To be livid that the govt have STILL made no statement about Year 10s and 12s and to think it’s all about economics, not the welfare of primary-aged children at all, so they should just admit it

[solieltoday]

On top of all the DC circus, AIBU to think it’s shocking that this government can’t even get their act together to give any kind of reassurance to Year 10s and 12s about whether or not they might be returning to school this term (and if so how) and if there are any plans underfoot to modify exams for next year?

ALL the focus is on reception, Year 1 and Year 6, based on some spurious “science” that for, these younger age groups, the sphere of social contact is smaller, Er, no it’s not. They just want to get people back to work, so this is why they are prioritising younger age groups.

I just think this govt is so dishonest and will twist anything to their own agendas. They don’t give a damn.

We have the second worst death toll in the world. That says it all. Utter arrogance and ineptitude at all levels.

I realise I’m conflating a lot of topics here, but it’s an utter shambles. How hard can it be for the Dept of Education to think proactively to make a plan and give a statement to those students who have exams next summer to reassure them that they won’t be disadvantaged?

Boris did make a statement about thia yesterday evening.

I thought they said 10 and 12 were having some face to face contract from 15th June with a quarter of those year groups in school at a time?

They have. At least, in Boris’ statement yesterday, schools should alter their plans for face to face meeting from 15th June.

However, you are right in that the promised separate Secondary guidance of what this should look like, hasn’t materialised.

It is probably mostly an economic decision yes and yes it would be helpful to know what’s happening with exams or the syllabus for each subject, next year, to help prepare them appropriately.

I agree completely. Dd(yr12) here and she is desperate to get back to school. TBF all her lessons are conducted via teams so she is still getting as much of her education as possible, but is struggling with motivation.
An email from the school on Friday said they are awaiting government guidance but they won't be returning in full year groups or full days. We only have 25 in yr 12 so I don't understand why this can't be managed. I appreciate yr 10 is harder to organize with bubbles and pupils all taking different options. But it's very frustrating not knowing what is going on, especially when educationally these are the most important year groups.

Yes but what does that mean, “some face to face contact?”

Could it be any more vague?

And when are they going to address the issue that some pupils have missed a term of school?

Well my sons school emailed on Friday to say they hope to get the year tens in for half a day a week after half term

I agree with you that Year 10 and Year 12 should be a priority.

I think the choice of year groups is more rational than you are crediting. They want to be sure what’s possible before they make definitive statements regarding exam cohorts.

Which isn’t to say that the education plans aren’t a mess generally.

My DC’s school sent a detailed e mailed last week saying Y10’s and 12’s were returning on 15th June. Staggered start times to sit their year end exams. They will go opposite the primary years who go in the mornings.

Yep, total shambles

I think Boris needs to resign

It's always been about the childcare and getting people back to work.

Year 2 have been completely forgotten... for a lot of children the move from Y2 to Y3 is a school move. No logic.

y10s at DDs school have been offered alternate weeks in, in social bubbles from 8th June.

The government has to balance risk of increasing the spread with MH of children, education of children, and economics.

Whatever they do will be seen as wrong in some people's eyes.

Yes but what does that mean, “some face to face contact?”

Could it be any more vague?

Yes I agree. That’s why I said this

However, you are right in that the promised separate Secondary guidance of what this should look like, hasn’t materialised.

Well l, I have DC in Years 12, 10, 8 and 7 in three different schools and no plans for anything. Plus the schools finish in early July.

Mine are very fortunate to be honest, as their online school provision has been very good. I’m very aware this has not been the case for the majority however, and I just think it’s diabolical that they’re been no plan and barely a mention of these students in Year 10 and 12 who are approaching their exams, beyond, “We hope they will have some face-to-face contact with teachers before the end of term.”

y10s at DDs school have been offered alternate weeks in, in social bubbles from 8th June.

Based on Boris’ statement, your school will push this forward to 15th June, so you might want to be prepared for an update from them sadly.

I think you need to take this up with the school actually. The government have issued the guidance, it’s up to schools to implement it. You should be asking them what the plan is?

I’m very aware this has not been the case for the majority however,

Majority?

Secondary schools will presumably get one set of guidance on the 1st June. They will plan for that. Then on the 10th they will get more guidance that means the planning doesnt work and they have to change everything. Then on the 13th they will get a final bit of guidance which will make part of the plans incorrect and they will have to re-jig the one way system and buy some short supply bit of equipment that they were previously told not to buy as its unecessary.

DH's school has interpreted this as meaning having them in for literally a few study days (I think two days for year 12 and three for year 10 - in total, not a week) which seems like a reasonable interpretation of 'some face-to-face contact' but a long way off what a lot of people seem to have expected, which was that these year groups would be pretty much back in school.

The government have issued the guidance, it’s up to schools to implement it.

Technically they haven’t though. Hence why some schools have not released their tentative plans yet but some have with the caveat that they may change upon publication of the guidance.

You’re not wrong there Grasspigeons!

My DS’ high school have offered x2 mornings a week in groups of 8 kids for y10 from 1st June.

My children’s school has been using Google Meet from day 1 and said on Friday that they had decided against bringing any children into school.

Well they dont know do they. They dont know what will happen so they cant make decisions yet. What if they say what their plan is, then have to change it because they have no control over a virus and everyone kicks off that they'd planned according the government's plan.

My DS is in Year 12 and he’s on a site called The Student Room a fair bit because obviously he’s about to apply for unis.

Many unis have issues statements that lecture halls will be closed next year and all lectures will be delivered online from Sept - eg Manchester and Cambridge are just two who have confirmed this. They will only be offering small seminar groups where they can facilitate social distancing.

How can secondary schools be going back as normal in Sept? How will they do mock exams in halls; or assemblies or even eat lunch? If unis can’t hold lectures, how will schools teach A-level classes in classrooms?

Obviously there is uncertainty, but, day in day out, the govt make no mention of these issues. Are they thinking about any of this at all?