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8 schools now closed for weeks due to false widow spiders

Covered End
Covered End Posts: 52,004
edited October 2018 in Not Sports Related
My understanding is that a small percentage of these spiders can occasionally bite and even if they do their venom is no worse than a wasp sting.

Yet we now have 8 schools closed until the end of the month.

It seems ridiculous to me. Surely, the spiders should be removed within 24-48 hours ?

"Two more east London schools have closed because of an infestation of false widow spiders.

John F Kennedy Special School, which has campuses in Stratford and Beckton, and Godwin Junior School, in Forest Gate, announced they would close.

False widows are about the size of a 50p coin and are the most dangerous spider species in the UK.

Four secondary schools and four primary schools, all in Newham, have closed for various amounts of time.

Thousands of children have been forced to miss up to a month of lessons because of the spider outbreaks, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

JFK School said it would close "until further notice" while Godwin School is closing for five days.

They join Eastlea Community School in Canning Town, which shut on Wednesday until after half term to clear the arachnids.

Its headteacher Stephen Gillatt said in a statement the decision to close was "taken in best interests of the safety of students" and followed "careful deliberation".

Two other secondaries - Rokeby School and Lister Community School - have also shut until the end of the month.

Work has also been set for pupils to do at home.

False widow infestations have been found at numerous locations across the affected schools, both inside and outside the school buildings.

Newham Council said it was working with schools to ensure children can still learn while missing lessons."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-45830259

Comments

  • Pringle
    Pringle Posts: 464
    This story has legs.
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,004
    Every autumn there are reports of false widow spiders becoming uninvited eight-legged houseguests in homes across the UK.

    But despite looking similar to the more dangerous black widows, all these spiders are likely to do is give you a small and relatively harmless bite.

    http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2017/december/how-dangerous-are-false-widow-spiders.html
  • stonemuse
    stonemuse Posts: 34,002
    edited October 2018
    Schools afraid parents will sue if a kid is bitten?
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,004
    stonemuse said:

    Schools afraid parents will sue if a kid is bitten?

    That's what I was thinking.
  • Utterly f***ing ridiculous.
  • Baldybonce
    Baldybonce Posts: 9,647
    A web of intrigue.

    And god help when the Russians are marching up the A2.
  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,599
    I bet the kids are loving it.
  • I bet the kids are loving it.

    I've been selling them spiders.
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,334
    stonemuse said:

    Schools afraid parents will sue if a kid is bitten?

    No. Schools afraid a kid will turn into red and blue lycra wearing, acrobatic, web-shooting justice warriors if bitten.
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024

    Every autumn there are reports of false widow spiders becoming uninvited eight-legged houseguests in homes across the UK.

    But despite looking similar to the more dangerous black widows, all these spiders are likely to do is give you a small and relatively harmless bite.

    http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2017/december/how-dangerous-are-false-widow-spiders.html

    Not even likely to. The males won't bite at all and the females will only bite if threatened.
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  • WSS
    WSS Posts: 25,070
    Was is there a school named after JFK in England?
  • 1StevieG
    1StevieG Posts: 10,964

    I bet the kids are loving it.

    I've been selling them spiders.
    Spider pimp
  • Addickted
    Addickted Posts: 19,456
    How do you threaten a spider?

  • Leroy Ambrose
    Leroy Ambrose Posts: 14,436
    Same reason there's a school named after Margaret Thatcher in Spain. They're historical figures. They just happen to be more recent than most
  • Baldybonce
    Baldybonce Posts: 9,647
    Addickted said:

    How do you threaten a spider?

    Who you looking at,at,at,at,at,at,at,at?
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024
    stonemuse said:

    Schools afraid parents will sue if a kid is bitten?

    There are two things we really need to get a grip of in this country. One is the ridiculous letigious attitude that we seem to have fostered over the past few decades; not everything that happens is someones fault. Sometimes things just happen. If you want to make some money, get a job and earn it rather than trying to get something for nothing. The other is the pathetic fear bordering paranoia of any creature that those to ignorant to do any research think might be dangerous. Get a bloody grip. No-one in this country was ever harmed by a spider. Even in Australia where, I'll admit, they have a few spiteful ones, no-one ever dies. There is nothing to fear. Grow up.
  • Pringle
    Pringle Posts: 464

    Addickted said:

    How do you threaten a spider?

    Who you looking at,at,at,at,at,at,at,at?
    I threatened a spider once, but I was only pulling his leg.
  • This story is all over the web
  • moutuakilla
    moutuakilla Posts: 7,568
    Speaking as someone works in a school, where can I get a supply of these? Asking for a friend...
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,004

    Speaking as someone works in a school, where can I get a supply of these? Asking for a friend...

    Newham.
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  • soapy_jones
    soapy_jones Posts: 21,353
    Soft as fucking shite generation...
  • Carter
    Carter Posts: 14,244

    Soft as fucking shite generation...

    Soft as shite generation that keep stabbing each other
  • Carter said:

    Soft as fucking shite generation...

    Soft as shite generation that keep stabbing each other
    But are scared of spiders!
  • are spiders repelled by conkers ?
  • cblock
    cblock Posts: 1,959
    Probably not. try googling it
  • cblock
    cblock Posts: 1,959
    After research, only if they fall on there heads.
  • moutuakilla
    moutuakilla Posts: 7,568

    are spiders repelled by conkers ?

    No
  • redman
    redman Posts: 5,285
    stonemuse said:

    Schools afraid parents will sue if a kid is bitten?

    as opposed to suing because they aren't getting an education?
    Which is more important ffs