#Whataboutus?! This movement has come about because my son is currently in year 10, the class of 2021. He and his friends education and mental health have been greatly affected by the Covid pandemic. This petition has been created by a mother and her son. Our movement together is personal, we hope other young people and parents alike can relate and join us on our journey to fight for what is right and necessary for all young people.

Students that are currently in year 10 and 12 (the class of 2021) are the ones who have really lost out on their education because of Covid. They have only received a term and a half of education with a proposal to return to school at some point in June 2020. Returning to school does not make up for time lost in the classroom. Even if they return, they will be behind in their learning, be taught inadequately due to social distancing and there will be pressure on schools due to smaller class sizes and pressure on teachers to engage students again after such a long period, it is inevitable that young people will have lost their drive, motivation and determination for education to a degree. Time has to be factored in for young people to readjust to school life, not to mention getting back into a routine and being able to really concentrate all day, this process is going to cut into learning time even more. Despite efforts made by schools to set work online, this was never going to substitute being at school and learning in the classroom. If anything it has made learning that much harder due to lack of retention. Students are dependant on teachers and require practical learning. They have not acquired the skills to teach themselves at their age, nor should they have to. This method has put pressure on parents to become teachers in subjects that they may no longer be familiar with as an example.

The current year 11 and 13 students (class of 2020) will not have to sit their exams, they will be given their grades via different methods such as mock exam results, book work, homework and teacher perspectives. This system should be applied next year, but with a fairer system in place for the current year 10 and 12 students (class of 2021). They are the ones who have been deprived and forgotten.

Mental health is an issue due to this unsettling situation. Young people are feeling depressed, anxious, unmotivated, lack of confidence and even suicidal as reported on the news. Help us by signing the petition and passing it on to everyone you know. Give young people an opportunity to actually learn again, enjoy their last year of school and bring back their magic so that they can shine!

The #Whataboutus! movement ask that  the Government , The Department for Education, Ofqual to name a few, take our concerns seriously and consult with parents and schools about the following so that it can be implemented next year 

1. No exams to be sat for all year 10 and 12 students (the class of 2021) next year. If students are not happy with their grades, exams can be taken as a back up, just like the system implemented this year.

2. Have a curriculum that is reduced in content and more streamlined to ease pressure for students and teachers alike.

3. Implement and devise a fairer system to the one that has been used this year for students (class of 2020) exam results.

4.Heavily compensate all final grades for both academic and vocational exams/courses.

5. Significantly lower all grade boundaries for all subjects to enable all young people across the nation to be able to achieve their full potential and what they deserve.

Implement all that is being asked so that mental health can be reduced and managed by all. Everyone deserves a fair chance to work towards their future.
What is being proposed is not a lot to ask. Young people are the future, give them a voice and create an opportunity for change by petitioning for them. They are all worth it!