Primary teacher association criticises "absurd" secondary start date plan

Secondary school teachers should not begin teaching new pupils half a term early, a leading education campaign group has said.

The National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) has branded a recent recommendation from researchers at Bristol University and the Quartet Community Foundation that pupils should start secondary schooling in June as "absurd".

John Coe, general secretary of NAPE, said: "The children's work in primary school would be impoverished if they had to leave in June."

He said that the recommendation reduces the significant role played by those in primary teacher education jobs, adding: "A great deal goes on in June and July. In those six weeks […] there is no examination pressure and a much richer curriculum."

Mr Coe did concede, however, that there is a widespread problem in England regarding the transition of pupils from primary to secondary schooling.

He said that many of the difficulties experienced by pupils adjusting to systemic changes between the school levels are compounded by a system which streamlines them too early academically.



Published On 29/01/2010