Changing the school year

[Pugdoglife]

I've just seen a petition on social media calling for the school year to be restructured.
I can't imagine the government would consider it, but it seems to have some merits.

In essence pupils would go back in the September in the school year they are currently in, they could then properly cover the work missed over the summer term.
They would then move into a new year (in some cases school) in January.
The school year could then be split from January to December with school holidays split more evenly to make the summer break shorter which might benefit working parents and children.

Year 11 and 13 students could maybe be given time to do work experience, learn life skills, do voluntary work, do more studying in school/college in preparation for exams if they dispute the grades they receive in the summer. (This would only affect them this one year)

I apologize if this has been discussed on here in detail before, I hadn't seen a thread yet.

I'm sure there are many reasons it won't work, but it seemed like a reasonable idea to me.

Where would the ne reception children go if the old reception class are still in the same year? How long would this go on for?

Teachers are only paid for 195 days a year, plus statutory holiday, so you'd have to pay them more and change their contracts to do this.

What happens to Reception?

I don't think it would work, and I don't think the children would want to drop back a year either tbh.

Reception would stay in nursery until January.

Teachers would still work 195 days a year, just split differently.

Our preschool is already fully booked with new children from September. They've made it clear that existing children cannot stay on in September even if schools aren't open.

But the new children wouldn't start until January.

There wouldn't be room in the nursery though!

Preschool (and nurseries and child minders) are paid childcare facilities. They can't just back out of signed contracts with new families.

And what about the ( at my school) 75% of children who have completed the work for the summer term, will they have to do it all again?

There would be some extra capacity in nursery because the new group of funded children wouldn't be starting until January.

I started a thread with this as one of the potential options for schools a while ago. My thinking was it's not ideal, but possibly the best of a load of shitty options.

because the new group of funded children wouldn't be starting until January.

What do you think their parents are going to do if their arranged childcare vanishes?

My child has completed all the work from this term and would not need to be held back.
A definite no from me.

What about the children that will lose their place under this plan, OP? Nightingale nurseries? What do you expect their parents to do if you cancel their place for September?

@Pugdoglife

Reception would stay in nursery until January.

Teachers would still work 195 days a year, just split differently.

But if you reduce the amount of holidays you can't spread the 195 days differently.

@Notplannedforthis

I started a thread with this as one of the potential options for schools a while ago. My thinking was it's not ideal, but possibly the best of a load of shitty options.

I'm sorry for repeating your thread then. As I said I looked but didn't see one.

I'm also thinking it's the least bad option, yes some working people would have to organise care in nursery for one extra term.

However it would ensure current year 10 and 12 students actually have time to complete their studies prior to exams.
Current year 6 could have adequate transition sessions with their secondary schools.
University students won't be paying for a full term of teaching which would only be provided online.
The long six week holiday could be restructured into a series of shorter holidays e.g two weeks in Feb, Oct, May which working parents have been calling for for a number of years. This might also make it easier for families to book affordable holidays.
Teachers still work for the same amount of days, so no extra cost.

If any school is lucky enough that all their students have completed every part of the current years curriculum I would be very surprised, but I'm sure they could use a topic and resources from previous years that don't form part of the current curriculum.

My own children have completed everything they have been set, done all the BBC daily lessons and extra work I have set. I still don't think they are in the place they would have been had schools not shut.

@ChicCroissant

What about the children that will lose their place under this plan, OP? Nightingale nurseries? What do you expect their parents to do if you cancel their place for September?

These people could lose their places anyway depending on what happens with CV. This plan would also give schools more "wiggle room" if they cannot fully open to all students in September.

Oh, In didn't mean to imply you shouldn't repeat my thread. It had this as an idea, alongside a variety of my other musings as I was wondering what other people's suggestions would be.

But how long would you do Jan to December for? How would you move back to Sept start at the end of that period?

I think people should just stop trying to solve the schools issue. Definitely don't be coming up with innovative suggestions or creative solutions. There's no appetite to solve it or change anything, just to keep moaning about it

This sounds like the best option I have heard too. I would be willing for this to happen.

Nursery places are booked up in line with maternity leave ending - they would be completely stuck without childcare.

I assumed that the OP's intention was that the school year would stay from Jan-Dec, not change back at any point Breathless.

@BreathlessCommotion

But how long would you do Jan to December for? How would you move back to Sept start at the end of that period?

Jan to December would be "the new normal" (I'm sorry I don't like that phrase, but it seemed appropriate).

Another benefit would be that pupils school starting age would change from 'just turned 4 - nearly five' to '4 year 4months - 5years 4 months'

It would be a complete pain in the arse for those with DCs due to start in September, however it's entirely possible that they might not be able to start straight away anyway, depending on how return to school is organised.

I really can't get het up about children missing 1 term of school. They've all missed it. Draw a line under it. Move on. When it comes to exams, if only 75% of curriculum has been taught, only put 75% of curriculum in exams. Or mark it accordingly. It is what it is. They will all be fine.

@ChicCroissant

Nursery places are booked up in line with maternity leave ending - they would be completely stuck without childcare.

I assumed that the OP's intention was that the school year would stay from Jan-Dec, not change back at any point Breathless.

I know it would potentially be a problem for those people and I don't want to sound dismissive. The only people affected though are the ones going back to work specifically between September and December and only those planning to use paid childcare. Some nurseries may have places available anyway for babies e.g if other parents have been made redundant and no longer need childcare.

Maybe the government could extend maternity pay to that specific group?

What happened to the people who should have gone back to work in May? Nurseries and childminders were shut.