

I’ve got plenty of other LA funded schools doing this successfully as well, this was just one example.The Prep school in question has been extremely short of money over the past few years.

 

So please don’t make the argument about money because is isn’t, it’s about schools using technology that’s simple and reliable to innovate their teaching and learning practice. The Prep only gave out a 1 page document to give to parents, instead of armfuls of printed and copied home working packs that probably get lost.

 

elsiegee40 wasn't making any kind of argument about anything, she was explaining the difference between independent schools and academies.

[elsiegee40]

I’ve got plenty of other LA funded schools doing this successfully as well, this was just one example.The Prep school in question has been extremely short of money over the past few years.

 

So please don’t make the argument about money because is isn’t, it’s about schools using technology that’s simple and reliable to innovate their teaching and learning practice. The Prep only gave out a 1 page document to give to parents, instead of armfuls of printed and copied home working packs that probably get lost.

 

I worked in an independent prep school for a decade. I am well aware how cash strapped they are. My network was almost literally held together by chewing gum, string and stuff bought second hand from eBay. Pay VAT on everything except advertising. I wasn’t arguing against any of you.

 

As a MAT Trustee I am also aware of public sector finances and the difference with independents.

Edited April 2, 2020 by elsiegee40