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Original poster

Should child be refused GCSE revision session because of detention?

114 replies

youarenotkiddingme · 19/04/2017 14:33

DC year 11 gets a detention for not handing in a piece of homework - fair enough.

Revision session for core subject is announced for same day.

DC asked teacher if he could re arrange detention as thinks revision session would be useful.

DC told no because detention is punishment and they have to learn actions have consequences - again the consequence is fair enough.

This is only 2nd detention has has had in 5 years so isn't a serial offender iyswim?

AIBU to think that considering the change in curriculum and grading and the fact the GCSE's affect their immediate future the teacher should have agreed another day or even said he could attend the session as part of his detention for being mature enough to A) realise the session was important and B) have the maturity to try and rearrange not just get out of it?

This is only part of a whole issue that seems to have stemmed from a change of HT.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 19/04/2017 16:04

What about the life lesson of forgiveness, kindness and understanding.

It's a detention for missed homework, let's not get overexcited. What about the life lesson of meeting deadlines and being organised?

stuckin90s · 19/04/2017 15:59

Just wanted to add my husband talked his way into getting lots of extensions for homework;he had the gift of the gab, it's sad to think his kindness and charm might not have worked with the draconian rules nowadays. They might have just knocked his spirit.

stuckin90s · 19/04/2017 15:53

What about the life lesson of forgiveness, kindness and understanding. Children should also be taught to try and negotiate to change things and not blindly go along with strict rules.

noblegiraffe · 19/04/2017 15:48

It is not worth complaining to the school over. It would be a pain in the arse to rearrange the detention and the revision session is unlikely to be the one and only revision session on offer by that department. It's also unlikely that information would be given in that session that will never be repeated ever again.

Original poster
youarenotkiddingme · 19/04/2017 15:43

The detention system run in this school is done on a rota. They do a subject and something else weekly. All pupils with a subject detention attend the one session regardless of what subject/department it was.

OP posts:
Original poster
youarenotkiddingme · 19/04/2017 15:40

Please can I point out it's not my child - that's why I put DC.

It's my friends. We met for coffee today and she asked my advice and if it was worth complaining?

You only need to check my extensive posting history in secondary ed to know I'm really not the person to be asking this!

Although my own DS has settled well into his new school and now has an EHCP for 20 hrs support.

Fwiw my friend knows I've posted here to ask and gave permission.

OP posts:
CancellyMcChequeface · 19/04/2017 15:35

YANBU. He isn't trying to get out of the detention entirely (and so escape the 'consequence' for the missing homework), he's prioritising the more important revision session, which does seem mature of him.

If there's any evidence for 'education being a mess' it's a focus on obedience over common-sense, and punishment over learning. Yes, he should do the detention, but his GCSE exams (and revising for them) are much more important than any consequence for not doing homework.

Now it's seems showing who's boss is becoming more important than actually educating the children. Sadly, that's the case in an increasing number of schools.

SleepWhatSleep1 · 19/04/2017 15:24

Just supervise your ds for an hour of revision yourself at home to compensate. Revision sessions are only needed because students CBA to revise for themselves too often. If he needs clarification on a particular issue I'm sure his teachers will be happy to help in revision time in lesson or at a prearranged time out of lessons.

DermotOLogical · 19/04/2017 15:22

Of course Yabu. The revision sessions are put on by staff for no extra pay, rewards or benefits.

A detention always takes precedence. It's a good life lesson that actions have consequences. He will have to do the revision in his own time.

As for moving a detention, are you asking staff to give up yet more time to accommodate your sons wishes.

This whole post is why education is a mess, an attitude of its not my fault it's the school.

noblegiraffe · 19/04/2017 15:18

Is this the only revision session that has ever and will ever be put on by the other department?

If the other department has been organising weekly revision and your DS has never shown up, his interest this week would seem more down to the detention than anything else.

alltouchedout · 19/04/2017 15:07

That sounds unreasonable. It's not like your dc was asking for the detention to be cancelled, just moved: surely the school think revision is important?

Original poster
youarenotkiddingme · 19/04/2017 14:59

Yes I do cricket - but I'm surprised more that the school would refuse a pupil a chance to get a few extra points as it benefits them as well. Regardless of what department you work in.

The whole school has changed recently to being extremely autocratic (locally we joke it's becoming like a scene from the Demon Headmaster!)

Now it's seems showing who's boss is becoming more important than actually educating the children.

OP posts:
cricketballs · 19/04/2017 14:46

you do realise that this revision session is being run out by the teacher unpaid so there is no 'right' to attend so to speak whereas the detention is set via school policy

d270r0 · 19/04/2017 14:38

The issue is probably that the detention is for one subject and the revision session is for a different subject.

In the school I work at, my department has detentions and revision sessions on the same day, so that if there are any Y11s in detention, we make them attend the revision session instead. However this only works within the department.

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