smurfomatic

By some reports (notably on The Register here) the app they're using needs to be running constantly in the foreground, as it's not integrated into Apple or Android systems. Also some major data protection and privacy concerns, especially as some of the main players involved in developing the app have ties to Cambridge Analytica. Add to that it'll be pretty much useless once I'm back at work - in a school with 300 children aged 13 and under, who aren't allowed phones - I certainly won't be installing it.

It's certainly going to take time to re-adjust back to "working from work". If I'm honest it's been very quiet for me over the last few weeks, testament to how much work the Head of IT did over Easter preparing Google classroom and prepping the teachers on what to do. I'd much rather be busy (or at least have something to do) as it's really hammering my previous mental health issues - making me feel like I'm a fraud for still working when I should be furloughed, as I'm obviously not really "working".

It's a massive increase, even on yesterday - which was 52,000 tests and 33,000 people according to waybackmachine's capture of the gov.uk website: https://web.archive.org/web/20200430175708/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The original target was to carry out 100,000 a day, not to post them to people. 73,000 actually tested yesterday, which is a great number but should be a lot higher by now.

We just had a survey back from our parents in years 3 to 8. Typical answers, complaining about the amount of screen time but wanting online lessons in full rather than just being set assignments!

Agree - "positive tests per 1000 tests" and "tests per 100,000 population" would help show the differences between countries. For example, I have a friend living in Vietnam. They have had 270 positive tests and zero deaths. This in a country of 95 million. So is this due to their extensive testing regime? No, as they've done less than 200,000 tests. They have a significantly higher positive testing ratio that everywhere else, because they have full contact tracing and isolation for every infected case. So, Vietnam would have a higher first number, but a much lower second number, than the UK.

Frustrating issue with Google Classroom, which I can't find a solution for! Two pupils in a class haded their work in "late" (past the deadline set in the assignment). Classroom shows work as being submitted, but doesn't show their work! All pupils who handed in "on time" have their Google Form data in the list, but the late ones aren't there at all. Strangely, another pupil who was also late has his results appearing fine...

Oversimplified though, and not a fair comparison - the "second" scenario, with early lockdown, doesn't have either "handwashing" or "stay at home if ill" phases, which he showed made a big difference to the peak anyway. I like the "disclaimer, I'm a geotechnical engineer so I don't know what I'm talking about" bit at the start though, perfectly validates the rest of the video!

Well I've had an answer from Tesco regarding my mistaken "priority booking" status: So it may be from when I was hospitalised with appendicitis six years ago (before I moved house, hence the disconnect between email and postal addresses) - no-one else would be using my email on NHS, at least I hope not! Either that or a typo...

Few random ones for me: Cherie Blair - then wife of the Prime Minister - opened our Sixth Form Centre when I was at school, managed to miss me out on the handshakes though! I met Prince Philip a few years ago at St James Palace, through fundraising work for the BHF. Alan Moore, creator of V for Vendetta, Watchmen, etc. lives locally so occasionally bump into him. One of our (now former) pupils played Prince Charles aged about 12 in The Crown. Several famous people have been prospective and current or past parents (joys of being an independent school) but shouldn't mention those...

We all expect @JordanT91 do record a video like this to prove it...

Went to the local "big" supermarket this morning, around 10.30 and there wasn't a queue! Stood at the front while the security guard spoke with a colleague for a few moments, then he let me in. He did say that I could start a queue if I wanted though...

My ex-boss (before I worked in education) bought a Dalek, used it in the local carnival. This was very funny as (a) it was a really hot day, (b) he was a big guy - well over 6 foot - and © I didn't like him. He was very hot and annoyed by the end of the parade!

Been meaning to do this for a while, but @Garacesh post above spurred me on. My message to my MP:

That sounds more logical than forwarding all emails to one address, and then realising there isn't anyone checking it! At least they've sorted out the "who is checking it" part - and it's not me (thankfully) so others - including the person who thought it was a good idea to use one account - can deal with the deluge.

We're an independent school, so our funding is basically based on sales! Announced yesterday that fees for next term will be reduced by a significant amount so we need to save money somehow. We had been told at the end of term gathering before the school closed, that wages were guaranteed until May, but obviously things have changed. The plan is for these staff (including teachers, TAs and admin staff) to auto-forward their emails to the main "school office" account. However, there are several key flaws in this plan: First, the email address sent out in the instructions to those furloughed was wrong. Second, this email account will now get hammered with 30 or so forwarded versions of the same email for every "all staff" message. Third, the school secretaries (who normally monitor this account) are on the furlough list so who is checking the emails?! Also, the message sent out didn't use BCC (the email was forwarded to me by one of the staff when the "school office" auto forwarding bounced back) so all those on the list got to see staff emails - including quite a lot of personal email accounts. Fortunately, other than dealing with the immediate issues around the email forwarding, this is SEP and I'm "on holiday" from Friday for two weeks, so I'm sure it'll be a quiet time off...

Just found out my colleague/assistant has been put on furlough - the bursar was supposed to have told me, instead I found out when my colleague contacted me to check something about forwarding his emails!

......

Just been asked to set up a laptop for a new member of staff (well, in fact two, but I only have one spare). Not particularly happy at this, but (as said above) the site is empty so will be at minimal risk of infection!

We have confirmed that we don't have any key worker children to look after, so the site has been closed down except for resident staff (independent prep school with boarding) and people who need to briefly visit the school for tasks like collecting paperwork to work from home.

I have two weeks booked to take over Easter - next week and the week after. I don't have a problem with that, as the school is completely closed there's no point "working from home" during that time. I will still be monitoring emails, just in case something needs responding to urgently.

226 (hoping you remember where they're all hidden - if one is left behind those screens it might come to a sticky end...)

Juice?

Lots of applause in my area (though I could only see one bloke) plus car horns and a couple of fireworks, really uplifting.

Pinched from a friend's Facebook feed...