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?

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.

They have already changed the Primary plans 41 times!

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

They can't plan for what is/isn't going to happen to exams next year, it's far too early. Anything could happen between now and then.
I have 2 in yr 10 and it is very worrying but it will get sorted eventually.
I don't think the gov can win whatever they do.

How can secondary schools be going back as normal in Sept?
Probably won’t be ‘normal’ but we are working hard to make it as normal as possible but there will be some changes yes.

How will they do mock exams in halls; or assemblies or even eat lunch?

We are planning to do this by utilising more/extended ‘study leave’ if Mocks have to take place and reduce the amount in school hall and gym halls.
Lunch and the canteen is still being worked on.

If unis can’t hold lectures, how will schools teach A-level classes in classrooms?

Lecture theatres hold hundreds and hundreds of students. A Level classes would be a maximum of 30 but most are much smaller. Timetabling has been going on for weeks now by teachers, to try and work round this.

I think it’s deliberately vague because pupils in those age groups are doing different subjects with specialist teaching and are in sets

So it’s not like primary where they typically stay with the same group all day

Based on the vague direction given so far, my school are planning one to one tutoring. So there will literally be a one to one session with a teacher. Possibly a form teacher. They are looking to see how small groups could have lessons within the limits of a 'bubble'.
So, no 'normal' return to school at all. But definitely an 'ambition' to see a few teachers in real life rsther than virtually. Apparently there is also a need to focus on mental health and do some sessions to support students with this.

I share your frustration. My college issued guidance on Friday which we sent to our students. It will all have to be amended as we were having them in from the 8th June. It's so annoying! I've been checking the dept for education website since last night, but nope, no guidance for year 10 or 12s anywhere!

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

The Yr4 and Yr8s in the three tier school system operating in some parts of the country have also been forgotten. They transition to new schools in September as well.

Universities are in a bizarre situation where they've been told they have to tell applicants what they're doing in a totally uncertain situation. I actually think some of them will come to regret some of what they're saying now if things are more 'normal' in September than anticipated - but I didn't think that last week, and that shows how mad it is to expect universities to make commitments when things are constantly changing.

Take a break. This is a pandemic. Missing a term of education in the grand scheme of things is not a big deal. Across the world there are the same issues.
Schools are doing what they can.

The other thing happening is this - many students due to be starting uni in Sept / Oct are now trying to defer to 2021 because they don’t want to pay accommodation fees if a high percentage of the course will be online.

As A-level grades will be teacher assessed this year, any student not happy with their grades has the opportunity to “retake” an exam or all their exams in the Autumn to bump up the grade/s. Some unis, eg Cambridge, are offering deferred places if a student manages to bump up the grades (ie they don’t need to reapply and can start automatically in 2021).

So the upshot of all these very likely deferrals is that there is likely to be a relative shortage of spaces at unis for the current year 12s. It’s all over the student chat forums as a concern.

The govt could easily issue a statement that it will ensure that this cohort won’t be disadvantaged, but there are no signs that this issue is even on their radar. All they go in about is moving desks in reception classrooms.

Meanwhile, there are A-level students who will have missed a whole term of the course (ie 20% of teaching); have no predicted grades to apply to uni; no chance to visit anywhere as all unis closed and are anxious that there will be no uni places left for them anyway.

This is a pandemic. Missing a term of education in the grand scheme of things is not a big deal. Across the world there are the same issues

In other countries schools have already gone back. And in others they haven't, but that was because their summer holidays were due to start in a week or so anyway. But our government blunders about protecting DomC and everyone just argues instead of getting on with sorting things out.

@edwinbear I think it’s bizarre and quite sad your school are bringing back year 10s just to sit end of year exams. I feel sorry for them

Grasspigeons 😁

I think the deferral issue may be a bit overstated. Some universities won't allow it, so you'd have to reapply next year and take your chance.

And having sat at home for six months already, do current Y13s really want to defer and sit at home for another year? Travel opportunities are going to be massively curtailed and there isn't much scope for jobs, either. I think if I had a child in Y13 I would encourage them to move on to uni regardless. Hopefully their 2nd and 3rd years would be more normal.

It's a really difficult situation. I think it's time to move onto a phase where the young and non-vulnerable take their chances and a robust support system is set up for the elderly and shielding. At the moment it seems to be "we're all in this together so all have to suffer (unless you are DomC) and it's not fair to say only some people have to stay at home". I think that needs to change.

I think you need to contact the school. The message yesterday was from June 15th years 10 and 12 will have some face to face contact. I believe this will largely be down to individual schools to manage in the way that suits them best. We had an email and phone call last week to confirm that, once dates are advised, the priority will be vulnerable/disadvantaged pupils in Y10 and Y12, followed slowly by small, invited, groups of students. There was also an outline of how many students there will be and what the day will look like.

My DS who is in Year 12 was supposed to do exams straight after Easter for his predicted grades but obviously these didn’t happen, so they were told exams would take place “as soon as school reopens.” So basically, they’ve been on tenterhooks all term. Now it looks like they will be going back to school straight into exams in Sept so will have to have this hanging over them all summer. The one in Year 10 has no idea what’s going on with her end of year exams.

I detest this government and think many mistakes have been made. But I think this strategy is a good one. The disease has to spread more, but amongst the least vulnerable. We can’t lockdown until there’s a vaccine, it might be years. As long as the kids don’t take it home to shielding people, as long as teachers who are in at risk groups can opt out in some way, I think it’s pretty safe. This disease will kill some people, it’s a deadly disease, but we have to make progress with it, and the risk is extreme low for this age group.

Weve had a very vague message on the school website that basically says "we dont know but when we know we will tell you"

Our school has laid out the plans for year 10 & year 12, they go back from second week in June. Isn’t it for the schools to sort out now?

Boris slipped in the new information about Y10and 12 during his peacocking about Cummings.

It’s changed from “some face to face from the 1st June in groups of 15 or less”

To

“Some face to face from 15th with no more than a quarter of the year group at a time”

“Detailed guidance” out this week apparently.

DD is Yr12 and we’ve already accepted we aren’t going back to School until September. Even if there is ‘face to face’ whatever the hell that means from 15th June onwards, her school break up on the 3rd July!

She’s desperate to know what the hell is happening with her exams next year. Less exams, coursework, continuous assessment?? Surely they must decided soon for all the Yr10’s and yr 12’s??

It’s not the fact they are going in @Schmoana it’s the fact that clear guidance hasn’t been given.

Until yesterday every single piece of guidance (and there have been 41 so far) have mentioned 1st June as the day they hope ‘schools’ will go back. Then there is the vague statement about face to face contact for Y10 and Y12 students and then reams of paragraphs about Primary schools.

Secondary Schools have been waiting for more clarification. On Thursday I think some guidance for Secondary Schools was published, no mention of June 15th. It was mainly about Y7,8 and 9 and how they can be supported at home. Then a sentence about Y10 saying more details to follow. And nothing about Y12.

The only details to follow is what Boris said yesterday. That is the only guidance they have been given.

Now some schools have made their own preparations. However, they obviously have not learnt from the Primary Schools experience that you make plans based on the first detailed guidance published and once these have been finalised another piece of guidance will be published which completely scuppers your plans and you have to start again (40 times!).

If I have to turn the news on again to see the same footage of reception teachers trying to move desks 2 metres apart... Aggrrhh!

We know the Receptions, Year 1s and Year 6s are going back now and yes, we will have to monitor the impact on the transmission rate. This we know. But in the meantime, what about everyone else? Is there any thought going into next year’s A-levels or GCSE cohort at all? Anything?

I think there will be something about providing work for over the summer holidays, not summer school, but possibly links to Oak Academy (once teachers have assessed what work each student has done in their face to face contact) and then the Government can say students should have caught up enough not to have to change the exams (which have already been written) next year. I think they are holding off publishing this as they know there will be a backlash!

This is what Gavin Williamson said in Parliament a few weeks ago:

My hon. Friend is absolutely right on the importance of supporting youngsters and children who are going to be facing GCSEs next year, as well as A-levels, BTECs and other qualifications in years 10 and 12. We are working with the sector, because we want all children in those year groups to have the opportunity to go into school and to speak with their teachers. We want their teachers to be able to make an assessment of the learning and support they will need over the following weeks as we approach the summer holidays, and to set the work at the right level so that children can benefit from learning through the six weeks of the summer holidays as well as in the weeks approaching the summer holidays. It is important to get those transition years back into schools, even if not for a full timetable, as that will be a first step in the right direction.

And having sat at home for six months already, do current Y13s really want to defer and sit at home for another year?

Not if my DD and her friends are to go by, they can't wait to go. My DD hopes to go to Warwick uni this autumn and they have said they will be taking students as usual. There may be a few things different and freshers week etc won't go ahead but hardly worth wasting another year of their lives for.