8 schools now closed for weeks due to false widow spiders

Covered End

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

Pringle

This story has legs.

Covered End

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

Schools afraid parents will sue if a kid is bitten?

Covered End

stonemuse said:

Schools afraid parents will sue if a kid is bitten?

That's what I was thinking.

hoof_it_up_to_benty

Utterly f***ing ridiculous.

Baldybonce

A web of intrigue.

And god help when the Russians are marching up the A2.

DaveMehmet

I bet the kids are loving it.

hoof_it_up_to_benty

DaveMehmet said:

I bet the kids are loving it.

I've been selling them spiders.

Chizz

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

Covered End said:

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.

WSS

Was is there a school named after JFK in England?

1StevieG

hoof_it_up_to_benty said:

DaveMehmet said:

I bet the kids are loving it.

I've been selling them spiders.

Spider pimp

Addickted

How do you threaten a spider?

Leroy Ambrose

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

Addickted said:

How do you threaten a spider?

Who you looking at,at,at,at,at,at,at,at?

Stig

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

Baldybonce said:

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.

thai malaysia addick

This story is all over the web

moutuakilla

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

Covered End

moutuakilla said:

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

Newham.

soapy_jones

Soft as fucking shite generation...

Carter

soapy_jones said:

Soft as fucking shite generation...

Soft as shite generation that keep stabbing each other

hoof_it_up_to_benty

Carter said:

soapy_jones said:

Soft as fucking shite generation...

Soft as shite generation that keep stabbing each other

But are scared of spiders!

ShootersHillGuru

are spiders repelled by conkers ?

cblock

Probably not. try googling it

cblock

After research, only if they fall on there heads.

moutuakilla

ShootersHillGuru said:

are spiders repelled by conkers ?

No

redman

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