Is there any reason why children should not repeat a school year?

Another former MFL (French and German) teacher here. I don't think current GCSEs are easier than O levels. They've certainly been through some bad patches, especially when coursework was introduced. However, I think the latest exams are tough, especially at A level, where everything has to be written in the target language.

I have a top grade in O level Spanish after studying it for less than a year in the sixth form. To this day, I can't speak Spanish, but I understood the grammar and formula for passing the exam. I am absolutely sure I wouldn't get a good grade in GCSE Spanish.

English Language A Level is very hard. It is widely regarded as being a similar level to linguistic analysis at university level (I have had discussions with prospective employers about this who have been impressed by this section of my teaching experience). My experience teaching it has widely supported the rest of my teaching career, putting me ahead of teachers that have 'only' taught literature. It has got me promotions AND new jobs. So, no, I definitely don't think the standard is lower there.

GagaJo,State funded education does allow an extra year, to 19, for retakes, catching up after illness etc.

Therefore, in theory, it would be possible for everyone to restart - although it would cause massive difficulties with 'throughput' in establishments.

The following year would have to be held back - or a 'double' year would need extra teachers, classrooms etc.

I’m just hoping someone could clarify the issue of which children are considered to be the most likely to pass on the virus.....why are most school age children being kept at home whilst the youngest are still able to go to childminders, nurseries and early years providers? Nothing to do with unions I suppose?

I find it crazy MrsA54 as anyone who has worked with younger children knows that these kids need far more "handling". For a start any child under 5 or 6 gets brought to the classroom by adults who mix in the cloakroom and invariably chat and fuss over belongings. The amount of additional adult traffic, other than school staff, is considerable. Then it requires close contact for the teacher to show children how to do things, let alone scooping them up when they fall, comforting them, attending to their personal needs etc.

No parents are allowed in early years settings at the moment. Only one adult allowed to bring the child to the setting.

Galaxy

No parents are allowed in early years settings at the moment. Only one adult allowed to bring the child to the setting.

That's interesting Galaxy. How do you get the children from the gates, up the drive or through the grounds to their own classrooms? It must take an army of staff?
I bet the adults delivering them still hang round together though. That's what worries me most.

MrsA54

I’m just hoping someone could clarify the issue of which children are considered to be the most likely to pass on the virus.....why are most school age children being kept at home whilst the youngest are still able to go to childminders, nurseries and early years providers? Nothing to do with unions I suppose?

No, I don't think it has anything to do with unions. Why do you think that?

They have staggered drop off times and for some provision numerous entrances. The children are met by one adult member of staff who takes them to their base.

Ellianne

Galaxy

No parents are allowed in early years settings at the moment. Only one adult allowed to bring the child to the setting.

That's interesting Galaxy. How do you get the children from the gates, up the drive or through the grounds to their own classrooms? It must take an army of staff?
I bet the adults delivering them still hang round together though. That's what worries me most.

I rarely took my own children to primary school, but when I did, parents/carers weren't allowed into the school grounds. The children were well-trained and there was always an adult on the other side of the gate to guide them.

parents/carers weren't allowed into the school grounds
I don't think my staff would have fancied collecting the tiny children 1/4 mile away at the entrance to the estate in all weathers!
However well trained an EYS child might be, many still have wobbles!
I assume Galaxy this is a new rule because it wasn't happening last term when I was dropping off GC?

You should have appointed staff more willing to go the extra mile.

Most people don't have children attending school on an estate.

Firstly, apologies as I haven’t read all the comments. This is because I’m busy doing 6 yr old childcare and online school in my bubble with daughter.

I believe our children deserve the best and I’m sure we are clever enough as a society to be more flexible and give all our children a good education. This should mean that children should be able to repeat a year or go faster should they need to.

In Finland children don’t start school until they are 8, and do well. In Australia, boys in particular can spend an extra year at home depending on their development. The children are assessed before they start school.

Flexibility should be the key with more resources in terms of teachers, technology etc. Our taxes should benefit all children and I’m very happy to pay more for all our social services (health, education and social care).

I want the best for all our children and grandchildren.

In response to the OP. There is no reason apart from lack of will by the government, our society and lack of resources.

growstuff

You should have appointed staff more willing to go the extra mile.

Most people don't have children attending school on an estate.

Well so sorry for being a bit different then growstuff.
Is this thread yours, and yours alone?
I don't want to name the school my children attended, but here's a picture.
Sorry to deviate Galaxy, your posts were informative from the logistical aspects I was mentally picturing.. Thank you. One size doesn't fit all.

When my GCs went back to school in September parents had to hand them over at the school gate, each year used a different gate and starting times were staggered.
Ellianne that just looks like many of the roads some schools are down so presumably there will be other barriers nearer the school building and parents could leave their children at them.

ayse A school's statistics which basically determine its OFSTED report are very precise. Each child's date of birth puts them in a specific cohort. When that cohort is tested, if that child doesn't take that test, they go down as a fail, and they are included in the percentages. Consequently schools are loath to have pupils in the wrong year.

Ellianne

growstuff

You should have appointed staff more willing to go the extra mile.

Most people don't have children attending school on an estate.

Well so sorry for being a bit different then growstuff.
Is this thread yours, and yours alone?
I don't want to name the school my children attended, but here's a picture.
Sorry to deviate Galaxy, your posts were informative from the logistical aspects I was mentally picturing.. Thank you. One size doesn't fit all.

Well that does look lovely indeed. Very similar to the two school my grandchildren go to.

One size does not fit all- that is true. But the real truth, is that the 'size' you pictured above only fits a few- those who have very well off parents (or in some cases, grand-parents) - irrespective of their individual educational needs. My grandchildren are also lucky now, to have formal lessons in all subjects taught by their teacher on Zoom, etc, interacting with other children too. So they are not 'missing' the year at all. Not the case for the large majority of children.

But this thread has totally lost the plot. It was about the possibility or need, for children to repeat the whole year they have more or less missed.

Just to say the state school where I taught are also doing zoom lessons on a full day basis.

The thread is one involving education so surely a little deviation from the OP is allowed? Explore other aspects ? Read around the subject? Not nitpick ?

I'm an explorer par excellence and enjoy tangents which go all over the place!
The thread is about the possible need to repeat the school year, which took posters to consider the provision for the youngest 2021 intake, which led to a poster asking about the virus precautions for EYS, which in turn led to a bit of sideways thinking. Mix into that posters wanting to talk about their own experiences, all indeed valuable, not not picking hopefully.

*nit

No nit picking, but fair enough to return to the OPand what it was about (rather than boast with photos of your very privileged school- which looks very similar to the ones my grandchildren attend- but would not dream of posting here why?). And they walk- up the long drives and grounds, in all weathers- dropped at the gate with Senior students supervising.

As said, repeating a year, for most schools, is totally unpractical due to lack of space and lack of staff. As for GCSEs, a total waste of space indeed- huge amounts of educational time is spent teaching for the exams, and endless practice for the exams, then 2 months off just for the exams. BTW no other country I can think about in Europe has such formal exams at 15/16.

Certajnly staggered drop offs and different entrances has been going since this first started, in my area anyway. I think it was in the original early years guidance that came out but I have read so many updates of guidance that it's hard to remember. Most of those settings because of the layout the parents could drop at the door but not allowed inside. Actually have just remembered one setting where parents went into cloakroom but one at a time staggered drop off and not into the actual early years room.

Oh come on biba boasting?