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Original poster

Summer school for secondary school

62 replies

Liveandletlive3 · 24/02/2021 16:05

Just read this and it seems to be mainly aimed at children transitioning from year 6 to 7. Is this looking to be compulsory or down to personal choice?

My son will be moving to secondary school in Sept. I just mentioned it to him in passing and he doesn't seem too pleased about it, he's been working hard all through lockdown and has been doing 95% of his work . I feel as though kids need a break too, enjoy the summer and get out and about and have fun.

OP posts:
RedGoldAndGreene · 24/02/2021 18:19

Very strange to target it at kids going from y 6 to y7. They should be at primary during the summer term so should be better prepared that kids the same age from last year.

Agree that y10 and y12 need the help- even if it's just practical subjects that can't really be taught online.

MichelleofzeResistance · 24/02/2021 18:20

Social and emotional support is arguably where the money would have been much better spent!

Monkeytennis97 · 24/02/2021 18:24

Two teachers here. No way are we doing this. Perhaps if we were 20 plus years younger but it's enough to motivate myself day to day at the moment let alone anything extra.

Parker231 · 24/02/2021 18:28

Typical government announcement with no information about how it will be delivered. I’m a governor at a primary. The teachers have already said they are not available as they will be on holidays. How are strangers going to know where the gaps are in education for each child and do any parents want to spend the summer holidays taking their unwilling children to school.

W00t · 24/02/2021 18:51

Well, I was just listening to R4 whilst I drove home, and they said the amount equates to £6,000 per primary school.
So for an average school with two form intake, just focusing on reception, that's about five hours provision per child.
5 hours catch up for a whole year's disruption, for one year group only. Hmm

Well done, Gav Hmm

Totallyfedup1979 · 24/02/2021 19:02

I won’t be giving up any additional time, paid or not.

I’m off on my hols on July 19th.

the80sweregreat · 24/02/2021 19:07

If teachers do go in then they will need to be paid and this will eat into the extra money they get. Plus, by then the children would have been back into school as normal and will need their break in the summer.
I can't see this working or being popular with anyone really.
My ds2 did a weeks summer school before he started year 7 in 2008. He did it , but he wasn't very happy about it! It was a great opportunity for him but when your friends are off at home his heart wasn't in it at all!
Maybe running a club for them might work better ? I don't know but saying ' millions for this and that ' sounds good but once you drill down you realize it's not as straight forwards really .

QuidditchQueen · 24/02/2021 19:08

Seems utterly pointless to me.
I am a secondary teacher and those children who did not engage in remote learning will not engage with this. It will be over-anxious parents of the poor kids who have been turning in the work who will clamour for it, increasing the divide.
Just let the kids have a summer of socialising.

PotteringAlong · 24/02/2021 19:10

The funding works out at about 24p per pupil: I wouldn’t worry about whether it might happen or not!

Desperado40 · 24/02/2021 19:13

What children need is a break, a chance to catch up with friends and taste some freedom. Are they seriously expect children to do school work whilst the old generation are free to go on holidays? Money would be better spent to subsidise summer camps/clubs so kids can socialise, have some fun whilst parents are at work.

the80sweregreat · 24/02/2021 19:14

If charities want to step up with football clubs or whatever that might work otherwise I feel it will just be something for the Tories to add to their ' we really care ' list of things to tick off.
Plus many parents will be taking them on holiday too.

Appuskidu · 24/02/2021 19:18

Summer school run by people who aren’t actually teachers isn’t going to ‘catch’ any secondary school age children up academically. It might prove useful childcare for younger ones, but as the teachers will seemingly be selecting the children who need it most, I very much doubt ‘providing childcare for working parents’ will be on their criteria for selection!

My kids will not be going anywhere near school during their summer. They will hopefully be seeing friends and family and having fun!

WombatChocolate · 24/02/2021 19:45

Sorry to say this, but this is purely tokenistic, so the government can say they’ve done something.

The realities are that the funding for it is very limited. It can be used to pay the existing class teachers to come in over the holiday (if they choose - cannot be compulsory as summer school is not their job) or to pay some other ‘tutors’ to come in and deliver something. It is unlikely hardly any children have their actual teacher for this so anything will be quite generic.

It cannot and will not be compulsory and those most in need probably won’t attend. Some people will use it for free childcare. It will not be aimed at all as there isn’t enough funding for all.

In reality, children will catch-up a bit with their class teachers in normal school time who identify specific gaps. If funding for longer term support is available in term time, targeted individual or small group work can be funded to help those who are most behind as part of the school day. Most children will just carry on ...they have missed some stuff like all of their cohort but they will just carry on and be broadly fine.

The government knows all this. However they have to be able to say they have done something and todays announcement is part of it. They know that those hit hardest by lockdown are the disadvantaged and the children who haven’t engaged much with home learning won’t engage much with summer school, but they have to offer it. It will help some of that group but the gap will widen. It’s a reality that can’t be escaped.

But it requires a vast sum (although not enough to make a genuine difference) to make this gesture. However a much much greater sum would be needed on a long term basis to address the problems in schools and trouble with teacher recruitment and retention and funding per child, far far more than the government is willing to spend or commit. Today’s money is a lopsided sticking plaster which will never be the right size to cover the issue....and government knows it.

rezoom · 24/02/2021 19:58

Couldn't have put it better, Wombat.

Monkeytennis97 · 24/02/2021 20:26

@WombatChocolate

Sorry to say this, but this is purely tokenistic, so the government can say they’ve done something.

The realities are that the funding for it is very limited. It can be used to pay the existing class teachers to come in over the holiday (if they choose - cannot be compulsory as summer school is not their job) or to pay some other ‘tutors’ to come in and deliver something. It is unlikely hardly any children have their actual teacher for this so anything will be quite generic.

It cannot and will not be compulsory and those most in need probably won’t attend. Some people will use it for free childcare. It will not be aimed at all as there isn’t enough funding for all.

In reality, children will catch-up a bit with their class teachers in normal school time who identify specific gaps. If funding for longer term support is available in term time, targeted individual or small group work can be funded to help those who are most behind as part of the school day. Most children will just carry on ...they have missed some stuff like all of their cohort but they will just carry on and be broadly fine.

The government knows all this. However they have to be able to say they have done something and todays announcement is part of it. They know that those hit hardest by lockdown are the disadvantaged and the children who haven’t engaged much with home learning won’t engage much with summer school, but they have to offer it. It will help some of that group but the gap will widen. It’s a reality that can’t be escaped.

But it requires a vast sum (although not enough to make a genuine difference) to make this gesture. However a much much greater sum would be needed on a long term basis to address the problems in schools and trouble with teacher recruitment and retention and funding per child, far far more than the government is willing to spend or commit. Today’s money is a lopsided sticking plaster which will never be the right size to cover the issue....and government knows it.

Just wish they would use this money to make schools safer instead so isolations and bubbles bursting will happen less.
GlacindaTheTroll · 24/02/2021 20:30

HIGNFY just tweeted

'Government announces summer schools as part of catch-up plan for children, coming as wonderful news to families who've just placed deposits on holidays in August'

barregirl1 · 24/02/2021 21:06

I think the money would be far better spent on activities that improve their mental well-being at whatever age they are eg activities to regain confidence and social abilities.

Younger kids can and will catch up. DD now year 13 missed most of her primary school education due to acute illness and entered secondary school with associated learning difficulties- even at yrs 8/9 the school said that she might not be able to get GCSES but she went on to get 9 good grades (through a lot of hard work).

DS yr 11..., ummm has not engaged with home schooling and no idea what his prospects are for exam grades this year. But his main issue is the mental impact of lockdown and having had long COVID from catching it nearly a year ago.

A summer of happy kids with money spent on activities to regain their confidence / overcoming anxieties would be of far more benefit.

carcarbinks · 24/02/2021 21:14

I was surprised to hear about this especially so late and after a massive surge in holiday bookings for the summer. I can't imagine many children will be that keen to go to school in the summer. I know my DC won't want to go.

kowari · 24/02/2021 21:17

I'd send my year 10 but I don't see the need for year 6 to catch up on anything. DS skipped half of year 6 coming from overseas and he was fine going on to secondary.

Porcupineintherough · 24/02/2021 21:18

I'd be pleased for my Y10 to go in to catch up on the practical side of his engineering gcse if that were offered.

Parker231 · 24/02/2021 21:21

It will be this weeks news and then disappear. Teachers are only paid for term time and they, the children and their families will be on holiday over the summer.
Where are the teachers to be found who know where your DC is up to in the syllabus and what they need additional help with?

Original poster
Liveandletlive3 · 24/02/2021 21:24

If the money is being spent, it would be better spent on the current year 10 and year 12 cohort. Surely they need more support educationally than children moving from year 6 to 7.

OP posts:
Graciebobcat · 24/02/2021 22:15

My response to this is they can fuck the fucking right off. We'll be on holiday, and so will the teachers, and well-deserved too.

TheMoth · 24/02/2021 22:20

Has Gav told us what's happening with assessing yr11 and 13 yet? I seem to have missed that bit. That's a lot more pressing.

Monkeytennis97 · 24/02/2021 22:47

@TheMoth

Has Gav told us what's happening with assessing yr11 and 13 yet? I seem to have missed that bit. That's a lot more pressing.
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