Which year groups back first?

[dippyegg32]

I'm guessing not too dissimilar to last time so secondary exam years, reception and year 1? With other year groups following within a fortnight so everyone gets at least two weeks before Easter.

I think the rush to return the younger children last time was purely about childcare... It’s probably harder to try and work from home the younger your children are. However I really think they should be looking at educational value, not prioritising childcare

If it was done for practical reasons and how schools could manage it, it would be a rota system with a massive crack down on critical worker eligibility.

And then one year group per key stage (for the purposes of schools I would include reception with key stage 1) so perhaps:

Reception
Year 6 - due to transition purposes
Year 9 - In prep for making gcse choices

Then ks4 and 5 would depend on the exam decision.
If they decide once and for all to do away with the exams - then year 10 and 12, with the option of some part time attendance for year 11/23 if individuals they need further evidence for teacher assessment
If they are going to use external assessments for year 11/13 then they should get priority.

If we look at it from the children's perspective, it would be Year 11 and 13 to prepare for the assessments. Then Year 7 and Year 6 as they are the transition years in most areas. Then Reception as many will have only just started settling in.

But knowing this govt, Year 6 and Year 7 will miss out in favour of Year 1 and 2 so that parents can get back to work.

My dc are Year 5 and Year 8, so low priority groups yet again. I expect their year groups to not be back in fully until well after Easter, probably May half term.

I still don’t understand why they won’t consider a rota so all children of any age can still have a chance to go to school, much smaller bubbles etc. A week in a week out, or maybe 2 days in 3 days at home? I don’t know, but it must be possible. Not ideal but they get some socialisation, some face to face teacher time, more exercise.

I hope year 6 take priority as I have one and I want him to have a smooth transition to secondary and see out his primary years with his friends even if we won’t get leavers assembly, prom, residential etc like DD had. He’s prepared to not have those things but he does miss his friends. DD is year 8 I think they will be the last back to secondary and that’s ok, they are probably the lowest priority year in terms of exams and also transition.

I agree that a rota would be best. There was provision for that in the School Tiers system (which was then quietly shelved as far as I can see).

I was more than surprised to get an email from our school today saying Government wants all years back at same time not staggered. No idea where they get that from, I’ve not seen anything announced to suggest this is the plan.

@Abraxan

If it was done for practical reasons and how schools could manage it, it would be a rota system with a massive crack down on critical worker eligibility.

And then one year group per key stage (for the purposes of schools I would include reception with key stage 1) so perhaps:

Reception
Year 6 - due to transition purposes
Year 9 - In prep for making gcse choices

Then ks4 and 5 would depend on the exam decision.
If they decide once and for all to do away with the exams - then year 10 and 12, with the option of some part time attendance for year 11/23 if individuals they need further evidence for teacher assessment
If they are going to use external assessments for year 11/13 then they should get priority.

The issue is that one size doesn’t fit all. Lots of schools now have a 3 year GCSE so children make their choices in year 8 not year 9. Also, some schools are middle schools so children transition to these at year 4 and then move to upper school at year 9.

My ds is also Year 8, so low priority. But, he had a rubbish Year 7. Settled back into Year 8, then out again. Now facing possibly a very long time before he is back in full time. So will go into Year 9 having perhaps the least amount of face to face teaching of any year group, but then expected to make their Gcse options and start working towards them.

Hmmm. Year 8 may not be a priority now and certainly wasn't last year. But give it 18 months and I suspect that this current Year 8 will become a very big concern in schools. Just like our current Year 9s.

Y6 I hope! Having missed a good part of Y5 and Y6 already the transition to highschool will be a big jump for many. Especially my child who is youngest in his class.

I agree. I have a cold the same age as you Y7 is such an important year socially. My son went to a different school to the majority of his friends so had to start again friendship wise. Difficult when they've hardly been there.

My post above was meant to be in reply to CagneyNYPD.

Year 6. They were Yr5 last year so didn’t get to go back in June. Then they’ve missed loads again so transition situation is even worse. I’m not sure they’re all ready for secondary school after all this disruption.
Then agree with the secondary school older years already mentioned.

Same as last time in primary and exam

So R, yr1, 6

Yr11 and 13

If they can't all go back, I'd much rather all years went back but on a rota.

@ComDummings

I still don’t understand why they won’t consider a rota so all children of any age can still have a chance to go to school, much smaller bubbles etc. A week in a week out, or maybe 2 days in 3 days at home? I don’t know, but it must be possible. Not ideal but they get some socialisation, some face to face teacher time, more exercise.

If each teacher is in with, for example, 15 children on Monday and Tuesday and then a different 15 on Thursday and Friday, then there will be no remote learning for the children at home, except on Wednesday when they are all at home.

@DietrichandDiMaggio i would be quiet happy with this tbh 2 days in school 1 day online 2 days doing independent reading, worksheets sent home or tasks on education city

@3littlewords I would be ok with that too if it was that or at home every day

Army childrens school, the teachers are already teaching one lot in person in school and providing the home learning to the rest (not live, using a mixture of external resources, recorded video, PowerPoints, worksheets etc). So if more children could be added into the classroom on a rota, they would get the advantage of socialising and teacher contact. But, the number of KW children may prohibit that.

So... Should the KW children be included in the rota... Or should the current situation continue until classes of 30+ are safe?

Above should start At My, not Army.

Mine are Y2 and y6, I'm also a ks1 teacher so I can but hope well all be called back at the same time

I think it will be as you say. The ‘more important’ years.
I really think year 6 should be a priority too. I don’t know how these year 7s have coped so well with the transition I know I wouldn’t have.

If nurseries are open still as they are deemed safe, seems to me reception should return first as only a few months difference in age.

I say that as a parent who will not benefit!

Current Year 3/4/5 missed out the most in primary.