Coronavirus: Home schooling has a Higher purpose – Steve Cardownie

The announcement that schools were to close and scheduled exams were to be cancelled for the first time since 1888, to be replaced by a certification model using coursework, teacher assessment of estimated grades and prior attainment left me wondering about the most productive way forward for my 15-year-old son.
By STEVE CARDOWNIE
Published 25th Mar 2020, 06:00 BST
File photo dated 07/03/12 of a general view of pupils sitting an exam. GCSEs should be reformed or scrapped, according to a majority of school and college leaders polled by a teachers' union. PA Photo. Issue date: Friday March 13, 2020. More than four fifths of 799 respondents, or 86%, wanted the qualifications shaken-up or done away with altogether, according to a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). See PA story EDUCATION GCSEs. Photo credit should read: David Jones/PA WireFile photo dated 07/03/12 of a general view of pupils sitting an exam. GCSEs should be reformed or scrapped, according to a majority of school and college leaders polled by a teachers' union. PA Photo. Issue date: Friday March 13, 2020. More than four fifths of 799 respondents, or 86%, wanted the qualifications shaken-up or done away with altogether, according to a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). See PA story EDUCATION GCSEs. Photo credit should read: David Jones/PA Wire
File photo dated 07/03/12 of a general view of pupils sitting an exam. GCSEs should be reformed or scrapped, according to a majority of school and college leaders polled by a teachers' union. PA Photo. Issue date: Friday March 13, 2020. More than four fifths of 799 respondents, or 86%, wanted the qualifications shaken-up or done away with altogether, according to a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). See PA story EDUCATION GCSEs. Photo credit should read: David Jones/PA Wire

Confident that the new arrangements should not have a detrimental effect on his final results, I had to examine all the possibilities that were open to me before alighting on any one in particular.

Video games such as League of Legends and Overwatch would obviously play a part in his downtime, along with bike riding and dog walking but his academic work could not be ignored.

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Given that his attainment of National 5s were no longer of immediate concern as this matter had been taken out of his hands, the obvious solution was to concentrate on the forthcoming Higher exams and to use the additional ‘free’ time to begin the relevant course work early.

His school has indicated what work should be undertaken in this regard and it is left to me (and no doubt other parents) to take on the role of teacher and ensure that he fully avails himself of the opportunity presented to him. It just goes to show that if you look hard enough you can find a silver lining.

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