Year 11s shouldn’t have finished school early

[solarlights]

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/03/schools-should-not-send-exam-year-pupils-home-early-says-ofsted-head

My DD went on exam leave on April 31st only attending school for the exams that were supposedly cancelled —but not—
They finished completely on 24th May despite missing months and months of school over their GCSE course, so what’s all this about? Our year 11s have been totally let down.

@Piggywaspushed

What are they doing hopping out of interest?

Up until half term they did assessments most days and some exams along with some sports and “fun” lessons too. Not sure what they are doing after half term for 2 weeks though.

It seems crazy for ofsted to announce this now after most schools I am aware of have finished.

Oh OK hoping thanks. Perhaps they are doing their induction for sixth form. We couldn't possibly accommodate ours because all the year groups roll up.

I just feel like I've let my students down now.

IHeart but you aren’t ranking your results against mother’s results and assigning grades, your kids are being compared to each other in their performance on your assessments. Remember they still need to have a reasonable grade profile compared to previous years. Schools that gave kids loads of notes/advice have just given themselves the issue of trying to grade pupils when they are all clustered at the higher end. Schools with tougher assessments will find it easier as the marks will be more spread out.

Ah yes, but Ofsted are a rule unto themselves and haven't got a scooter s what is actually going on. And nor do some people as evidenced by this idea that we could spend the mornings everyone taking year 11 for extended "how to be a decent human" lessons followed by running around the field.

I have things to do - like dealing with year 7 who, thanks to 2 years' disruption, are nearly a year behind academically, MORE socially (behaviour is appalling) and are the most challenging year group I have ever encountered. They really WILL be let down if I have to ignore them for another 6 weeks to bludgeon unwilling y11s into lessons about how to budget. If there is a year group I am seriously concerned about, its them because (as we well know) year 8 and beyond are SUCH easy, fun years...

@noblegiraffe very true.

I never ever want to do this process again!

[quote IHeartKingThistle]@noblegiraffe very true.

I never ever want to do this process again![/quote]
Never ever ever ever.

@Eaumyword yours sounds like my dds schools approach. Feel very sorry for my dd after reading this. I wonder why they took this approach, it will surely disadvantage their dc.

Foosterin
But stating that year 11s are glad to be finished is using a lazy argument to justify cutting them loose.

It no more lazy than "stating" that they are all depressed.

But this isn't the only point being made. Just the one that you want to focus on.

I imagine they think it is rigorous and fair. Many schools live in fear of interrogation/ scrutiny and so want 'robust' evidence. Most schools ahve a vague awareness of what other local schools are doing,too.

@Foosterin

I know teachers have been shat on by the exam boards and have so much work. They shouldn't be expected to continue to teach year 11s for the sake of it. But this argument is being shouted very forcefully over the top of anyone who dares suggest that the kids might still need more schooling/structure/ something. They have been back in school for less than 3 months. My year 11 DD has NOT A CLUE what to do with herself until September. There are very few jobs for that age; applications for work experience have been refused 'due to covid'. Even the library service where she's volunteered in the past have said no this year. If you're a year 11 teacher, then no, I don't expect you to keep teaching my child. But don't tell me you are doing them a favour, because you are not.

It's always been the case that Y11/13 don't have to go back after their exams though. I remember finishing the first week in June in Y11 and then mid May in Y13.

If she doesn't have a clue what to do with herself I'd suggest she's plenty old enough to be expected to work that out, without being spoonfed by a teacher.

To say she cannot find anything to do for herself is a bit worrying and sad, to be honest.

I do appreciate your point @Foosterin but the long holiday of y11 isn't new.

This.

Whilst this year has been messed up for them, the idea of a long summer for year 11 and 13 is not new.

For GCSE's Dd finished early June, and she would have had the same for A levels if they'd gone ahead last year.

Dd didn't work in her summer but she didn't just sit and do nothing either.

After GCSEs she did some work experience in schools which she loved - 2 weeks organised via school and the rest herself. She spent time meeting friends and visiting family. She did a bit of pre reading for her a level courses.

And yes, some of it she just spent chilling out after the exams - and from what I have seen of friend's children the children this year have had no fewer 'exams' - just called assessments this time but similar conditions as exams and often even more of them over a longer period.

I recall doing much the same back in the late 80s too. Everyone looked forward to that extra long after exams holiday!

@Piggywaspushed

I imagine they think it is rigorous and fair. Many schools live in fear of interrogation/ scrutiny and so want 'robust' evidence. Most schools ahve a vague awareness of what other local schools are doing,too.

It is also worth pointing out that the school will be making their results as robust as possible due to the fact that parents will be complaining to them once their child has the results.

What would they actually be taught? They’re going onto A-levels, apprenticeships, or equivalent. Our system (is broken) and teaches to exams, there are now no exams, and those who are staying on to study haven’t chosen their new courses.

My year 11 DD has NOT A CLUE what to do with herself until September.

My DCs both finished school in May after GCSEs long before COVID was a thing so this isn't a new situation.
There are plenty of things she could be doing, even in the current environment. Maybe not things she WANTS to be doing if mine were anything to go by, but that is a whole other issue altogether.

In a normal year, finishing after exams seems fine. It’s just the fact that this cohort of year 11s were barely in school before Christmas because of episodes of self isolating then not back to school until middle of March. In my dds case she was back in for 5 weeks during which she thrived and came on in leaps and bounds then out again for exam leave. So she’s probably had 3 months maximum of year 11 in school plus obviously months out in year 10.
Would be nice if they could be in very part time even 1 day a week for a level prep or something.

Principessa2070

Isn't that standard anyway? I officially went on exam leave in early may back in 2005!“

Exactly this. Our year 13 finished mid-May this year. He finished for study leave in early May when he was in Year 11.

I think some parents are taken by surprise by study leave but it’s pretty standard.

Would be nice if they could be in very part time even 1 day a week for a level prep or something.
I taught 54 year 11 students. When I'm now "free" I could do something with them. But not all 54 are doing my subject. I actually teach 2 subjects so which one would I do? I also have whole school responsibility which always needs a lot of work this term... I need the time (and yes it has to be in the teaching day) to do it.
We will be running y12 and y7 transition as normal anyway.

Would be nice if they could be in very part time even 1 day a week for a level prep or something.

This sounds like something a parent would come up with as an idea to get their child out of the house, not something a Y11 would actually turn up to.

And what if students don't know what a levels they want to do yet? Many wait for results. I was a good student, but even back in the 90s, everyone knew that gcse summer was the big one. It was your reward for all that schooling.

What did I do? Wandered about with mates. Stalked men with long hair. Killed time until Saturday night. Wondered if I'd EVER get a boyfriend or more than a snog and a grope at the local night club on Saturday night. Felt bored. Then worked 6 days a week in a factory until September. Started going to the pub on Friday nights.

But they were still being 'schooled', it's not like they were sat at home doing nothing even when not in school.

Re part time jobs - how hard has she tried? It's not unusual for teens who don't really want to work to use 'there aren't any jobs' as an excuse. If you know she has tried really hard and there genuinely isn't anything, then fair enough.

My DCs used to do jobs for me in return for spending money - cleaning, gardening etc. Get her to do the meal planning and associated shopping list. Do the laundry. Life skills stuff she will thank you for later.

Help her become more independent in managing her free time. Online exercise class every day. Start researching the A level subjects she is taking - it's not just down to school to spoon feed them. Find new hobbies.

She could make afternoon tea her friends. Read books. Learn a language.

Enjoy long lie ins, watching TV series etc too.

She'll be a long time working, turn this free summer into something positive rather than reinforcing the notion that they are the victims of this awful situation.

As a secondary teacher who could not have done any more for the Year 11 and 13 pupils these past few months, (and it’s not over-deadline for grades is near the end of June so more work to be done for Year 11 and 13 still to be done and it’s a little insulting that so many, including some teachers, think that we are done with the Year 11 and 13s already), I absolutely do have empathy for the few Year 11 and 13 pupils who are a little bit lost currently.

I do work in a school that is having them back on and off for a lot of June for sex Ed/financial Ed etc. but even the take up for that is very low currently and can only be done by the gained time as can supervising end of year exams for year 10 and 12.
When do non school staff ever thinks any of this happens normally?

Below are some ideas just from a quick 5 minute Google for some free options for Year 11/13 this summer.

This is a very good website, and there are some others that are free including individual council ones:
www.youthemployment.org.uk

Universities also offer summer schools and due to being remote this year, ideal for anyone anywhere to apply, which wouldn’t have necessarily been the case in past years.

For example:

www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/visit/summer-schools/under-18-summer-schools/

The summer schools that Secondary schools are putting on for the new Year 7 pupils may well want work experience helpers: call them ask and see if they would be willing to have work experience Year 11s (and Year 13s) as I am sure they would be incredibly grateful for the extra help.

And finally, this teacher with empathy with all the pupils that I teach is looking forward to giving back more of me to the other year groups who have been patiently waiting for more attention.

My dd has got a job waitressing 2-3 evenings a week and is helping me and her dad with various things but I suppose I’m struggling with the concept of how little time she’s had at school. She would be more than happy to go in for the things @ChloeDeckers school are doing as she really enjoys being in school.

I actually think this years year 12 have it it harder in many ways.

Sudden leaving education last March. Months of uncertainty over exams before they got a messed up system.

Not even knowing what would happen when they started college and many doing blended learning from day 1.

And in the case of my ds who is doing a t level as they've had no placements due to lock down they'd their end of year exams the same way as year 11's - teacher assessed - before half term and now have a few weeks of placement but college itself has ended for the year until September.

But this isn't a race to the bottom. It's been tough for everyone - not least the teachers.

Instead of looking at these kids and telling them how tough they've had it and how difficult their futures will be it's time to tell them at time life sucks - this is evidence - you need to develop resilience and do what you can for yourself to make the most of the chances available to you.

The RNLI are desperate for lifeguard cadets with the expectation of increased numbers of people on the beaches this year. That's a start for some.

They are very short of fruit pickers - another opportunity.

They are struggling to get hotel domestic and bar staff - more jobs to apply for.

No one says it's going to be easy. Currently life isn't easy for anyone. But there is certainly opportunities available if people's mindsets change to going out to fight for them and not just "life sucks and it's not fair"