Ofsted tell schools to keep exam years pupils in school

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/03/schools-should-not-send-exam-year-pupils-home-early-says-ofsted-head
It is evidence that those in charge of Ofsted have little understanding of the pressure teachers are under. GCSE teachers have had to set several exams, mark and moderate them (moderation is very stressful and time-consuming). (The exam boards are still being paid per entry.) And then grade the pupils, and justify those grades.

I'm just picturing lots of OFsted inspectors trying to herd crowds of teenagers back into schools. Think I'd pay money to see that!

My DGD1 (year13) has finished her exams and her school carry on with a "summer school," but this is a private school.

I don’t expect much from the Department for Education but this is beyond expectation. Year 13 pupils would only be in school for leaving events and DGD1 has got herself a couple of part time jobs starting next week. She only goes back for a leavers’ concert. Year 11 pupils would normally be starting on some sixth form preparation but I wonder how staff can manage this with exam assessments and the probable repercussions to deal with.

I do sometimes think that nobody in the Department has ever worked in a school.

So more than a tad at variance with the inferences one might draw from the current Covid stats.
Also from The Guardian:

The Delta Covid-19 variant has begun spreading in schools and colleges throughout England, it has been revealed, after Public Health England published new data, demanded by teachers and staff unions, on outbreaks of the variant

The new data, covering 26 April to 30 May, showed the number of Delta variant infections in schools or other educational settings rising rapidly throughout the period, with a total of 140 incidents.

Prof Christina Pagel, director of University College London’s clinical operational research unit, said the figures were evidence that schools were now “a major source” of transmission, after the government last month dropped its requirement for secondary school pupils to wear masks in classrooms

What a mess this government has/is making of children’s lives. An abysmal amount of money is proposed while Johnson is busy telling us how important education is to him.

Good luck with that!

Thanks tanith?

Sorry that was supposed to link to the page in the guardian its there somewhere

www.theguardian.com/

GS finished school week before half term, he has just started summer job (plenty here at the seaside - practically every pub, restaurant, shop has a notice out) he has officially left his school and going to 6th form somewhere else so not sure how they would get him back.

I think he is going to learn some important life lessons over the next 3 months that will be more valuable in the future, he is only doing one subject at A level that he did at GCSE.

Does anyone have a link? I’ve tried Googling under several different words/sentences like Ofsted pupils stay in school, but can’t find a report of the guidance they’ve issued.

My GD has disposed of her uniform for a start as have some friends.

Like they are going to get kids who’ve ‘left’ school to go back it’s not going to happen.

Sorry that should be OFsted not D of E (although both are abysmal!)

My GS says he has finished. He has a couple of science practicals he has to do, but he isn't planning on going back full time. I asked about a prom and they had a celebration picnic to mark the end of their schooling.
It sounds like typical D of E way behind what is really happening.

And are they going to call back the students in my area. That will go down well

Just wondering, does Ofsted have the authority to issue this directive?
Is it in their remit?

They were set up to monitor standards in education, not control how it is delivered. Surely that’s for the Department of Education.

Too late for Ofsted to decide that certainly in this area the GCSE students have already left.

We stayed in school after O Levels and did taster classes in the subjects we were thinking of doing for A Level. Obviously, though, this had been planned well in advance and the teachers didn't have those exams to mark (just the school's internal ones for all the other year groups).