Pupils re-sit a school year - start year later as per mainland Europe?

[Fizzydrinks123]

I understand arguments against not re-sitting a whole academic year and was on board with this during March 2020 etc

However, my concern is the emotional impact this is having on the young - they know they've missed out on lots of social as well as academic development.

Is it right to just move them on to the next level of their education knowing they've missed out on so much and expect them to step up to more demanding work?

In mainland Europe it is usual for children to start school a year later than here in UK.

I understand university may be adversely affected due to funding - but the kids currently at university aren't happy paying out £9,000 and asking for refunds.

Am I being unreasonable to suggest re-sitting an academic year is seriously considered?

The new variant is so much more contagious that there will be more uncertainly ahead until the summer.

Are the current Year 6's really ready to go off to senior school? It would seem better they go back to junior school they know and re-sit that year and prepare to move on to secondary school the following year?

The fact that some kinds grow up in war zones is just pointless comparison, yes life is shit - doesn't mean we shouldn't look for ways to make it less shit.

Also, children in countries with problems do often resit a year or more...there are plenty of 16 year olds still in primary school in some countries. It's a normal way to deal with missing school for whatever reason.

@drprouse it's not just year 11 and 13 who might need to retake a year, it's every high school year. Are you seriously suggesting nursery kids who haven't even started nursery yet should take priority over all these kids? 😠 My god take a look at yourself.

Where is the magic money tree?

I hate the "kids in war zones cope just fine" trope. A fortunate few are. The unlucky ones who turn to drug addiction in their teens to cope with PTSD tend not to be posting about it online

I think the concept of where money comes from has disappeared completely over the last 10 years with quantitative easing (often to support housing market etc) and what used to be considered crazy South American country in decline is how every western society is running their economy since global financial crash - this is a global pandemic - re-shift everyone would be better rather than carrying on and creating a bigger gap between haves and have nots....which from some on the thread "not wanting to spend more money on private schooling" is very real. I'm talking about the fact all our dc are in "isolation" it is awful really no matter how much we dress it up that they have social media.

Absolutely stupid idea. It sucks for everyone, some more than others but you cannot hold everyone back a year for this. Life goes on. Many children will have progressed well with remote learning. Others less so and they will need extra support over the coming year. It’s not ideal but totally unworkable to hold everyone back.

@notafanoftheman - sadly you get to the heart of the matter there, they are my concerns for our society - where are all our dc going to be, we don't know how this isolation away from peers will impact them in years to come (society, not "your" child - whoever happens to be reading this at the moment) I'm talking about our younger generation.

[quote Marzipan12]@drprouse it's not just year 11 and 13 who might need to retake a year, it's every high school year. Are you seriously suggesting nursery kids who haven't even started nursery yet should take priority over all these kids? 😠 My god take a look at yourself.[/quote]
It's not the babies not going to nursery - it's their parents not being able to work and pay taxes. Or treat you/teach your child.
It's students not graduating and paying taxes.
It's no new doctors and nurses for a year.
The babies won't care!

the babies will be looked after one way or another - not everyone returns to work and it will be the outcome of a global pandemic ie. one year of mums and babies affected -v- every other school year.

As I say I'd like to run the AIBU in a couple of months when nothing's changed and see how we feel. thanks for input from everyone, I've appreciated hearing others views.

God no.
DS has been bored every single year at primary and is due to start at selective Grammar in Sept.

I realise he is at the top end of extreme and there is the bottom end of extreme. But most kids fall happily in the middle.

I would prefer the Government fund extra maths, English and science for any child affected in Covid at GCSE and A Level within ten years of leaving school at college or adult Education centres. For a year. Including bursaries.

This will pick up any student who suffers whilst young who wants to fix it later.

@Fizzydrinks123

the babies will be looked after one way or another - not everyone returns to work and it will be the outcome of a global pandemic ie. one year of mums and babies affected -v- every other school year.

By who? You are in a fantasy world!

I wouldn't personally think it was practical. As stated, you would need extra teachers (like thousands), extra class rooms etc.

Having said that, what with missing a got chunk of last year, now this year, and also in a disrupted environment, you do have to wonder what we are doing to these kids in the long term.

RE: university students, they should definitely get a refund for this year.

Idea sounds reasonable but actual logistics of it would be hellish and far reaching - current pre-schoolers with suddenly no Reception place in September having to stay in nurseries, people having to fund nursery for an unplanned year. Then the top of the funnel - uni and work - no leavers so minimal new starters for a year (cant really expect uni students to repeat a year and pay again?)... then there's those currently in school, repeating exactly the same curriculum or...? That's just off the top of my head probably loads of other implications too... It effectively changes the entire school system forever

@Findingapath

If this lockdown goes beyond Feb half term I really hope that repeating the year is possible.

It isn't possible. Firstly you can't have a year staying in nurseries, pre-schools etc for another year.

Y13s want to get on with their lives, they don't want to do a Y14. I suspect the same is true of Y11s who want to move onto the next stage and Y6s who want to move to secondary school this year.

And universities need an intake.

Also, would this only be state schools or also private schools?

We just need to make the best of the situation. Scotland is probably in the best position as universities have a sort of foundation year which will allow students some time to develop more advanced learning skills that they may have missed out on in sixth form.

@drspouse the babies will have to wait one year longer, and it won’t be all of them, «just» the younger ones that would have moved up to balance the number of reception age children repeating the year.
I imagine a good number will find a place at a childminder or hire a nanny. Nurseries are not at full capacity everywhere either.
A lot of people are able to pay childcare from their income, ie are not using savings or credit, so they will just continue from one more year. Others might be able to use family.
Not ideal I know. Same as school parents who at the moment are having to do what was considered impossible, work and home school simultaneously, baby parents would have to make it work.

Gawd no! If you had of told me I had to repeat a bloody year I’d have been horrified ! School is horrible and most people just want it to be over 😂 maybe a choice to redo the year if you wanted - but forcing everyone is a terrible idea

@Fizzydrinks123

Someone mentioned about private school - they wouldn't want to pay for an extra year.

I don't see that is relevant - the majority of the country's dc attend state schools, so if a parent has chosen the independent sector that comes with an element of risks as regards fees - all eventualities should be considered to ensure there are enough funds for come what may - ie. lose job, global pandemic etc......

So, yes the private sector could either carry on as if they've just finished Year 13 and head off to university without the hoi polloi.... or could travel or volunteer or,or,or any number of things but it would be wrong not to look at other options because it might cost some private sector parents a few bob more...!

In the case of state schools, it would be the tax payer who would foot the bill for every child to have an additional year of school. I have no idea how many extra £millions that would add to the covid debt we are building.

Happy with that OP?

@Fizzydrinks123

As I say I'd like to run the AIBU in a couple of months when nothing's changed and see how we feel. thanks for input from everyone, I've appreciated hearing others views.

Please do. I’ll have a little bet with you that the reasons against will still stand. Even if we are all tearing our hair out by that stage

I think this is the best idea and wish it would happen. Our kids will never get their childhood and missed opportunities back. I have a Year 10 he missed a lot last year, then again in October now this. His school are not good at online lessons and in April offered none at all just the off work sheet. Now they do 1 1/2 hours each day. He is young for his years as well as July born child.

I do not think the kids would be very happy to resit a year. I know I would have ben shattered. Imagine being about to go to secondary and having to repeat the year.

In the case of state schools, it would be the tax payer who would foot the bill for every child to have an additional year of school. I have no idea how many extra £millions that would add to the covid debt we are building.

Parents with children in private schools would have to pay for an extra year so double whammy for them tax plus fees.

Dd is year 13. She is longing to get a levels out of the way.
She has been able to study at home with on line lessons. Most dc that age can, they are mature enough to do this.
(I know those with SEN and studying practical subjects will find this harder)

If she is made to do an extra year of a levels, she will lose motivation, get bored and frustrated and probably do much worse in the exams than she would with either exams or teacher assessment this year.
She is ready, and another year will just be boring and hold her back.

Plus, un her mind college is v closely associated with covid. Another year would just feel like another year of the same old shit, dragging thencovid crisis out even longer. She needs to be able to move on as soon as it's safe to do so, not linger in this situation.

It's not really accurate to say they dont start school until 6.

The forms of preschool/nursery that are almost universally attended in Europe overlap with what we cover in reception in UK. Children in maternelle in France etc will be learning their letters and some of the basics of reading just as Reception children do.

And please don't assume all children need to be held back! My 4 year old can blend phonics now, and happily adds, subtracts and multiplies single digit numbers, and will be bored shitless if he can't go to school in September.