to think it's quite concerning how 19 year olds have such easy access of 11 year olds in a school setting?

[Zootopials]

Most schools in this area have a sixth form and there is no separate building. These sixth formers often do 1-1 reading etc with the Year 7s. AIBU to think it's a bit concerning??

[EatSpamAmandaLamb]

I agree with Misc ^

I see a time in the future where every adult will need to be police checked to be in a supermarket aisle or park with children.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

I hope not.

[bittapitta]

Pluto and user some parts of the UK still have middle schools! That's really not the issue here anyway.

OP I think yanbu but not for any "paedo fear" reasons, just that sixth formers don't automatically have the maturity to mentor year 7s like this without some training.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Re: Australia - depends on the state, I presume. Never heard of a middle school here, myself (am in WA).

[sashh]

Australia is a big country with different laws in different states.

They also pioneered 'school of the air' which might be an ideal way for the OP's child to be educated, no physical contact at all.

There are also some middles schools in England.

OP

Children reading to a VI former are not actually alone with them. They are in a library or outside a classroom in a corridor where they can be seen through the door.

If you go to a new build school you will find a lot of glass, glass in doors, some glass walls. Schools are designed with safeguarding in mind.

1 to 1 does not mean alone.

[Stillwishihadabs]

My 12 yo loves having input from the 6th formers. There are 2 "prefects" asigned to each yr 7 Form. The 11/12 love it, it teaches the 17 yo responsibility- what's not to like ? (All boys school if that makes a difference). In the same way at primary the yr6s are given a "buddy" in the new yrR to look out for in the playground/ help at lunchtime- do you have a problem with that too ?

[goldopals]

Middle schools in australia are usually part of a high school or area school. I've always taught in small country towns which have one school on the same campus.

Middle school is 7-9 in a separate building, but students share spaces with senior school 10-12 and primary. It works for us and there aren't any issues with year sevens being near year twelves.

[JigglyTuff]

Since when were 19 YOs in 6th form?

[heebiejeebie]

A Police check isn't magic. If a child had been convicted of a serious sexual offence, the school would already know about it, surely?

[whyohwhy000]

JigglyTuff The 19 YOs in sixth forms have redone either Y12 or Y13.

[Klaphat]

Since when were 19 YOs in 6th form?

The year after you would normally be in Year 13 is the last year you can be there. During which you turn 19.

[Oblomov16]

Yes, maybe when your child starts reception and is given a buddy from year 1, you should refuse, in case the year 1 'buddy' abuses your child?

[seven201]

Wowzers. It's not like it's 1 on 1 in an empty house or anything. It can't be nice going through life being this suspicious of everyone.

[KittyVonCatsington]

The school will know if one of their students has a criminal record believe me and would not be putting your child at risk, so your concern is not valid in this case OP. YABVU.
And could you tell me, in a school based Sixth Form, why you think there will be 19 year olds there? There won't be. 17-18 year olds only. 19 year olds can come back to sit an exam during exam season but cannot be on roll.
Unless you are talking about Sixth Form Colleges? If so, your child won't be attending one will they?

[VintagePerfumista]

Being the owner of a middle school child, and a teacher of 180 14-19 yr olds, I can confirm that isolating the neither-fish-nor-fowl age group is very probably done to protect the rest of society from them

But, yes, of course YABU.

Do you keep your 11 yr old away from Uncle Joe unless he's been DBSd as well? What with it far more likely him to be having a fumble and all?

[VintagePerfumista]

Re: 19 yr olds in school- given the (seemingly blanket) number of MNers who want to keep their kids out of school till they're about 7 I imagine before long we're going to get 24 yr olds sitting there as well.

[RacoonBandit]

YABU.

I wish people would stop thinking a DBS is like some protective shield.
There have been a fair number of teachers who have abused their positions regarding pupils......they are DBS checked and it ment jack shit.
It must be very distressing living life where you assume every adult that has contact with a child is out to hurt them.
The answer is not to keep our children in isolation.

[GnomeDePlume]

YWNBU to ask what the set up would be eg in an area of the library or in a populated classroom is fine but behind closed doors is not fine.

Out in view is safest for all concerned including the older student who then cant be accused of any impropriety.

[KinkyDoritoWithKnobsOn]

Year 12 = 16-17
Year 13 = 17-18

If some have missed a year or repeated, you might get a 19 year old.

I've run reading schemes with Sixth formers. Firstly, getting a Sixth former who is willing to volunteer is hard, so there aren't that many of them. They tend to be the ones who want to teach Primary and want some experience on their CV. Secondly, we safeguard so no student would be left alone in that context with another student to protect BOTH of them. This means they would go to read in an area where adults were present, like the library. This would be timetabled during form time. I've also had Sixth formers volunteer in lessons, but, again, this is with the teacher present.

If they volunteer in another school they have to be DBS checked, like any other person wanting to work there or they must be supervised at all times.

[Sparklingbrook]

If the student is having to repeat year 13 they should concentrate on their own studies rather than doing 1:1 with younger students surely?

We have 3 tier in these parts. So no 11 year olds at either of my children's High schools.

[UsedToBeAPaxmanFan]

YABU. You sound slightly over-anxious. I used to work in a school and in my experience the Y7 kids had more issues with the Y9s, in terms of bullying etc. In contrast, by 6th form most pupils were much more mature.

[Oysterbabe]

When I was 12 I used to generally go out and about on my own. You know in town, where there were adults

Yabu.

[BarbarianMum]

No it doesn't concern me at all. I'm happy for my children to live, play and work amongst a whole cross section of society.

[Mistoffelees]

I work in a primary school, on a child protection training day the lady leading it asked who we thought posed risk to the children in schools, we came up with visitors, volunteers, sports coaches etc. She said nobody ever thinks about the children themselves, she mentioned specifically 'Playground Pals', in our school they are KS2 children who play with the younger children at lunchtime, sometimes the lunchtime supervisors send them in with a younger child who wants to use the toilet, there are no adults in the area when this happens, the training lady suggested this was far from ideal.

So I'd agree that 1:1 unsupervised between a 19 and 11 year old would be similarly unsuitable. In fact when I did my childcare course at 18 I had to have a CRB as it was then.