Prep school parents: are your schools only readmitting YR, Y1 and Y6?

[SpokeTooSoon]

Just wondered if independent schools have the ability to choose their year groups differently. In boys preps, Y8 is the transition year and Y5 is arguably a more important year by this stage in the school year. The govt advice to readmit Y6 is based on it being the last year before secondary school, no? Just curious to know how your schools are interpreting this. Ours is following official guidelines which seems short-sighted to me.

But if a school goes against the government guidelines, and something goes wrong, surely they would then be held liable?

As far as I know, independent schools are obliged to follow national guidance on this.

Our school goes from nursery to year 11 and are accepting nursery to year 6 back on 1st June but no seniors yet.

Ours isn't going back at all.

Actually, the same must apply to some state schools in those areas where they have middle schools.
Most schools change at year 7, but unless things have changed in recent years, there are some areas where they change at years 5 and 9

are accepting nursery to year 6 back on 1st June

Y2-Y5 are still locked down as of 1st June, I think? The only lifting of the lockdown applies to Nursery - Y1 and Y6, 10 and 12 now added to vulnerable children and children of key workers.

It takes another government announcement to allow Y2-5 and 7-9 back.

Our school says they will reopen the school for nursery to Year 1 on June 1st and Year 6 at proper timing. They follow the national guidelines and wait for updates about Year 2 to 5 and 7 to 8.

I am wondering how they can teach Year 6 children by dividing 15 bubbles with one teacher. Each subject is taught by different teacher, so they have to mix as foam teacher cannot teach all subjects I am waiting for further update from our school.

Independent schools have been told they must follow government guidance on which years go back, even if they can guarantee the “rules” on social distancing for other year groups.

My Y6 is going into school but will continue remote learning in the classroom. More than 50% of parents are saying their children will not be returning. School replied that’s fine but come September if all year groups are back then they won’t be continuing remote learning.

@cantkeepawayforever we actually got an email tonight retracting that plan. I thought it was very ambitious too and wondered why they were taking so many years at once and why they were bothering since we're all paying pretty much full fees this term anyway.

They basically said, after a further update from the government and speaking to insurers they have decided to only take years R. 1 and 6. For now.

All very strange and it seems that they are just trying to catch up/keep up with guidance.

I suppose all the Y6 parents would object if a school decide to bring Y5 back (more vital because of pre-tests in the autumn) and keep Y6 at home. Even though it is the more sensible move.

I feel for the Y8 boys whose prep school career has petered out in this way. That is the transition year in most prep schools, not Y6.

I have a y6 child and I’d have supported them sharing return with y5 for the reasons you give.

I really don't understand why it's isn't n, r, 1 and the transition year. For different schools this could be yr 2,4,6 or 8 (I think that's all!).

Year 6 seems really unfair in schools where it is not the transition year. Mine is R so not biased!

Hopefully the infection rate won't shoot up and the others will be able to be back soon.

viva - There are some middle schools where transition is Y5...

The difficulty is that, under the procedures we are being asked to use for children to be in school at all, just the 'currently allowed' year groups stretch existing resources in terms of number of rooms and numbers of staff - especially when existing childcare provision for key workers + vulnerable children must take priority.

The ONLY way that other years can return is either:

• Collapse the number of groups and increase the number of children in each group to normal class size.

OR

• make all year groups - including the first to return, who will initially have full time places by government guidance - part time

I don't think anyone thinks that the first will be possible just 3 weeks after initial opening, and by their insistence in the guidance that those children who can return are offered full time places the government has tacitly admitted that the second isn't going to happen either.

Ours are preparing to take back R, Y1 and Y6 when it is allowed. They have also said they’re pushing (not entirely sure who) to prioritise Y8.

Our school has picked a different year group. Head teacher has taken upon himself to decide year 5 is more important. No priority given to Reception, they are not being asked back. I wish the 'guidance' was statutory. He isn't following it at all, it's causing huge anxiety within the staff.

Button - Year 5 is still locked down - that's not guidance, that's in the phases announcement from Boris and schools can't decide to over-rule it.

They can choose to ignore the guidance about which age groups from those allowed to return should be given priority. However, they can't decide to bring in a different year group altogether.

If staff are worried, they should seek advice from the local authority - even if they are an academy, or a private school, they may not open to other year groups, so the local authority can refer you on to whoever has the power to tell them to do what they're meant to.

That's exactly as I thought cant. It's making me so worried. I have spoken to the head but they were totally dismissive and said it's just guidance. I have been in touch with my union but didn't think about the local authority, I just don't want any come back on me so would have to try to be anonymous.

I've just tried to ring but they shut at 5 so will try again tomorrow.

Yup, recep/ yr1 /yr6

it's causing huge anxiety within the staff

Why? Do they feel more at risk from 9/10 year olds than 10/11 year olds? In a boys prep, Y5 summer term is a key stage in their progress towards the autumn pre-tests, Y6 have already finished their future schools exams.

I know they have been told to follow guidelines but, you have to admit, it’s short-sighted.

If you were following the spirit of the guidelines, you’d opt for Y8 as that’s the transition year. That’s why the govt wants Y6 back in state schools.

I suppose schools can’t win so it’s easier to just go with what they’ve been told. If they ditch Y6 in favour of another year, you’d have Y6 parents up in arms.

Spoke It's causing anxiety because we feel the head is making it up as he goes along. Not just with picking Year 5 over Year 6 but not following many of the other guidlines too. Any concerns about safety are just dismissed. He has staff working over many 'bubbles' of children and can't seem to understand why this is not the best way forward.
I'm happy to go to work, but I feel I would be safer, and the children would be safer, if guidelines were adhered to.

We aren't taking year 6. Each school has to assess what is safe and evidence their thought process and reasoning. The guidance is simply that guidance and not statutory.

Schools will have an opening school action plan with all the risks assessed and Governors or Trust Boards need clear evidence of scrutiny. They bear corporate responsibility unless their scheme of delegation differs.

You can do what you like as long as the evidence is robust and school can explain their definition of safe and why decisions were made.