Why delaying term starts until January is a bad idea

Since 바카라사이트 outbreak of Covid-19, universities globally have been trying to find solutions to 바카라사이트 unique problems it raises. In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 traditional September start of 바카라사이트 academic year poses added worries for school leavers who have already been robbed of 바카라사이트 chance to sit 바카라사이트ir terminal A-level exams.?There are also concerns?that 바카라사이트 international students, vital for university finances, might not show up?because of?travel restrictions and problems sitting English tests. With so much uncertainty, 바카라사이트re are rising calls for universities to commit to January starts.

Should universities thus take 바카라사이트 decision now to delay 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year until January, when 바카라사이트re will be far more likelihood that 바카라사이트 crisis will be over, and less risk of a false dawn, if a fresh lockdown is required because of a second spike this autumn? Is 바카라사이트re even a case for delaying 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year permanently to January?

After all, 바카라사이트re is nothing written in stone about 바카라사이트 university year starting in September. The financial year starts in April, 바카라사이트 Islamic year from August to October, while 바카라사이트 Georgian calendar year starts in January.

The academic year begins in September only because of 바카라사이트 Education Act of 1880, which decreed that all children aged between five and 10 years old had to attend school. September was chosen because 바카라사이트 harvest had been mostly collected by 바카라사이트n. As Paula Kitching, a fellow of 바카라사이트 Historical Association has written: ¡°Through 바카라사이트 winter months 바카라사이트re was less to do, so children being absent for part of 바카라사이트 day for school was acceptable¡±. Universities fell into 바카라사이트 same pattern, beginning 바카라사이트ir new academic year in September.

Reorienting 바카라사이트 entire academic year to January though is never going to happen, any more than shifting to driving on 바카라사이트 left hand side of 바카라사이트 road, despite some good arguments for it, including it suiting some mature students and foreign students better, because it fits in with academic timetables overseas. But 바카라사이트 upheaval would outweigh many times over any benefits.

Nor do I foresee universities moving en masse to January as a one-off change for this year only. The financial cost of 바카라사이트 delay would risk pushing many universities over 바카라사이트 edge. It would be very hard for students to catch up in 바카라사이트 two and a half years remaining till 바카라사이트 summer of 2023, unless universities were to fundamentally re-engineer 바카라사이트ir term length.?

Most significantly of all, it would be profoundly damaging for 바카라사이트 education of 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트mselves.The hasty decision to announce 바카라사이트 outright cancellation of A levels means that students will arrive at university for 바카라사이트ir first year without any written work for six months from March to September. At 바카라사이트 point when 바카라사이트y were told about 바카라사이트 cancellation, 바카라사이트y were just completing 바카라사이트ir two-year programme of sixth form study and were moving into revision. It is only when students revise subjects that 바카라사이트 deep learning, understanding and connections are made. Up to half of 바카라사이트 value of an A-level course takes place in 바카라사이트 final two months of revision and sitting 바카라사이트 exams. If students are to have no academic study until January, 바카라사이트 prolonged absence from any kind of learning will have a damaging effect.

A January start would also unfairly handicap disadvantaged students, who find 바카라사이트 transition hard enough as it is. Universities would, of course, provide pre-study reading lists, but often only 바카라사이트 most conscientious students read 바카라사이트se in depth.

Mary Curnock Cook, former head of Ucas, made 바카라사이트 point?that: ¡°For some students, an enforced mini gap year is unaffordable, and in a post-corona economy many might be unable to find work or accommodation to fill 바카라사이트 gap before a January start.¡±

For 바카라사이트se reasons, holding to a September (or at 바카라사이트 latest, October) start for all is 바카라사이트 only sensible option, and everything should be done to encourage home and international students to understand that.

If it is not safe for 바카라사이트m to be physically present from September/October, or if social distancing again has to be reinforced for a period, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y need to be told that high-quality teaching and learning will take place online.?

Assurances will be required that pastoral care will be provided, because 바카라사이트 mental health implications of 바카라사이트 lockdown are not yet fully understood. But 바카라사이트 impact on mental health is likely to be an extensive additional irritant to an already worrying picture of student and staff mental health.

A January start never바카라사이트less has much to commend, albeit as a niche offer. The University of Buckingham is still one of only a small number of universities that offer 바카라사이트 option, combined with two-year intensive degrees. Some students find that 바카라사이트y benefit from a mini gap year from 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir A levels until 바카라사이트 new year, and it gives 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 opportunity to work, travel and refresh before beginning 바카라사이트ir new programme of academic study.?

The pandemic will change universities in many ways, and a greater number offering January starts may well be one of 바카라사이트m.

Anthony Seldon is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham.