Which year groups should return to school first?

[twosoups1972]

I read somewhere a few weeks ago that they would prioritise Years 10 and 12 to return to school first which seems sensible.

But then I heard later that Year 6 would be the first to return to school. Why?? I know it's sad that they haven't had their end of primary school rituals but surely older children studying for public exams next year should have priority?

MrsSpenserGregson I don't think what you're saying is controversial. I have a dd in year 11 and i think Year 10s and 12s are worse off than year 11.

Here in NI, I don’t think we’ll be back before end of term which is at the end of June.

However, if there are any pupils back I think l it will be Form4/Yr11 & L6th/Yr13 at secondary. Possibly Form3/Yr10. I agree with the PP who said that the current pupils who are (less than) halfway through GCSE & A-level courses will be the ones most negatively affected. I work in a school and many of my teacher colleagues are far more concerned with those year groups than they are this year’s 5th/U6th forms.

At primary I think it’ll be P6/P7 who should be prioritised. Our kids do not move on as a cohort - the primary school my younger DC go to has a yearly intake of approx 90ish and there will likely be 20+ schools represented next year by that one school. Leaving primary is therefore a bigger deal than it is in say Scotland where the vast majority move on together to the same school. Secondaries just don’t do transitions in the same way either - usually just an evening visit sometime in June for the incoming first formers. P7s don’t even find out what schools they will be going to until end of May.

We also still have transfer tests in P7 and a full Grammar system. (Approx 45% of pupils in NI go to grammars) The tests take place Nov-Dec and no-one knows yet how it’s going to be affected next year. I think the current P6s could be more badly impacted than the current P7s.

Who knows though

I would put yr 6 and reception completely off the table.
Both will be finished with learning anyway.
So yr 5. Voluntary.
Secondary gcse and alevel but tbh online seems the better option. Because of subject choices thy would all be mixing.
Imo online learning needs to have some minimum standards england wide.
Whether that is zoom/recorded lessons.
Online submitted work getting feedback.
Kids being offered online maths or whatever platfornpms eg our school isnt offering anything for reading primary but the books they use do have an online thing.

If kids are vulnerable or not submitting they have to go in. But will not be taught they have to sit and do the work.
The variation in school provision usually is an issue anyway.
Pregcse level overall provision by the gov including bitesize and oak academy could be extended with more actual worksheets.
The main issue seems to be kids actgetting the work done which is something parents and teschers need to work on.

Im the ones whobleft without taking gcses and alevels need to be able to resit. They learnt everything for the exams some will have done much worse using teacher info. (Also tbh as a parent i would be concerned employers may not take this as valid..)

Year 10 (and yes I guess year 11 but we do not have a sixth form so I don’t think about them). I do not see the pint of year six they cannot have the fun bit of year six that marks transition anyway (plays, residentials) etc, I think they are relatively low priority to come back given they need the least educational input, primary I would bring year five back first.

Year 6 is pointless. It’s highly unlikely they will be able to do transition days at secondary and even if they did it would hardly be a taste of real school life. Maybe schools could organise an outside event to say goodbye at some point. Concentrating on year 5 would make more sense so they don’t have gaps before SATS next year.
I’d like to think Boris will give schools some autonomy within the restrictions to do what’s best for their children. My year 7 boy attends private and they could potentially make social distancing work with small classes.

Yes i agree year 5 is more important from an educational point of view. They could maybe do transition to secondary school days in September before the older ones get back. Mine didn't ever have transition days with no other kids there, but current year 6 might need a gentler gentle introduction

I mean year 6 could do transition days in sept

I have a year 6 and a year 10. I agree about year 10 being important but while I see it would be nice for year 6 to say goodbye think end of year 6 is taken up with end of term events which are quite often, for parents in the main. They could visit their secondary perhaps

Why on earth year 6? None of the fun stuff is going to happen, neither are any visits to secondary. Seems cruel to get them in just to rub it in that its not going to happen, and take them through regular school days (which they are going to ignore because they know it doesn’t matter, so its completely pointless)
Year 5 makes a lot more sense. And reception

Its not just about learning though, its the chance to have a few weeks in a school that most of the Yr 6 children would of been at for 7 years.
To say good bye to their teachers and friends who some will be going to different school.
I think its very important that Yr 6 children can get this opportunity so they can move on.

@Orangeblossom78 This is the point, there would be no "events" with the whole class and parents. How would trips to secondary schools be organised other than at a very small group level? It's sad but current yr6 and yr 11 have had their "end of term".

@Alone07 If the class is broken down into smaller groups who are in at different times or days, then what is the point? You can see now the "requests" from parents "Oh my DC is best friends with x, can you move them to that day/time".

MrsSpenserGregson Totally agree re yr 10 and 12. I cannot see how they have a chance at a fair set of GCSE's / A levels

because they are the transistion years so its constant across the board

Year 6 I think is to check out stuff at Primary on the oldest year - they can walk to and from school so you dont need parents there and they are the most likely to distance.

The psychological impact as well of just ending for an 11 year old is huge.

I expect though 5 and 6 to be close together

What if secondary teachers took the year 6s? And primary took the year 5s? That would be two primary year groups and would aid with childcare a bit more.

Interesting read.

My year 6 ds was really emotional yesterday with the thought of moving into secondary school and not seeing his class again. The last week before lockdown only half his class was in.

Completely biased I would like him to go back to get some sense of completion and transition for his emotional health.

Guess we'll all find out in a few hours!

Why would secondary take year 6’s? There are children in GCSE and A level years they will and must prioritise. Year 6 ‘transition’ is a pipe dream, it will not happen and therefore they will not be a priority.

@Quartz2208 totally agree...

"The psychological impact as well of just ending for an 11 year old is huge."

He's my youngest so the end of an 11 year era for me! I welcome this change but for ds it is indeed huge.

I'm clearly in the minority but I think it should be done strictly by youngest first, oldest last. The economy not tanking is more important than the transient emotional/educational state of tweens and teens, and it simply isn't possible for parents of very small children to work - in a way that it is possible for parents of older children to work.

I have a Y1 and a Y6 and everyone seems to think it is more important for the Y6 to have some schooling this year. I strongly disagree. Whilst his transition is important, he is mature enough to understand what's going on and mature enough to work in a guided independent way whilst we simultaneously WFH. If the Y1 does not get back to school soon, it is not possible for both me and my husband to continue functioning at work in even a reasonably successful way. And we are amongst the 'lucky' ones who can in theory WFH, some people do not even have that luxury.

So personally, I would start with opening nurseries etc. and then proceed upwards by age...

This is a pointless post...noone has mentioned anything about any classes returning just that schools are open for childcare for key workers..
Speculation is not fact

Rosehip if it's just year six that are in they wouldn't need to break it down into smaller groups. They would have all the classes/playground/hall etc. and all the teachers so the whole of year six could be in at the same time and socially distance.

I wonder whether they should get year six in first. Let them have a week of saying goodbye and socially distanced activities, then they leave and other years come in.

I think children with EHCPs should be prioritised as well regardless of age. They were supposed to be included originally when lockdown happened but most haven't been. A lot of these children (mine included) have missed months if not years of schooling already.

@joanneg36 I see where you are coming from, but they have to think about the likelihood of R rising, not just convenience to working parents, otherwise we'll just be opening and closing the schools like yo-yos. The older children can be separated better and staff need less physical intervention, thereby making schools more like all the other workplaces in terms of social distancing.

The year groups my children are in.

It was the leader of ASCL ( teachers' leadership union) who advocated years 10 and 12 to go back first. I think he is the only one whose voice has come forward on that, sorry to say for those hoping. The government , and parents who want to see a return, plus business leaders (who are influential to this government) are arguing for a swift return for primary children. I expect this is what will happen. It is what has happened in Denmark, for example.

Even in Sweden , where there has been 'no' lockdown, school buildings are not open to 16+ students, I think.