Writing off the whole school year?

[TheCat]

Given the disruption to education over the past 12 months (and continuing) is there a valid case for the government to 'write off' this academic year across all year levels?...and start afresh in September in the same school year as was started last Septmeber.

This would have the effect of basically making a permanent shift in the the ages of schooling from 4-17 to 5-18...which in itself I don't see as a massive problem, as arguably kids start school too young in the UK anyway.

A key issue obviously comes at each end of that age range...parents expecting their 4 year olds to start school this September would suddenly be asked to wait another year (so the govt may have to provide further childcare funding support), and those who thought they were off into the world or off to uni at the end of this academic year will have another year to wait. Obviously this will see knock on effects at Universities...but if properly funded by the government (i.e. effectively underwrite university fees this year), then it could mean something similar is done at tertiary level, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, given the cohort of students who were set to graduate this year would be let loose on a jobs market which will have no jobs for them in 2021 (giving the economy a year to recover could make a lot of sense for hiring plans to normalise). And of course what of children who go to pvt schools...should parents be asked to pay an additional year of tuition from what they originally expected?

Anyway, plenty of practical problems with such a suggestion...but would they be insurmountable when offset against the potential problems arising for children's education that such a drastic move might solve?

[JohnL]

I do remember as a 16 year feeling that missing a year or resitting it seemed it would be the biggest disaster in the world.

At 25 it seemed like not much really - just a year - the most important thing is your goal being something you really want and that it'll make you happy and also it's obtainable/realistic. Many people do the same job for years on end.

If we do make them redo it lets give them counsel as to what they want and how they should go about getting it so they won't regret what they choose to do.

[Ossito]

There?s no easy solution, especially given the wide variability in lockdown provision between schools. I?m aware even within ED there is a huge difference in what schools are providing. I know my son would be distraught at being asked to do the same stuff for another year.

It would present huge infrastructure problems - you?d effectively have to create a whole new year of nursery supply for delayed reception children. At the other end, how do Universities pay their bills if they have no intake for a year?

The thought has occurred to me but the financial and practical implications are massive. Given everything central and local government has to do to rollout the vaccine and respond to all the issues, I?d be amazed if there is capacity to deal with everything that this would need.