Year 13 - one day a week from September

[Historygeek05]

DD will be going into year 13 in September. She’s studying for three A levels at our local college.

We found out today that she will only be in college for one day each week from September - a one and a half hour lesson for each A level subject. I’m sure there will be online provision too but this doesn’t seem to be a set up which will enable her to have a decent chance at getting the grades she will need for her uni choices.

Is anyone else in the same boat? I’m assuming that all the A level students who are still in school settings rather than college will be back full time but I don’t really know.

[labyrinthloafer]

Yes full time, but we don't want to, feel like your set up is better!

Is your daughter getting on ok with online learning?

[Pipandmum]

Our y13 will be back full time along with the rest of the school (R thru to Y8 were back full time from mid June). I thought they had to be from September?

[GrammarTeacher]

Our year 13s will be back full time. 5 hours per week per subject.

[labyrinthloafer]

FE colleges are different to school sixth forms.

FE colleges are safer!

[steppemum]

ds will be back full time in September, he is in school sixth form.

He needs to be back, his school has been good, but he needs the interaction of the classroom. He has had a few days in during June and it has done him the world of good.

[Historygeek05]

Now I’m really worrried! She really needs to be back in the classroom too. I can accept that a blended learning model could work if it was, say, two-thirds of lessons in college and a third online. The online provision has been ok but not great.

It’s just not a level playing field for her. She got great GCSE results and should be looking at top grades at A level. Now - who knows?

[GrammarTeacher]

Have they explained why? It doesn't seem to fit government guidance.

[Historygeek05]

We haven’t had the official communication yet - it will be sent out next week apparently. FE colleges have their own guidance which seems to be different to schools. They are expected to ‘provide a full programme of study’ but are also able to ‘decide the appropriate mix of face to face and remote delivery’. Guess my view of appropriate mix is rather different to their’s.

[underneaththeash]

That's appalling OP - has she thought about starting again somewhere else?

[steppemum]

I think a lot of universities were talking about online provision frmo Sept. They sound as if they are following that rather than school sixth forms.

I think I woul be emailing them now, and pointing out that school sixth forms are back full time, and that you want more for your daughter.

I think parent pressure will make them think, don't wait until Sept.

[PumpkinPie2016]

I would be contacting the college to say that school 6th forms are back and ask for an explanation as to why they are not. Also, what the ppan going forward is.

I work in an 11-18 school and our sixth formers will be back in, full time, from September, same as everyone else. The only thing we are suggesting is that where they have a free period either first lesson or last lesson that they stay home/go home just to try to reduce the numbers in the study area.

However, if that isn't feasible, they can stay in the building.

[Radioheadrestart]

We’re back full time - thankfully, as the distanced learning has been a disaster.

[Fedup21]

Colleges often seem to have less face to face time than school sixth forms-my friends with children in Y13 were only in 3 days a week whereas mine who stayed in at school were in full time every day.

What was the timetable like last year in Y12?

[lifeafter50]

In my school (11-18) all will be back and the Y11 and Y13 getting extra sessions. Shocking that the FE colleges can get away with this dereliction of duty 😡

[optimisticpessimist01]

Our Y13s are back 5 hours a week for each subject. For a better education this is the best option, students learning remotely can't have misconceptions addressed like they can in lessons, and you have to rely on them completing the work to a high standard

[EvilTwins]

I teach in an FE setting. All of my students will be back in full time from September. Each year group does 4 full days (no free periods) and one study day, and that’s what we’ll be doing from mid-Sept.

[betteliefsen]

@labyrinthloafer

FE colleges are different to school sixth forms.

FE colleges are safer!

How do you work that out ? My dd's 6th form have their own catering area and space and hardly see the school.

[labyrinthloafer]

Insert 'some'!

I understood fe colleges will have greater observance of SD than school sixth forms?

[betteliefsen]

That's down to the students and their mindset though.

[Historygeek05]

Thanks everyone. All useful information.

In Year 12 she had 5 hours a week for each A level with the expectation she would do at least another 5 hours a week per subject working on her own.

I think I am going to wait until we have had the official communication next week and will then be wanting some answers!

[wentawaycameback]

Further Education College teacher here. 5 hours per A level. All students followed a full time online timetable throughout lockdown. Students back fulltime in September.

[OverTheRainbow88]

That’s disgraceful. She should be back full time. If not, mitigating circumstances should
be put forward to the exam board.

[Chasingsquirrels]

We've been told (also 6th form college) that at least for the 1st half term it will be alternate week onsite / week online (alternating yr 12 & 13).
Lessons changed to 2 x 2hr per day (was 5 x 1hr) with start times slightly staggered (10 & 10.30 and 1 & 1.15).
Students not to be on site if they don't have lessons (other than between the morning and afternoon lesson if they have both).

Vast majority use public transport to access the site.