Independent prep schools - which years are going back?

[whatisyourindydoing]

Just wondering what years have been prioritised in the independent sector? With most boarding preps going up to Year 8, that being their main transition point, have any said that Year 8's will go back instead of Year 6's?

I think ours is just following what government has said.

Ours is just the government ones. I assume some must be arguing this but right now ours is just N,R,1 and 6.

We’ve had a letter advising R, Yr 1 and Yr 6 first. Likely nursery as well. There is plenty of space so hopefully they will be able to get other year groups back too.

Ours is following gov guidelines but will just be supervising remote learning. Not great!

They have to follow government guidelines don’t they?

Ours is waiting for advice from the ISC. Apparently the government haven’t been in touch yet.

Ours will continue with online teaching, which works really well, throughout the summer term but I think from June all pupils will be allowed back into school. They'll do online teaching in school and then have sports etc in afternoon. At the moment pupils can use school facilities with social distancing, so can go running 2m apart or play tennis on the tennis courts. I think the continuous online curriculum will enable school to reach boarders who are still at home, allow teachers to teach if they or someone in family is shielding, and allows some kids to access from home if not all kids fit into school with social distancing.

Absolutely no whisper from ours that anybody is going back. They would only have 4 weeks anyway.

They have furloughed all the sport and peri staff in order to be able to discount the fees. I imagine they wouldn't be able to afford to have them back for the month so sport and the other prep school flimflam would probably be limited. Year 3 up have full time specialist teaching and the majority of teaching is live on Teams currently, so they'd have to have them all back or none of them back in Years 3-8.

Ours is taking reception, yr1 and y6 as per govt guidelines. Hopefully the other years can join mid/late June for the last 3 weeks of term!

I doubt any schools will go against the gov advice and take Y8 instead of Y6
The gov has been clear that they want all schools even state middle schools to return Y6

Year R, 1 and 6 at ours.

If they go against government advice and there is then a case of covid in the school they would be hugely liable.

It is such a shame for the Year 8s who are missing out on so much. :(

Ours is suggesting years reception 1 2 and 8 x

The government guidelines say they want parity across all sectors and specifically mentions middle schools as mentioned above. That should, therefore, apply to prep schools too. Of course there won’t be parity if lots of schools successfully refuse to open...

My son's school want to take back Yr 7 scholars (preparing for scholarship exams to be taken early next year), Year 8s, as it's their final year and anyone on their SEN register, in addition to Government guidelines of Rec, 1s and 6s. Parents of children in these groups have been asked to respond as to whether they will send their children back if the option is there.

We are waiting to see whether they will be 'allowed' to do so!

These are only government guidelines though not statutory regulations. Can the prep schools make their own decisions on what years to have back? It is crazy to have Year 6 back in a prep school as they are not leaving Year 8 are....

Can I ask which schools are saying they are taking back year 8? Our Head was under the impression it was not allowed and it doesn’t seem to be happening in any of our local schools.

6 only. The letter from the head implied that he had tried to get more years back but been firmly told no.

I’ve heard some London preps like St Thomas but I could be wrong.

Another one who’d love to know of any preps intending to take their Y8s back; our school really wants to but has apparently been told they can’t by IAPS who appear to be as much use as a chocolate teapot. If the argument is that Y6 needs transition then Y8 in a prep school or middle school needs it just as much but at the moment no-one seems to be making that argument.

Prep in bucks was saying year 8

Ours is taking back R, yr1, yr 5 and yr6.
Yr 5 as exams start in Nov and yr6 on separate site anyway.

What I don’t understand is if they have to strictly follow government guidelines why are they not staying open until the 22nd July? Current Government guidelines state all primary age school children should have a month of school and all go back on the 22nd June. Surely then Years 2-5 should go back then until 22nd July - if they have to strictly follow Government guidelines?

In my sister's school, just year 6 (no reception or year 1 children at the school).

Exactly the same as negrilbaby . But that's what we want. We're waiting to hear if we're actually allowed to deviate from govt choices or not. I suspect not, sadly.