Repeat the year

Children need to step back into the place they left off. To move them on with no transition then sends the message that transition is not essential. Ironically, the events of the last few months make it more important. Add time for transitional activities for all children, for all children are transitioning back into their settings. Why would you want children to be pushed forward into an unfamiliar world when you could welcome them back then prepare them for what could lie ahead. Give them more time to adjust then move on to academic tasks older and better prepared to learn.

Why the contribution is important

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring our education system more in line with Scandinavian models. These systems produce children who are emotionally and academically better-prepared for life. We should not squander this opportunity.

by teeceeem on May 11, 2020 at 07:37PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.4
Based on: 5 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Landrover May 11, 2020 at 19:48

    Who would fund this?

  • Posted by Scotchbonnet May 11, 2020 at 19:57

    I think this idea has merit for those pupils in early years and up to exam years. Given the chance to effectively resit exams, they should be awarded the higher of any grades achieved. Repeating years S5 or S6 should be optional.

  • Posted by JenInv20 May 11, 2020 at 20:05

    For a child a year may be a long time but repeating this year could make a huge difference for children and their teachers. Huge changes need to be made to allow for social distancing & learning at home. Give the children & teachers time & opportunity to adjust without additional pressure.

  • Posted by Twixdriver May 11, 2020 at 21:23

    I feel that at least repeating the term from January might be a feasible option to consider- as children will have easily forgotten with what they have been taught since lockdown . If the schools instead of going back for around the second week of August, they opt to start a few weeks earlier say nearer the end of July , assuming it's safe to do so , and do a refresher of what they were learning in the early part of the year before lockdown , and then catch up on learning what they had to stop. After that , then carrying on schooling up to the autumn term ,before changing up to the next year as they would of traditionally done in summer of August! It would be a lesson in getting back up to speed , perhaps a condensed version of the itinerary, less of the "plays and projects?? " So to speak , but a condensed up to speed ready for the next term ( official starting date ) in October ? Even perhaps reducing the usual October 2 week holiday to maybe just 1 week? It's just an option to get caught up and get back to a normal way of schooling without any children going up to the next level with no ability to grasp that new year's itinerary - losing half a year of schooling then moving on to the next year , will I feel, result in a generation being severely disadvantaged for the rest of their educational lives . It's an option I feel that could be considered, as we need to build a stronger Scotland for the future, and our children need the best chances to do that .

  • Posted by practitionerparent May 11, 2020 at 22:01

    This idea has a lot of merit - children of all ages will need to time to readjust, they cant be expected to jump straight back in. Repeating the year or somehow restructuring the year would allow for children to settle in, have time to adapt, reflect and feel nurtured and ready to learn. Children moving to P1 or S1 will need a thorough, sensitive transition - if the whole year is too long could the first term be devoted to this?
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