Back to the subject -
After the announcement that the government are giving up on their ambitions to get primary schools back before the summer holidays, I'm still wondering what is so sacrosanct about these summer holidays as far as schools are concerned?
I can see that a lot of schools couldn't physically cope with the distancing rules at the moment but, given that we are now already in June, what I don't get is why they can't make plans to bring forward the starting date for the autumn term from September, maybe by a month?
Its not as if many people are going to get a foreign holiday this year so that would give them time for a week or so's holiday in this country, should the virus statistics continue to look optimistic. Most children will have had a good month off school already (yes, I know there has been some home schooling but probably only for children of people who can afford the time and/or are even motivated to bother.)
Get them back at the beginning of August, virus willing.
I also see lots and lots of problems ahead re teachers grading students' GCSE and A level results. Parents will undoubtedly be up in arms if they think their child has been badly done to - and teachers will be accused (rightly or wrongly) of favouritism. They are only human and will have those pupils they like and those they don't.
Its too late now - it would be unfair to suddenly confront pupils with exams they thought weren't going to take place but I really don't see why GCSEs couldn't be taken in the autumn term - if the child has left school they can surely return to sit a few exams? A levels are a bit more tricky but it could work if new employers allowed a few days release for taking the exams and if universities and colleges exercised a bit of flexibility.
We are so entrenched educationally in this county (and in a lot of other ways) that successive governments never manage to think 'outside the box'. I'm no particular fan of Michael Gove but at least he tried when he was Secretary of State for Education.
