Potentially odd question about secondary school

[Hellocatshome]

So do you still have to do joined up writing in secondary school? DS is going to secondary school in September his joined up writing is practically illegible. They made him persevere as in their words "you "can't pass your sats without joined up writing". Well in the end there wasn't any sats and as he is actually quite capable in other subjects I would hate for him to struggle at secondary because no-one can read what he has written.

I have two at secondary and haven’t heard joined up writing mentioned once and my DDs aren’t doing it.

I’m a TA in primary and do have to say what the bloody heck is the point of cursive? Some kids it works to make neater and others it doesn’t. Why can’t we let kids find their own with handwriting. As you’ve all said, so long as it’s legible what is the problem? Also if secondary doesn’t care then why so we insist on it in primary? Bonkers

@ButterflyBitch

I’m a TA in primary and do have to say what the bloody heck is the point of cursive? Some kids it works to make neater and others it doesn’t. Why can’t we let kids find their own with handwriting. As you’ve all said, so long as it’s legible what is the problem? Also if secondary doesn’t care then why so we insist on it in primary? Bonkers

I don't see the point, either. I was taught to print letters at primary, long before the 'we want to bring back slates and 50 to a class' brigade started messing about. By 15, I naturally started joining up letters due to the number of essays I wrote and, as a result, I can write clearly in all situations - for notices/signs/menuboards/etc, where it needs to be printed and when writing letters.

The main priority in my mind is that everybody else needs to be able to read what you have written - which is far less likely when a small child, one who might have hypermobility (as I did), is being forced to add extra bits that are nothing remotely like the text you read on screen or in books.

There’s 2 purposes to cursive in primary - theoretically it’s faster, and as above, one of the grade descriptors for the writing is joined writing. That’s why KS2 teachers push it. (Plus, some primary teachers are obsessed with neatness and handwriting. I’m a primary teacher and as long as I can read it and it isn’t overly messy - loads of crossing out and so on - I just don’t care. Means my year 6 books are often not as neat as y3/4 though!!)

Hilarious - I remember this also being impressed upon us in year 6! Then as soon as you're in year 7 nobody cares

I can write much faster/neater not joined up.

I’m sure the ‘joined up is faster’ theory has been disproved. It’s a dreadful system my DS is struggling to write legibly still I’m glad to hear in secondary school no one cares

Tell him just to commit to the story! Whatever wonderful things the character has been doing, stick with them. Don’t ruin a wonderful engaging plot by telling us it was a dream.

(I tell my pupils this every year and every year some smart arse decides they’re going to do the best dream story ever… tch)

No, just legible. My child wasn't even writing joined up when he came to the UK just before year 6 SATs, he'd only had to do it in his handwriting book in handwriting lessons before. Teacher told him to do it for SATs then it wouldn't matter after that.

My uni age DS unjoined up his own writing when preparing for GCSEs. He just couldn't be bothered to do it the laborious way any more. He's now at uni and does everything on the computer. It's fine.

@PotteringAlong

I’m a secondary teacher. The emphasis on joined up writing in primary schools baffles me. As long as it’s legible, no one will ever mention his writing ever again…!

It is unfortunately a requirement of the Year 6 standards to get an expected judgement.

@MajorBumsore I know it is, I’m just baffled as to why it is as we never talk about it from after September of year 7