Years 10 and 12 have been totally let down

[twosoups1972]

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??

I feel so sorry for these age groups. Lockdown, Covid anxiety and enforced social isolation are all significant issues on their own without young people (like my DC age 16) who have to cope with so much anxiety for their future. Ordinarily schools place so much importance on GCSEs, A Levels etc and yet now the kids are being left to flounder. It’s really sad.

If year 10's can teach themselves and should just motivate themselves why bother sending them back? Maybe just stay at home from the end of year 9 in future?
Utter bollocks! Now is not the time for 15 year olds to be learning about self motivation...they have years of that. They need teaching, teachers are very important and necessary and the government not understanding this is massively disappointing!

We’ve gained some goody types. May be time for me to retreat.

Goody types? Please expand.

All lessons are given in a video format, students have discussions on google hangout chat, we use jamboard and microsoft whiteboards so all lessons are in real time with narration. Group work is being set up through google hangouts and then groups come back together at set times throughout the lesson.

Reading that makes me want to cry, it's such a long long way from what my DS in Y10 is getting, at a 'good' comprehensive. Tasks set on Google classroom, very little feedback, no live lessons, no individual contact from any teachers, a handful of video 'masterclasses'.

And no word yet from the school about what they're doing after half term.

Goady! Sorry. Autocorrect

My DD is in yr10 and is working so hard. It is test week this week and she worked all weekend revising and then has been up since 7.30 This morning, two tests and loads more revision. I had to tell her to stop at 6pm because how can she possibly carry on.

She is severely dyslexic so this has been difficult for her as she is missing out on her teachers and her tutor.
I am so proud of her and I just pray that concessions are made in the Gcses next year.

She is very anxious about returning to school

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

If that was that easy for people to self teach from Y12 onwards, why are we even bothering to send people to Uni when they can just self teach?
And why bothering to do classes in an amphitheater/classroom when you can just do remote learning?
The reason is simple. It’s not as good even when people can ‘self teach’

In my school (indie) all year groups have full timetable but 10 and 12 have priority and we as have the Year 13d who would have been doing A levels supporting them, which of proving hugely beneficial to all -give the 10s and 12s a really boost and s sense of purpose to the 13s who are homing communication skills and consolidating their own knowledge as you have to understand it to mentor it.

goady! I should have guessed. Well I hope you have a thread full of good types instead.

At our school. the year 9' s started their chosen options in September 2019. So they are expected to take mocks and will be very behind now

The year 11’s would be in the middle of GCSE this week so test week for our year 10’s they are having a catch up week (as a friend who does admin at the school told me the submission rate for the year group is very low).

I haven't heard of the governement having a black cheque book!

At my dd's school, the number of pupils without their own device outweighs the number that can be provided or loaned by the school.

I agree that logistically it's extremely difficult to get pupils back and observe social distancing rules. Especially difficult for practical subjects. But what about getting them back at least part time? Each group of 15 pupils doing an hour or Maths or Science per week on a rotation basis? A Level classes tend to be smaller anyway, can't they have a few lessons each week? Something is better than nothing.