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Original poster

Schools should stay open for Years 11 and 13 or many are doomed

108 replies

Coronadisasterclub · 27/12/2020 20:00

They've had such a terrible run of things and if they don't go back after Christmas I think GCSEs and A'Levels are absolutely doomed. They're barely going to cover the course and many DC are at an all time low. I am really worried about what the long term consequences of this could be well after Coronavirus is a distant memory.

OP posts:
Pieceofpurplesky · 27/12/2020 21:36

Teacher here. No exam content is not competed - the kids missed 5 months of the course and with the best will in the world this means that it is going to take longer to complete the course than ever.

Most schools do not start GCSE in year 9 as that is frowned upon by ofsted.

Easier grading and pre released material does not help pupils who will still be isolating. In one of my Year 11 classes three pupils have all had three separate lots of isolation and missed lots of school. Lessons have been online but only one completed them. One of my other classes has had 14/31 pupils for most of the term with various Covid related issues (from anxiety to isolation due to shielding).

Pieceofpurplesky · 27/12/2020 21:37

Pressed send too soon!

This was the ideal time to overhaul the exams and put right the mess Gove made. As ever we go in to the new year with no clue. What will be released? When? How?

52andblue · 27/12/2020 21:42

What is SO appalling is that some kids have been at Schools with awful 'distance learning' and repeated isolations.
Some have been at good schools with proper interactive lessons and teachers going the extra mile and no isolations.
Yet they will all be assessed against each other.
It is massively unfair.

Orangeblossom77777 · 27/12/2020 21:46

I agree schools do seem to have approached things differently. Even in the Spring lockdown ours had some pupils who were not engaging online in school to work there, 2m apart etc...it does seem unfair in many ways.

Orangeblossom77777 · 27/12/2020 21:46

(although that was still just online work set not proper lessons)

KnowingMeKnowingYule · 27/12/2020 21:46

@52andblue I don't think the mark of a good school is no isolations. It's just luck really.

NeverForgetYourDreams · 27/12/2020 21:48

Current years 10 and 12 are going to be shafted in 2022 with exams probably back to normal despite having missed swathes of education time. For GCSE's they need to cancel exams this year and use assessments. Then in 2022 do a half and half approach. By 2023 back to normal as those in current year 9 should hopefully get full year 10 and 11 teaching. For A levels current year 13 cancel exams and a half and half approach for current and year 12. Then hope it all comes right.

It's all years 10-13 that need priority right now for being in school.

Kitcat122 · 27/12/2020 21:53

My Yr11 has most definitely not finished learning the syllabus. The school is doing all they can. Late finishes Monday to Thursday. Saturday morning zoom science lessons. But even then he is being taught Chemistry by a pe teacher etc because of the staff illness.

Norwester · 27/12/2020 21:54

They could get rid of exams. Grades could be based on coursework/projects, which can be prepped for and completed even in isolation.

Orangeblossom77777 · 27/12/2020 22:19

Coursework / projects could have their own problems for those at home. Resources for example. and may not assess knowledge to go onto the next stage.

52andblue · 27/12/2020 22:33

[quote KnowingMeKnowingYule]@52andblue I don't think the mark of a good school is no isolations. It's just luck really.[/quote]
Agreed.
My ds' School is awful for other reasons.
But the lack of work home / interactive materials / marking / Mocks being set etc etc IS. The gap between those kids with a decent chance and those without has been widened exponentially by this.

Frozenintime · 27/12/2020 23:03

@FoxinaScarf. It's terrible for the current Year 10's. Our son started GCSE courses in Year 9. They are missing a large chunk of Y9 due to lockdown and same for Y10 with isolations and school closures.
When Covid all blows over, these young adults will be on the jobmarket with a significant disadvantage

TW2013 · 27/12/2020 23:12

@NeverForgetYourDreams

Current years 10 and 12 are going to be shafted in 2022 with exams probably back to normal despite having missed swathes of education time. For GCSE's they need to cancel exams this year and use assessments. Then in 2022 do a half and half approach. By 2023 back to normal as those in current year 9 should hopefully get full year 10 and 11 teaching. For A levels current year 13 cancel exams and a half and half approach for current and year 12. Then hope it all comes right.

It's all years 10-13 that need priority right now for being in school.

I think it is optimistic to think that 2023 will be unaffected. Maybe for some subjects like History which has clear GCSE topics it will be possible (although I am aware that History has a content heavy workload) but many subjects such as maths, mfl build heavily on topics covered in yr8 and 9.
Itisasecret · 27/12/2020 23:15

As a parent of a YR 11 and YR13 let me tell you, the last thing they need are parents at home screeching they are doomed. I haven’t even read the thread, the title is enough for me.

Talk about a self fulfilling prophecy. They will be just fine, it maybe be a winding path but they are not doomed and their lives are just beginning.

These children need support not their own parents/teachers telling them how doomed they are.

SaltyAF · 27/12/2020 23:19

Before we start slagging off teachers for not 'going the extra mile' can we please acknowledge that teachers are subject to all the usual performance management / CPD bureaucracy, have classes in front of them while they're timetabled to teach self-isolaters, are covering colleagues when they're supposedly available to teach online and are not being protected themselves in any way, shape or form?

SaltyAF · 27/12/2020 23:20

Isolators Blush

Itisasecret · 27/12/2020 23:25

@SaltyAF

Before we start slagging off teachers for not 'going the extra mile' can we please acknowledge that teachers are subject to all the usual performance management / CPD bureaucracy, have classes in front of them while they're timetabled to teach self-isolaters, are covering colleagues when they're supposedly available to teach online and are not being protected themselves in any way, shape or form?
Your job will be even harder if parents at home are giving off gives that their children are doomed and their lives are going to be impossible.

We need to pick these children up, not give them the impression their lives are fucked. I say that a parent of a yr 11 and yr 13 and someone who works in education.

Parents, you’re not helping your children thinking like this.

Tinty · 27/12/2020 23:28

I was just referring to what teachers said during a zoom parents evening, that usually they finish the course by Christmas and focus on revision from then forward. (think they were reassuring me there would be time to go over stuff) - if they are not closed that is.

Our school have said they should finish by mid March, they had mocks in October after 1 month back at school after missing 5 months of school! Hmm So no, nowhere near finished yet!

SaltyAF · 27/12/2020 23:32

@Itisasecret, I heartily agree. God help those poor little mites who had their lives turned upside down in the 40s. Oh wait, everyone was in the same boat, as they are now, and an entire generation was not left in penury for the rest of their lives.

TwigTheWonderKid · 27/12/2020 23:33

I just wish someone in the DfE would step away from the obsession with exams and assessments and focus on the fact that these children have missed a massive chunk of their actual education. And with all kids being required to stay in education or an apprenticeship until they are 18, GCSEs are practically redundant anyway.

Itisasecret · 27/12/2020 23:37

[quote SaltyAF]@Itisasecret, I heartily agree. God help those poor little mites who had their lives turned upside down in the 40s. Oh wait, everyone was in the same boat, as they are now, and an entire generation was not left in penury for the rest of their lives.[/quote]
It makes me sad actually. These children need to know their lives are worth living, it will get better. They are all in the same boat this year. I’m genuinely worried for children who are facing negative discourses about their future. That isn’t helping, even if you don’t say it, they know.

SaltyAF · 27/12/2020 23:46

I think the kids in school are more sensible than some of the parents on here though @Itisasecret. They have a better sense of perspective - it's a case of doing what we can while we can, then waiting and seeing. They know their outcomes will be viewed in the context of a whole cohort affected by Covid.

ForeverInADay · 27/12/2020 23:46

We will be doomed if we don't do something to bring numbers down. If there is no ambulance to take people to hospital and no hospital space...

Students isolating constantly is also far from ideal.

None of it is ok of course and dreadful for children BUT it's not a simple one piece puzzle.

Elephant4 · 27/12/2020 23:48

They have finished the GCSE course anyway by now and focus on revision going forward.

How? When so much of school was missed last academic year?

FrippEnos · 27/12/2020 23:50

@Orangeblossom77777

They have finished the GCSE course anyway by now and focus on revision going forward. there are excellent online resources and books - we will probably just focus on them.
Nope, not by a long chalk.