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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Year 9 - does everyone get asked if they want to move for y10 really?

26 replies

fragminhelp · 15/09/2023 12:57

I've just received a letter from my council's Children's Services department.

It was addressed to parent/carer of DD and states that the DofE require them (and all local authorities), to contact all families of Y9 to ensure they know about the educational opportunities for Y10 and Y11 and go on to include information for our UTC.

I've googled but can find nothing about this, and it's worrying me to be honest. DD goes to a selective school and part of me is wondering whether the school have asked the council to offload her. I'm aware that this sounds paranoid, but in absence of finding anything on Google and no other friend with children in Y9 talking about it, it does seem rather personal.

I should state that I am seeing a psychiatrist next week as my MH has become a lot worse lately (due to demands of mother and being unwell physically), but I am functional, so please don't flame me too much for the paranoia.

FWIW the UTC they refer is absolutely shit! It is in special measures and the kids that go there tend to have have failed at even our must rubbish secondaries...no one with a child in a selective school would consider it for a second, so yes, I'm worried the school think she's not good enough and asked the council to suggest this to us.

OP posts:

PoppyStellar · 15/09/2023 12:58

It’s a standard letter, honestly, don’t worry.

cherryassam · 15/09/2023 13:00

I remember my sister mentioning she got something similar for my nephew a couple of years ago, he’s at a grammar school

HairyMaclary · 15/09/2023 13:00

Yes, this is standard practise, I got one for both my children. They want to provide alternatives for those children who may be interested. My friends son moved to one and it was the making of him, I just binned the letters as they were not appropriate for my two.

Fifiellz · 15/09/2023 13:02

Yep I just got one for my Y9 DD. It's standard.

CatsOnTheChair · 15/09/2023 13:03

Totally standard. We got one last year for DS1.
Binned it, as not appropriate for us.

Gloxinia · 15/09/2023 13:07

We got this even though we're nowhere near a UTC. Just advertising i think. Their comp definitely wasn't trying to get rid of my kids and happily had them in the sixth form.

Original poster

fragminhelp · 15/09/2023 13:08

@cherryassam yes, DD's at a grammar, that's why I worried.

Good to know that it's a standard letter. Thank you all.

OP posts:

ChessieFL · 15/09/2023 13:10

My DD is in year 9 and we haven’t had this (and haven’t heard anyone else round here mentioning it either). However we don’t appear to have UTCs around here (I had to Google to see what it meant!) and our area doesn’t have selective schools so maybe the letter is only issued in certain areas?

Mumofteenandtween · 15/09/2023 13:11

Yep - we got it. And dd is academically gifted and has never got a code / late / detention.

Howhaveihadalinguistchild · 15/09/2023 13:13

Yes we got one. I think it's because UTCs are brilliant for some children and, because they don't start till year 10, people might be unaware of them and the opportunities they provide. One of my friends' children went to one at 14 to do engineering and it was perfect for him.

PuttingDownRoots · 15/09/2023 13:16

Just had one for Yr8 DD. (It starts in Yr9 here).

She wasn't interested, but her younger sister was... so we will look at it in Yr8 for her. (Its an engineering specialist one which is her career plan).

VisionsOfSplendour · 15/09/2023 13:45

I also had to google what a UTC is, it doesn't seem that there is one near me but I do remember getting a letter from the school about a local vocational type college which I assumed was to let parents know it was available as an option.

I can't imagine that the letters are in any way targeted to individual students

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 15/09/2023 13:49

I've had the same thing. I've got 2 older DC and don't remember having it before so not sure why they are suddenly drawing attention to it. Definitely not targeting your DC though

DataColour · 15/09/2023 13:53

Yep got letters for both my DCs in grammar school, one this year and one last year. I didn't even read it through properly, put it in the bin, as it sounded like an ad.

Singleandproud · 15/09/2023 13:55

I got one for DD yesterday. @MrsDeaconClaybourne UTCs are quite new in some places, it may not have been available for your older childer.

UTCs can be brilliant for students who need a fresh start, or who find traditional mainstream challenging as they have more practical courses. Or for students who want to do engineering type courses.

Gloxinia · 15/09/2023 13:56

When we were sent them it said "We are required to let you know that.." even though we are nowhere near a UTC

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 15/09/2023 14:12

Singleandproud · 15/09/2023 13:55

I got one for DD yesterday. @MrsDeaconClaybourne UTCs are quite new in some places, it may not have been available for your older childer.

UTCs can be brilliant for students who need a fresh start, or who find traditional mainstream challenging as they have more practical courses. Or for students who want to do engineering type courses.

There's been a UTC in the next big town and one a bit further away for a while. Perhaps they've realised that people don't know about them enough. I knew and would have considered them for both of my older 2 but transport was an issue.

pinkhaired · 15/09/2023 20:17

@fragminhelp it's compulsory for schools to circulate this letter,. Google "the Baker Clause" for background.

Year 9 - does everyone get asked if they want to move for y10 really?

Testina · 15/09/2023 23:44

I got it too, just in case more people weighing in is helpful for you!

LadyLapsang · 16/09/2023 11:06

As highlighted above it relates to the work of The Baker Dearing Educational Trust. Given your child is in a good selective school and the alternative is not good, I would not give it another thought. Hope you feel a lot better soon.

Camdenish · 16/09/2023 11:10

We got one too. Some of the UTC referenced were miles and miles away and I’d never heard of them.

JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 16/09/2023 11:27

DS in year 9 at a secondary school in an area that also does 3 tier education (first, middle and high school rather than traditional primary and secondary) so we got a letter the other day advising us of the need to apply to a high school if we want one. These are standard issue letters.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 16/09/2023 16:05

DS is in year 10 now at a Northern Grammar school and we didn’t get one last year but I don’t know what a UTC is so maybe (usually!) our council are a bit behind judging from this thread.

Lemoncurd · 16/09/2023 16:15

My grammar school children got these letters, but the one at a comprehensive in a neighbouring country didn't. Don't think there is a UTC option within a reasonable distance from the comprehensive.

sunshine1201 · 16/09/2023 16:19

It's standard, schools also have adhere to this

Provider Access Legislation

https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/fe-skills/provider-access-legislation/

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