[senco-forum] back yearing

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

I agree with Anne that it depends on the individual child's needs.  A
colleague's son, who is dyspraxic, did Y5 twice, following full
consultation between parents, child, primary head and secondary school.

He thoroughly enjoyed it and settled into high school really well, in fact
much better than he could have done had he gone at the age of 11 and not
12, given the difficulties he experienced with social and organisational
skills at the time.

Jean

S Wales

> 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
>
>
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