School pupils to repeat current year

Children should return to the same year group they were in prior to school closure and complete this year over two school years rather than one.

Why the contribution is important

School pupils from all backgrounds have undoubtedly been affected by the closure of schools and the variety of homeschooling available to each of them individually thereafter. Different schools have had varying approaches, parents have had a variety of demands from their own work affecting their ability to teach their children and IT is not universally available to children.

Children are facing returning to school in August most likely on a part time basis, meaning that they will also experience further disadvantage in terms of time in education compared to pupils who have gone before them. The aims of primary education and expected standard are thus unlikely to be met for many children; they will be continually trying to “catch up”, or worse still there will be acceptance that this cohort will simply not meet the aims. This is not the fault of the individual schools.

If children were to return to the year group they were in at the point of closure on a part time basis this school year could hopefully be completed over the course of two years, without the time pressure. If this were done for every child then no child would be facing disadvantage. In terms of further education, Scottish pupils are comparatively younger than their other British counterparts at the time of university entrance and so wouldn’t be disadvantaged in the the longer term; in fact schooling in the rest of the UK is 14 rather than 13 years, with one of these years referred to as reception.

by fionawalker on May 08, 2020 at 12:22PM

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Average rating: 3.4
Based on: 19 votes

Comments

  • Posted by LMD2020 May 08, 2020 at 13:02

    If exams are being awarded on the basis of teachers assesments, the 6th year can leave and go to uni etc. 5th years can move up as can pupils who have been awarded nat 5th, so you will end up with a gap somewhere in the middle of secondary school with double year groups for P1a and S1, these year groups, if the system could accommodate them will finish their schooling and be at a disadvantage when progressing from secondary, if they want to go to college or university as they will be competeing with double the number of students in Scotland for a place. So will be potentially facing a huge disadvantage in the longer term.

  • Posted by Eanni May 08, 2020 at 13:23

    I think that all children should repeat the current year and reset the clock back to August 2019. This would ensure none of them lose out and perhaps this should be extended to colleges and universities too. Also when the schools do go back and social distancing is required, this would help with them not being in five full days. Those who were due to go into P1 could remain in nursery for another year. Obviously this would have an impact on child care, 3, 4 and 5 year olds, but I’m sure there could be a work round.

  • Posted by Mandyintdesign May 08, 2020 at 13:26

    Absolutely. I have been saying this from the start. This has the potential to turn this catastrophe into a positive outcome. Move every year group back and change the system so kids start school at age 6, this has well documented benefits. Allow pupil to return to where they left off. As exam results have already been correlated pupils can choose to resit subjects for a better result or complete additional qualifications. Allow this years school leavers the choice to return.

  • Posted by Dodley May 08, 2020 at 13:48

    This is an excellent idea and simple to put in place.

  • Posted by monkey3margaret May 08, 2020 at 15:28

    Repeating school year, even on a part time basis for pupils, will allow pressure to be lifted on time scale for redesigning school layout and also lift pressure for pupils returning and trying to adapt to ‘new year’ education.

    Also opportunity to reassess the difference in results for a P1 pupil starting school at 6 years old as opposed to 5 years old.

  • Posted by Lucy1980 May 08, 2020 at 19:10

    August - March (8 months, yes not in total minus the holidays but 8 months of a normal school session).

    April - June - 3 months.

    The idea of repeating the whole year isn’t going to happen. It’s not “simple” because you have a new intake of P1s, and P7s resitting the year. Do you think schools magically have the classroom space for that. My school has 5 P1 classes coming in August.

    We don’t have 5 spare secret classrooms. We simply couldn’t find the space for this. If they remain in nursery, again, there’s 150 extra children in nursery. Schools simply can’t accommodate this.

    Also I don’t think it’s a good idea (even if it were doable, which it isn’t). We have already completed 8 months of this school session.
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