Off Topic Kids education question & thoughts ?

I believe the government have put some money into schools. At least they say they are making money available.

In my opinion this needs to be used in the first instance, for those pupils (whatever age) who do not have internet access or a laptop or whatever to make best use of 'individualised' or 'blended learning', and for those who socially disadvantaged and/or with a learning disability who will have suffered during lockdown. And it definitely needs to be used for 'at risk' kids who seem by all accounts to have dropped through the trapdoor.

I agree with highpeak regarding A level students who should be more capable of learning on line and motivating themselves. In fact that should be a criteria for selection to A levels (another discussion). The trouble is of course the opposite is the case with schools holding onto a lot of pupils because of funding, doing it even when some pupils are not suited or motivated to continue along an academic route. Possibly slipped into soap box territory there. Soz.

 

Fair enough - I thought they described as volunteers??

 

They volunteered to put themselves in harms way, which is pretty good.

 

The money will be taken off schools by their academy sponsors.

 

We’re looking at doing two weeks during the summer for years 2-5 (more of a summer camp style rather than traditional lessons to do some of the transition that would have been done during the final weeks of this half term) and having two weeks for October and May half terms next year to have the time back.

 

I wonder a bit about those kids aged say 10-16, not too keen on school in the first place, maybe a bit 'lively'. Suddenly they've had 3 months off school, they'll likely want to go back even less. Have we created the beginnings of a new underclass?

 

Yes
Yes they did

 

Possibly just reinforced what was already there...

 

Not 606 asks and Govt respond, sort of...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53113201

 

Saying they’re ‘signed up to it’ is like them saying that the app is nearly ready

I actually think that they will be, but the Govt need to change lots to actually enable it happening

(as usual I’ll ignore the daily televised wafflethon and see what actually happens )

 

A swift bell to Marcus R. was all that was needed.

 

Not sure Gav is up to resolving this one

 

Doesn't sound a bad idea but then again not sure how the teachers will be able or have the capacity for all the extra pupils .
On thevplyscside with all the job losses it would alleviate the pressure for a year of jobseekers

 

That's a decent idea, to be fair. We haven't decided anything yet, but I imagine my colleagues would be alright with what you suggested.

 

Some schools suggested this.

The problem will be staffing Foundation/Reception classes and having the room for the extra 30-90 children depending on how many classes the school has.

It would work though. It’d also be interesting to see how primary schools would handle “Year 7s“ when lots of children quickly (too quickly) grow up at this age based on what they see around them at high schools.

 

With it been a 7 week summer holidays, it’s not too bad losing 1-2 weeks (especially with most holidays cancelled) now and gaining extra weeks later in the year where cheap holidays will be available in October and May/June.

 

So based on yesterday, bubble sizes will be expanded from 15 to the whole class in September basically meaning all social distancing within the classroom will be pretty much gone. Bubbles will still distance from other bubbles which will be a logistical nightmare for start times, break times, lunch times and end times.

 

It might work if you look at schools in isolation, but it would absolutely shaft the Universities and / or the students wouldn't it?

If no one leaves school this year (or next year, given that my eldest's year are currently waiting for their invented A level grades and still expect to go to Uni in October), then no new undergraduates arrive to pay for the Universities to keep going. Or if this results in the undergraduates also staying an extra year then they end up accruing £9k + living expenses more debt in the midst of what is likely to be the worst recession in any of our lifetimes.

Or am I missing something?

 

Works at the other end too. Have Primary Schools the capacity, space & staff available to accommodate an extra years’ intake?