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Covid

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Original poster

Years 10 and 12 have been totally let down

113 replies

twosoups1972 · 18/05/2020 14:09

A few weeks ago the government said they would prioritise Years 10 and 12 going to back to school.

Then it was they would get 'some contact time with teachers' before the summer break.

Now - nothing.

These year groups are at the ones who desparately need teaching, they are missing huge chunks of GCSE/A Level syllabus. Plus it's much easier for older children to socially distance.

Why??

OP posts:

antipodalpizza · 18/05/2020 16:46

My year 10s will not be back until September, school are concentrating on improving the home learning instead.

Theredjellybean · 18/05/2020 16:46

My Yr 12 cannot do practical biology or chemistry at home.. Funnily enough we don't have a bunsen burner or a lab...

wheresmymojo · 18/05/2020 16:47

Possible controversial view here but Year 12's should be able to self-teach.

As long as they have the curriculum and textbooks there's no reason for them to need spoon feeding.

Whatever they do next - whether work or Uni - they'll be expected to get on with things under their own steam so I think it would be best to parent them to consider this an early opportunity to learn this extremely important life skill.

TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 18/05/2020 16:50

Where’smymojo, well, yes, for some subjects

How about more practical subjects? B-tech? Drama? PE? DT? Art?

For stuff like maths and physics, chemistry, English it should be ok (it is for my DS anyway in y12), but for some subjects it’s really hard

flojo73 · 18/05/2020 16:51

At my sons school, year 11 are in a totally different building.(6th form centre) This means that year 10 would have the whole of the school to spread out in. It's a school for 1600 pupils, so approx 250 in the building could social distance effectively.

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/05/2020 16:53

Hearhooves
I was not talking about schools re blank cheques. Rather furlough and writing off nhs debt. And of course teachers should be provided whatever they need. That goes without saying, however, I’m going on the presumption they have this already for secondary seeing as they’re teaching online.

Spagbol88 · 18/05/2020 16:53

I teach year 12s and am due to go back in June.
I've emailed my students and half want to come in. The only issue is that we can only safely fit a third of students in each classroom...

Nicedayforawedding · 18/05/2020 16:55

I think they should have been prioritised. It’s not really fair on them, I’m sure they could have gone back first.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 18/05/2020 16:58

My gut instinct is you'd start with core for GCSE.

Then what happens with the other subjects?

How do you accommodate students in different groups for say science to maths and English?

If schools can all act differently depending on school size, buildings, access etc how on earth will that be taken into consideration when it comes to exams? Some students will have had no schooling, some will have part time face to face teaching and some nigh on normal teaching. This just makes it all more complicated doesn't it?

PickUpAPickUpAPenguin · 18/05/2020 16:58

Possible controversial view here but Year 12's should be able to self-teach.

Y12 dd is struggling with some biology topics. Presumably it's one of those subjects where there's experiments needed?

She's fine with her other subjects but desperate to sit down with her biology teacher.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 18/05/2020 17:01

That goes without saying, however, I’m going on the presumption they have this already for secondary seeing as they’re teaching online.

Certainly not the teachers that I know. We had to buy our son a laptop because he didn't have one (he's a teacher) and his school had none to give staff.

However, we couldn't afford to buy any other IT equipment for him. Also, because if where he lives, internet access isn't that good and he lives in a shared house so access to space from which to teach is not good. Understandably he doesn't want to teach his students from his bedroom.

Titsywoo · 18/05/2020 17:02

I've just had to stop worrying about it as it would drive me mad otherwise. DD is doing the very best with what she has been given by the school and doing extra for her art coursework and revision on things she hasn't understood over the last year. We can't do anymore than that. I pray the results they get reflect what has happened and the fact that not all teachers/schools etc have or are able to provide the same level of education remotely. I agree they should go back first but since I can't be involved in that decision I'm just focussing on what I can control (which is very little!).

LolaSmiles · 18/05/2020 17:04

Then what happens with the other subjects?
We have half a term until summer. We have to start somewhere.

It does nobody any favours to take the approach 'if we can't do everything then don't to anything'.

Unfortunately educational disadvantage is a substantial issue every year. Covid has suddenly got lots of people claiming to care about disadvantaged students as if there aren't issues every year. It's really annoying me that the difficulties facing disadvantaged students seem to be getting appropriated by anyone who wants to have them as poster children for their opinion.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 18/05/2020 17:26

I just think all of these rules and adjustments are proving that the government doesn't really think that it's safe for students to go back to school.

Telling people it's safe but then imposing all of these restrictions, many of which are impossible for schools to adhere to, is just ridiculous.

It clearly isn't safe and the measures schools need to implement are impossible in many schools.

GBarmy · 18/05/2020 17:30

We've been given the choice of sending our Yr10 son back 1 day a week from1st June. They are creating little bubbles of 15 students & 2 staff, spaced out in the same classroom all day. No social times, packed lunch to be eaten at the desk. I'll be more than happy to send mine back once the politicians have all sent their kids back

antipodalpizza · 18/05/2020 17:32

I'll be more than happy to send mine back once the politicians have all sent their kids back

Don't be ridiculous, they will all be at the exclusive private schools and having the most amazing provision with top of the range laptops and high speed internet. Just like us mere mortals.......of course not

VicesReturning · 18/05/2020 17:33

I agree! Can't see the point in reception and year 1 returning to school to be honest

Londonmummy66 · 18/05/2020 17:37

I agree - I have a year 12 who is really suffering as the subjects they are taking are quite heavily practical and they don't have the ability to do the necessary group work. School are doing all they can but it is a huge amount of screen time leading to eye strain and headaches which impacts on other things like music practice (wants to go to conservatoire so it is important). They are also dyspraxic and the work set is not SEN differentiated so the lack of ability to ask questions during learning time is tricky.

LockedInMadness · 18/05/2020 17:43

What I had heard is pushing the exam back to July instead of May-June for next year.
I won't be happy for a delay of two months when my boys will have missed school for four months maybe more.
Yes they've been working everyday but doing it themselves is not the same as having a teacher teach them obviously.
I'd be happier with predicted grades or a mixture of exams/predicted grades but for the time being I just want them back at school 😫

jinxpixie · 18/05/2020 17:48

Londonmummy66 do contact the school and tell them this. The students should be able to contact the teacher as said up thread some of my students are feeling more confident to ask questions remotely and in private and not in front of their peers.

I am sending out a lot of differentiated work - that is my job and should be done by all students. I am happy to be told a better way to do it and I welcome feedback from the students.

It is also useful for the teachers to know how long it takes students - it may be that the balance between his practice time and theoretical work needs to change.

BillywilliamV · 18/05/2020 17:51

Just told mine that she'll have to work like the devil when she finally gets bacj.

ineedaholidaynow · 18/05/2020 18:21

DS’s school have informed us today that they are not opening for Y10 after half term. We have received full timetable with live classes so they mean to carry on with that. I am more than happy with that, prefer that to part-time ad hoc times at school. They would have continue remote learning for the boarders who can’t return anyway.

cologne4711 · 18/05/2020 18:21

Possible controversial view here but Year 12's should be able to self-teach

Oh well lets sack all the 16+ teachers then. No need for them, just teach all A levels by distance learning. Sell off a few colleges and school buildings for houses.

TheHoneyBadger · 18/05/2020 18:35

Well it’s a good time to teach them about politics

MarginalGain · 18/05/2020 18:38

Possible controversial view here but Year 12's should be able to self-teach

So you disagree with the principle of school for older children, then? Starting at what age?

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