Year 7 the lost generation

[Marzipan12]

I've heard this a few times now, the thinking is that year 7 have missed out more than anybody else. This annoys me surely at this point every year group has missed out. My child is year 8, missed over an entire term of year 7, disrupted learning so far in year 8 and home learning for half a term. Every other year group has missed the same. Some year 7 parents think their kids have missed out more, regardless that they had time back in school to finish year 6 and didn't miss an entire term of their first year in high school. I would say this puts year 7 at an advantage over other year groups. They certainly are not the lost generation that some are making them out to be in fact they are one of the more fortunate year groups.

I think you’re taking this a bit too personally

Some parents need to be competitive about everything. They missed the soul crushing pointlessness of SATs and their pushy parents are perhaps butt hurt they can't brag about their scores. Poor darling parents. I'm sure the kids will adjust to life in school brilliantly. I think some parents don't trust in their kids at all.

I put YANBU because all year groups have missed out, and playing top trumps helps no one but I have noticed that the current year 7s where I work are very, very young in comparison to normal - they still want to play at break time, they’re annoyed there’s no climbing equipment, lots of ‘I’ve lost my pencil case’ tears, and ‘he called me a poohead’ etc. Saying that, the yr7 parents are also the clingiest I’ve ever experienced too!

YANBU. Their is no "lost generation" because everyone, of any age, has "lost" a year of their life.

Post WWI I'd accept the argument of a lost generation, because many young men had been killed so there was a genuine loss. But little Bobby not getting their birthday party two years running and Sarah having her exam grades assessed by the teacher instead of sitting the papers hardly qualifies.

From a societal point of view it wouldn't really matter even if Year 7 (or any specific year group) was "lost" anyway. It might be bad for the individuals, with lower pay and opportunities for the rest of their lives, but that will be to the benefit of the year groups ahead and following, so overall it evens out.

I have a Y7 and a Y4. I've not really given this much thought as it's not a race to the bottom is it, but I do think it's been hard for the current Y7's to settle in their new secondary schools. Moving to secondary is a big transition and it's been made much harder for them than usual. My DC are at an all through, 3-18 school, so it's been easier for my Y7 as he's moved up with 90% of his Y6 friends, but some of the new entrants have really struggled to make friends.

They also missed out on all their Y6, leaving primary school events which is sad, but not life threatening, obviously.

I agree moving to year 7 is a big transition. What people seem to forget is that the current year 8 had only just adjusted or still adjusting to high school when they where out for over a terms, had home learning which overwelmed them then where expected to go back into year 8 and just cope as if they has completed a full year of year 7. Last years year 7s where not considered a priority so it makes me laugh when this year's year 7s parents think they should be or have had it so much harder. No they haven't.

It has been hard for the year 7s. Not really damagingly hard but probably the most upheaval and disruption most of them have had in their lives (and I realise that makes them lucky).
They’ve missed out on quite a few formative experiences and an awful lot of practical education. My dd’s school have been brilliant and I can’t fault the pastoral care and remote education but she still hasn’t been in a science or DT lab or art room. Hasn’t made a single item of food in food tech or done any dance or gymnastics and no after school clubs.
Plus effectively having to start all over again last week with the addition of masks and testing etc.
But I think she’s more fortunate than those in exam years or those poor buggers who thought it was a good idea to start university.

I think it's probably been very hard for the Yr 7's to settle into Secondary. It's also very hard for the current Yr 10's and Yr 12's who have missed a lot and have no idea if their exams next year will take that into account at all. But IMO it's worst for those who finished their A levels last year and have had this as their first year at university. Now that is really shit.

All age groups have been affected in different ways. Personally I think the current Yr12 has the worst deal... Disrupted GCSEs and A Levels. But you could make the argument for a range of ages.

What we can't do is dwell on it... We've got to move forward, help the children/young people overcome the hurdle and think positively.

All a bit dramatic. No ones lost. Education can carry on through life.

I think calling the current Year 7's the lost generation is an overreaction, but I do think they are probably in one of the groups who have lost out more than others, as has anyone in a transition year, be that moving to secondary school, moving to college or starting uni.

It probably varies by school, but my niece is in Year 7 and wasn't able to have the usual days in the new school prior to leaving primary school and then when she did start everything was socially distanced, the school she goes to would normally hold a week of team building activities, including a day out of school to do activities such as raft building and she didn't get any of that, whereas the current year 8's had a term and a half to settle in pre-covid.

This has been hard on everyone, eveey single person has been affected in some way or another.
I'm a bit tired if the competitive 'my child/family have had it worse than everyone' attitude.
Everyone has had a rough time, all school and adult learners have had their studies interrupted not just year 7 who don't have exams to prepare for anyways.
Sorry to be blunt but YABU to think only your child has been more affected than anyone else

Every year group has missed out on formative experiences. Every year group has missed out on school clubs, science labs time, food tech, wood work, music suites.

try having kids in Y11 and Y13! They have missed a massive chunk of their course and now there's 2 months to catch up and hopefully get the grades they want. My 18yo will likely have to resit in the autumn. But as PP have said its not a race to the bottom. All years have missed out, but the younger years will easily catch up before their exams and hopefully they'll be adjustments for Y10 and Y12.

There's absolutely no point stressing about it

I think the opposite, year 6 is all about SATs isn't it, when they are done it is all fun and games, well it was for my GC. They missed induction days for new schools but I think they missed out least on first lockdown in terms of education, if it's about having a fun time before leaving primary then I suppose they missed that. They got to start year 7 and unless they were in a bubble that burst they had a term to get settled and they've got years to catch up. I feel for years 11 and 13 who I think missed alot at a crucial time. Years 10 and 12 have also lost a lot.

You’re taking this very personally. Does it really matter if people say that year 7’s have missed out? It doesn’t actually change anything.
I have 3 children. All have missed out in various ways. I couldn’t care less what other people think about who has missed out more, I’m just concentrating on how to make up for their lost experiences.

try having kids in Y11 and Y13! They have missed a massive chunk of their course and now there's 2 months to catch up and hopefully get the grades they want. My 18yo will likely have to resit in the autumn. But as PP have said its not a race to the bottom.

Erm, very much sounds like you are racing to the bottom...

I don't agree that year 7s have been affected more than anyone else. They were going to have a change going to secondary school anyway - it's just been a different kind of change and I think a lot of allowances have been made. I think they're incredibly lucky to have a lot of time to catch up on learning that they've missed before having to do exams.

I also think that moving to secondary has become too much of a "thing". Everyone does it. Year 7 is intended for children of that age. The teachers are aware that everything is going to be different for them and break them into it gently. Mine was certainly more worried about starting secondary after being told all the potential worries that she might have. Most of them she hadn't even thought of. I think it just needs to be accepted that it's a normal part of progression through education rather than thinking of it as some obstacle to be overcome.

It’s more likely the parents feel the kids have missed out, kids probably won’t really remember in a few years or care and I doubt it will affect them in later school life.

Every child has missed out over the last year!

Well it's been hard on everyone and depending on what age group your child is you are going to think your child's age group has had it the worst ,my oldest ds is in year nine ,he missed half of year 8 ,was very in and out in the first term of year nine due to isolation ,has had half a term of remote learning, and has just gone back ,for how long no one knows ,my youngest is at a special school,and didn't attend school from march untill September last year and from Xmas too march this year ,basically everyone has had it hard

Like app I feel most sorry for the uni students. Year 2 and year 3 have lost this whole year of what should be some of the best years of their lives - not to mention the financial hit. I cannot understand why any student started uni this year - I don't know how flexible the unis were - but given the choice I do think any one in year 13 last year should have deferred for a year, or withdrawn their application and reapplied this year.

This year was never going to be a normal uni experience and I think that anyone who started the year thinking that it would be was either misled or misinformed.

I am in education
It will not matter a jot
Most affected in my opinion will be this and last years year 13's going to uni with less under belts as a starting point but they will be absolutely fine
In kindest way - shake it off and move on

I actually think last year's Y13 have probably lost out on the most.

They missed the end of school traditions - leaver's prom, holidays/festivals with school mates, freedom after exams finished to just hang out, go to the pub etc.

Their exams were a complete fiasco, with many missing out on plans they had set in place, hopes and dreams they had had for years - uni places missed due to the government's disastrous handling of the A level results, not able to start the jobs they had lined up.

Those that were able to start uni have missed out on the fresher's experience. They have had to pay £9.5k for an online course that the OU charges about £3k for. They have had at most a term in uni accommodation for which they have paid for and have been unable to return since November. Many have had no refunds.

Those planning gap years, either travelling or working, have not been able to do that.

I really don't think Y7s specifically have had it that hard. All children have obviously suffered.

Sadly all children in every year group have had 2 very disruptive years of schooling.

Personally think my eldest is the one who will be most affected by it. He is due to start secondary school in September so currently year 6, like others he hasn’t done a full year at school since year 4! Very unprepared at the moment for the big change this year.