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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DC are going to have to repeat a school year

376 replies

bigbananafeet12 · 15/05/2020 08:46

They finished school in March, there’s more chance teachers (and frightened parents) might be willing to get back into schools by next March. I know some dc are getting full school days on zoom, but for most their home learning is no substitute. Universities are planning on doing online learning for the first term too so loads will defer potentially causing problems for the current year 12.
You might say you’re dc are fine now but if things carry on like this in September, October, November and so on enthusiasm for home learning is going to decrease massively. It’s just unfair on dc. They need a chance to learn properly in the normal way. I honestly see no other satisfactory solution.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 15/05/2020 10:20

@bigbananafeet12
Is just here for frothing and wailing. She has no actual idea as to how to implement by her own demands

NailsNeedDoing · 15/05/2020 10:22

The starting age in other countries is irrelevant... People always seem to ignore that children in Scandinavia etc are in Preschool before school, which is remarkably similar to Reception class.. then go straight to desk learning when they start school at 6.

This! Drives me nuts when people say this. Even worse when they use it as an excuse to take as many term time holidays as they want in early years or KS1 or do bugger all to support their children when they’re still trying to learn to read. We are not other countries! We have the system we have, and if you miss chunks of it while everyone else is still learning in school, it does matter! It’s irrelevant what’s going on in other countries. Sorry, went off on a tangent there!

MinorArcana · 15/05/2020 10:22

I would love it if repeating a year was an option, especially for DC1 who was behind anyway when all this started.

But realistically, it’s a very impractical idea. I can’t see it happening.

CaryStoppins · 15/05/2020 10:23

@bigbananafeet12 ok, so not just repeat a year but a total overhaul of the school starting age and curriculum?

Would all private nurseries need to expand to take an extra year group of children? Ratios for childminders change so they can look after more children?

I'm not saying this is a bad idea, but a totally new curriculum, changes to early years funding and a huge national building project to increase nursery provision, and I'm guessing also changing the school leaving age to 19, is a huge undertaking.

avroroad · 15/05/2020 10:23

Some people will do it if their results turn out a lot worse than they think they might've been under usual conditions. I heard that some schools are doing exams in October or something for those not happy with their results.

That's ok for some. It won't suit all. I don't need a bored 17 year old being held back for no reason.

Smithy01 · 15/05/2020 10:23

@NoMoreDickHeads - I can assure you it isn’t easier doing online learning while studying for a degree. Uni’s aren’t geared up to provide this like Open University, plus the student isn’t supported the same. It’s been quite stressful for current students at uni’s to work from home. Plus like I said before they are paying quite a lot of money for things they’re not getting. I already know parents and young people who are thinking of deferring a year if there is any delay in the academic year starting, they are not prepared to take the risk or fund something they’re not getting.

CoRhona · 15/05/2020 10:24

Universities are planning on doing online learning for the first term

No they're not, they are deferring starting til October but it's still in person.

LolaSmiles · 15/05/2020 10:24

I should have said teachers are not prepared to go back to school in any capacity apart from to look after dc of key workers
OP can you stop with your scare-mongering about next March and stop with your 'teachers say... Teachers will/won't...'

It's looking very much like you're more interested in whipping up confrontation than anything else.

Parents want their children to be safe and for their children to receive an education.
Teachers want their students to be safe and for their students to receive an education.
Much as the government and right wing press are pushing for conflict, we are all on the same side.
There needs to be constructive dialogue between the government and schools over how and when to open schools in a way that minimises risk. We don't need inflammatory goading designed to wind teachers up and scare parents.

GrimmsFairytales · 15/05/2020 10:24

Teachers are saying pupils will be part time then at best and still not all year groups

Right now this is the most realistic situation for September. With the new guidance on group sizes, they are taking into account their staffing and lack of classrooms.

MrsKoala · 15/05/2020 10:26

For the millionth time. Teachers are still in school

Some are some aren’t. Dc school has only 6 kids in so my dc teachers have not been in since before the Easter hols. They are still working tho, recording stuff from home and making phone calls once a week etc.

Shopkinsdoll · 15/05/2020 10:26

I was wanting them to repeat the year but I’m not sure this is possible. My daughter 8 is ahead of her year but my son has went behind with his school work. I really don’t know the solution

SueEllenMishke · 15/05/2020 10:27

Universities are looking at doing a mixture of remote (different from online) and face to face teaching......

Getting everyone in education to repeat a year just would not work for many, many reasons.

LolaSmiles · 15/05/2020 10:28

Right now this is the most realistic situation for September. With the new guidance on group sizes, they are taking into account their staffing and lack of classrooms
Infuriatingly, after the government announcement the DfE released guisifor schools that says that rotas aren't advisable.
So schools that are already operating at more than full capacity, with no spare rooms are somehow being tasked with splitting classes into smaller groups with no rooms to teach them in.

It's just guidance and isn't compulsory, but it reads very much like the government is passing the buck to schools so they can avoid taking responsibility for their awful management of this crisis.

But don't worry everyone, the guidance also tells schools they might need to buy soap! Grin

GrimmsFairytales · 15/05/2020 10:28

bigbananafeet12 Is just here for frothing and wailing. She has no actual idea as to how to implement by her own demands

You forgot the teacher bashing. But this pretty much sums it up.

Smithy01 · 15/05/2020 10:29

Could I ask how remote learning would work please @SueEllenMishke? I’m just looking into for my son starting his second year.

NailsNeedDoing · 15/05/2020 10:30

@NailsNeedDoing if things were going back to normal in September I wouldn’t be suggesting this. Teachers are saying pupils will be part time then at best and still not all year groups.

Teachers can complain as much as they want, but they don’t make the decisions. They have no more insight into how things are going to look in September than anyone else. A couple of threads on here with lots of teachers complaining means literally nothing.

Original poster
bigbananafeet12 · 15/05/2020 10:31

@LolaSmiles. I’m only repeating what the teachers on MN have said. I have no intention of scaremongering. I want dc to come out of this as unscathed as possible.

OP posts:
pinkrocker · 15/05/2020 10:32
Daffodil
Original poster
bigbananafeet12 · 15/05/2020 10:33

@GrimmsFairytales why is suggesting repeating a yeat teacher bashing. Surely it will actually help end that by taking pressure off teachers and frightened parents to get back into school before they are happy.

OP posts:
StoorieHoose · 15/05/2020 10:35

I'm nearly finished an OU degree which was completely online. Some modules didn't have books just all text online. it's completely do able - once Unis get their systems in place which a lot of them already do have some online learning.

Tutorials are done via Adobe software and you can hear the tutor and other pupils but no webcams

GreenTulips · 15/05/2020 10:35

Thousands of kids leave school every year with a poor level of numeracy and literacy because they don't work hard, don't see the point. Those who are motivated will work hard and be OK and no teacher I know would refuse to offer extra help if asked

What total twaddle.

DS is dyslexic the same at 1/5 of all children

1/5 are already let down by the system and hime learning has shown no differentiation for those kids who need the extra help they’re entitled too.

No ones fault in lockdown but no excuse in school. Blaming kids for ‘not working hard’ is the most stupid statement I’ve heard in a long time.

SueEllenMishke · 15/05/2020 10:36

smithy it will vary across the sector but we're planning on delivering large lectures remotely - via zoom or something similar but we're hoping we can have smaller group and seminars/ tutorials on campus.
Whatever happens there will be face to face teaching....it just might be via a screen for the first term. I'm still teaching now....I'm doing lectures, seminars and individual tutorials via zoom.

GrimmsFairytales · 15/05/2020 10:38

why is suggesting repeating a yeat teacher bashing.

It's not, it's your constant assertion that teachers don't want to go back, and aren't at school.

Embracelife · 15/05/2020 10:39

Some children might need or want to. Others will be fine. Dd missed a year of school due to illness she did basics with tutor and hospital school.. did fine at gcses. Better than fine. All dc should continue in year groups and move on.

A few dc might discuss different options

Foals · 15/05/2020 10:43

"New reception won't start". Where would the September 4-5yo go? Confused