[senco-forum] back yearing

This decision will effect the rest of their

To:     "webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk",
INTERNET:webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk

Date:   05/03/2007 12:56 PM

RE:     Re: [senco-forum] back yearing

Message text written by "webmaster at aylesburyvale-sec.bucks.sch.uk"
>This decision will effect the rest of their
school life.<

Yes it will Mark and maybe for the better. Long time users of the forum
will have heard this before as this issue crops up from time to time so
apologies to them for repeating myself.

I kept my son an extra year in primary school. In effect he did yr 6 twice.
The reasons were complex but mostly medical and social. When I asked the
then primary head he was very supportive and he approached the receiving
secondary school who were also supportive. Son just went through secondary
school a year later with no problems as to when he sat GCSE, a'levels  etc.
He simply did the exams with his year group... and this was in the time of
league tables. Schools are there for the benefit of children not admin
systems and these 2 schools were fantastic in recognising that.  My son 
thrived ... still does. We have never regretted that decision ( and to us
it seemed quite major at the time). Son says it was one of the best things
we ever did for him. I would have argued  our case if necessary but was so
thankful for those 2 supportive headteachers and their staff. . I was never
aware of any staff member who disagreed with what we had done. I regularly
say a silent thank you to those wonderful heads.

Sometimes things are easier than they seem if the will is there to make it
work. Sometimes it is right for individual children. I am not criticising
what you say as I could have met all those problems ...but please don't
always dismiss this rare option out of hand. I would do it again given the
same set of circumstances. 

And, yes this decision has influenced the rest of my son's life ...
overwhelmingly for the better, both  academically and socially . 

Anne Syme