DC are going to have to repeat a school year

[bigbananafeet12]

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.

@LolaSmiles. 8'm only repeating what the teachers on MN have said.
Correction, you are selectively presenting what some teachers on Mumsnet have said to fit the narrative you're trying to promote on this thread.

If you were trying to have a genuine discussion then I'm sure you'd have also included many if the things teachers have said need to be addressed in order to keep school as safe and hygienic as possible for all when we return.

You'd have mentioned the issues of toilets and hand washing facilities, or the logistics of school busses and those children who use public transport, the government's contradiction on face coverings. You may wish to explore some of the issues of schools running above their designed capacity and how logistically there's not enough rooms in schools to do some of what the government is proposing.

You might also consider exploring the issues teachers have said will affect working parents, for example if different year groups have phased start/end times or different days in school and a parent has children in multiple year groups then they may have issues with work and childcare.

You may consider that there's lots of teachers on here saying they really miss their students and want to see them again, that online learning isn't the same as having their kids in front of them, that they want things to go back to normal when it's safe to do so.

You may also consider the discussion teachers have been having surrounding the fact the DfE's scientific advisor hasn't actually attended SAGE meetings surrounding schools, and has openly admitted the scientific evidence is inconclusive on school risk.

But you didn't*

Why would I mention this? I'm suggesting a solution to this.

However I do think that delaying new starters (they could stay in private nurseries if enough spaces can be made available) could be doable.

And there’s the issue - not many nurseries have either spaces or space available.

Nursery fees where I live are over £1500 a month. I can't imagine that anyone would be willing to pay fees like that any longer than they have to particularly when we're heading for a recession.

I'm suggesting a solution to this.

You're not. You've said it's going to happen it's not and provided no reasonable way as to how it would work.

Dd likely to defer starting uni. Luckily uni have offered to hold her place to allow her to do so. I’m just glad she’s at the end of one thing and at the start of another which allows for a hiatus.

If your too scared to send your kids in but schools are open then it’s your problem really - the chance for yoU kids to learn and catch up is there - but you wouldn’t let them access it

Wd have 40 3/4 year olds in our pre school room to leave in September. If they weren't to leave then the children in other age groups would just become stuck in their room for a year. No new intakes as no spaces and parents having to pay for another year.
No.

I'm not convinced that the majority of y13s will defer starting university. I work for an educational charity and we've had the same number of applications for higher education bursaries that we get every year.

A lot of people will still go to university and not have a gap year as

1. They cannot go travelling.
2. It will be hard to get a job in the gap year.

Lots of universities are starting the next academic year on line and before this some degrees were taught on line.

You might also consider exploring the issues teachers have said will affect working parents, for example if different year groups have phased start/end times or different days in school and a parent has children in multiple year groups then they may have issues with work and childcare.

With an obliging school that one really wasn't the problem it sounded like pre-lockdown in initial social distancing mode. I have two at different schools a short walk (well more like a light sprint to make it for the bell) between each other and the staggered start times meant I was looking like I would need a time machine. Basically, quick conversation with the school and it was an "oh it's a guideline - drop according to what suits you and we'll just bring them in as we spot them on the playground - we're just trying to spread out numbers a bit" solution.

Trouble is solutions like that take a bit of a will to work rather than a blanket initial look and a "nope - won't work"

The space and staffing are the issues harder to work around - you would end up with a bulge year group going through the entire system - secondaries would have to fit them in, universities would have to deal with a double-cohort... that aspect isn't sustainable.

The only semi-solution I could see - which would never be allowed to happen by the unions would be continuing the current year through the summer break, then having say 1-2 weeks off for those kids) and going into a slightly later autumn term in new year groups. Before people go on the attack - note the "will never be allowed to happen" part of the statement. Or something similar basically delaying the new academic year until Autumn half term - so they get a bit longer in their current year group with their current curriculum, and in the case of transition years (particularly the forgotten Y2s in infant schools) a bit more of a coherent planned out transition - and then run a slightly shortened next academic year to balance out the missing gap somewhat. Again - implications for funding, new starters, staffing etc. I imagine numbers will be down initially as people make their own judgements (hopefully informed and not just informed by Sandra on FB but I have low expectations) about when the point is that they're happy with sending their children back - I think with that one perhaps we need to agree a set deadline whereby if you don't go back by then you're making the choice to deregister and home educate - set it with a decent grace period - again possibly autumn half term.

I'm going to hide this now as I don't fancy being shrieked at as not understanding schools, or wanting dead children or any of the other shite that gets thrown around.

Well another anecdote, that's all it is, but my son is still planning on going to uni this year and so are his circle of friends.

He has spent 2 months at home so far, he doesn't want that to be 19 months which is what it will be if he defers until 2021 because there are no jobs, no travel, nothing of interest to do in that time. He might as well be studying.

If it is online I think it is only likely to be for first semester. He just wants to get on with his life. I think overall your idea is completely unworkable and just pretty silly really.

I'm currently at university and looking at suspending study for a year if needs be - I don't want to, I'm happy with an online offering if needed - but if schools are still a mess, I'm unable to continue with a clear conscience as my kids need me.

OP, the whole cohort of children in state schools are in exactly the same boat this year. Exams will reflect that. The curriculum next year will reflect that.

If it was just your kids' school or local authority that was affected, then yes, your DCs would be at a huge disadvantage and you'd be right to be looking for ways to catch them up. But given that this is a national issue, they're not losing some competitive edge, nor will they be faced with exam questions or marking schedules that will disadvantage them compared to their peers.

I think the only issue that might need addressing somehow is university admission grades for state school pupils as opposed to those in private schools, who've had the advantage of the funding and IT accessibility to deliver lessons across the board during the last few months.

All I know is what I received from my sons school which is they are using the mocks they took part in earlier this year as the results for the exam board .
He has a place at college waiting but who knows if they will reopen in September now ? I am hoping they will . Poor kids , I really feel for them all .

@LolaSmiles

Excellent post 👏👏👏

I went to school in different countries. Sometimes it didn't match up and I had to repeat half a year. I was nearly 19 when I left 6th form. I only read the first page but I don't think it is such a problem and little ones being held back a year in Reception isn't either. i wish I had kept my August born son back instead of listening to the teachers years ago. He wasn't ready and it affected him especially at Secondary.

Our area was flooded several times and the kids missed school then went in part time/half days to another venue in DD GCSE year. The results were poor. I do feel sorry for them but it is up to parents (and children in teens) to work out what is best for your child. Some schools have been putting lots of lessons on and I know of one school that hasn't done anything which I am very surprised about. At least everyone will understand in the future why their results might not be as good as expected. Mine are past that age but I do feel for you all . The main thing is looking after their physical and mental health at the moment.

There are people that didn't do well at school who went on to become very successful people later on in life. Look some up and talk to your children especially teens about them.

A great deal of the maths and science that is taught has no practical use in the real world, its for passing exams

What utter rubbish! I'm glad you're not the one researching a vaccine for covid 19.

Hold on, you want to punish and completely waste the time of all the children who ARE working and are not falling behind?

I am getting sick and tired about this insistence on putting ALL the kids in the same boat. Some are certainly falling behind, then maybe working towards a solution for them. Other countries completely accept the concept of repeating a year, whilst the rest of the class goes ahead. That is a possibility.

Forcing them ALL to repeat? Then why on earth do they even bother working right now? What's the point of that?

I also could not disagree more with shortening the summer holidays! Fine i you want a private tutor, or if some schools offer extra tuition, why not. If they find volunteers or miraculously get a budget out of nowhere to pay for extra teachers, it's a very good idea.

Reducing holidays for kids who have not stopped working, had been stuck at home for weeks, are missing friends and family? Hell no.
If it's safe to go back to school, it's safe to meet their friends. They have never needed a break more.

I can see some of the work posted in my kids classes, they have special boards for them. Kids ARE working and are working hard. They spend more time than they would be at school, where at least they have breaks doing other activities. They shouldn't be punished or brought back.

Hollylolly28

No but based on the stats covid isn't going to kill them either.

The needs of children are being placed below those of the very elderly & infirm, smokers, the obese.

Not all of us agree that its 100% the right call.

People keep banging on about mental health, let's not destroy our kids, shall we. They need a break and motivation.

They'd start at 6 like in most of Scandinavia

And who pays for the extra year of childcare?

continuing the current year through the summer break, then having say 1-2 weeks off for those kids) and going into a slightly later autumn term

you want them to be stuck indoors studying instead of enjoying what little sunshine we have and they need? why?

I suspect the government will move gradually to a point where anyone who wants to continue isolating at home will need a doctor's note to do so, or will have to choose unpaid leave

Given the way the hysteria's being ramped up they may have no choice

Fortunately, I don't think the social media thing of "we'll slam you if you even dare to think positively" reflects the majority's view, but I guess there's a certain entertainment in it while it lasts

Universities are planning on doing online learning for the first term too so loads will defer.

The cynical universities are already onto that, OP. They will likely not be accepting deferred entry until 2021: they will reject any such applications and tell them they have to take their chances along with the rest.

Their reasoning is this: the risk is that few students will show up in September 2020, and there will be issues with resources and a reduced quality 'student experience' for those who do (aside from the fact that online teaching will reduce the quality of their student experience anyway). After that there will be a glut of new students in 2021: too many to teach effectively.

They still propose charging them £9K a year.

They had two thirds of the year in school theyll all be fine