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??

Brilliant! This thread has made Mumsnetmadness on twitter!

An American friend of mine, who is used to a split secondary (separate middle and high) school system, is obsessed with this and is always going on about how she doesn't want her primary and middle school aged DC exposed to high school students. Here in France there are loads of all-through (3-18) Catholic schools where no one bats an eyelid at DC of different ages mixing together - indeed, there are lots of larger (4+) sibling groups with mixed ages where DC see their siblings' friends regularly. It's a non issue, as it should be... age segregation is not healthy.

Your American friend is dreaming Bobochic My oldest two went to school in US K-12 and the younger one K- 4th grade. and is now in UK high school.
In the US they were constantly pairing up older and younger kids for reading help, and other things, they even did a farm day at the high school, where they would bus the little kids to the high school from the Kindergarten and the high school kids took them around the animals, looked after them and made sure they were safe. Both my boys had to accompany kinder kids when they were 16/17.
I think the fear of older teens is something that people who don't have older kids feel, once you have kids that age, you realize they aren't that bad. Most of the ones I know are actually really nice people.
High schoolers were also in great demand for babysitting in the summer holidays.

As with many things in the States education systems depend not only on the state but on the city or local school board too. Where we used to live in New York the system was elementary, middle school, high school. We weren't there too long but I don't recall anyone discussing much mixing between the schools. I'm sure there are plenty of areas like this. It's quite possible that Bobchic's friend may never have experienced any other school set up.

It's appalling that some schools actually allow teachers in their twenties access to children to teach them.

I can't believe this ridiculous thread hasn't been pulled. For shame!

The key word is "alone". Where on earth does a secondary give access to ANYONE alone with the Yr 7s? I bet there isn't one. And if it's a load of older kids giving time to the younger ones and they're all together in the library, where's the problem?

This is ridiculous. And if it IS a much older child segregating them away, report it to the police. But it isn't, so it isn't a post. Stop now!

YABU. This is ridiculous.

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?

It depends on the reason they are repeating or if they have had a year out. Someone in my brother's year had one parent die when they were in lower sixth and the other a year later, the impact on their studies meant they repeated a year.

In some places children take a gap year at 16, some kids start A levels then swap to BTEC, some have had health issues so need to restart.

There are exceptions of course. But the pupils repeating Year 13 in my experience have been merely trying to improve past grades.

My son was a year behind due to mental health problems. He has a beard and everything :)
I am immensely grateful to my school for allowing him to do it as he is at uni now and got a massive art scholarship with their support.
My middle son 'helps' with a year seven boy. He mentors him as he has problems staying in class- he has asd and is bullied. My ds has two brothers with autism so is good with him. I am proud he can do something positive within school.

So suppose your 11 yo DC goes to the swimming pool or even a shop. Should the managenent dBS every customer in case they are alone with your dc

My 16 year old ran a reading group for younger children who were age 7-8 at the local primary school, how dreadful of him to offer and for the school to allow it! They were in the library each week for an hour.

My son is in the lower 6th at the moment, and he helps out with year 7 in DT. He does things like soldering etc which they aren't able to do, and would normally have to wait for the teacher. He is really enjoying it, and enjoying working with the younger ones (although it's put him off teaching as a career!).
I was a 6th form pupil and also stayed until I was 19 as I changed my courses to suit my degree I decided on. In my experience 6th formers look after the younger ones. Be it in school, looking out for bullying, helping kids who are lost etc or on the school bus making sure everyone is ok.
Often you find the younger ones listen more to an older pupil than they do a teacher!
I'm taken aback that parents would be that paranoid over things happening. There's more chance of something happening outside of the school environment.