Year 11 22/23 support thread.

That's good they have put that on. 2 of my DD's days included school revision sessions. One was 1.5 hours and one was 3 hours. She seemed to get a lot out of it, and quite enjoyed being the only ones in school when it was more relaxed. Very good of the teachers too!

DS is probably only doing an hour a day but has been into school most days of the holidays for half day revision sessions.

How much revision are your DC doing at this stage? Mine seems a bit overwhelmed by it and veers between doing nothing and spending the whole day at her desk. It's hard to work out from her friends what they are really doing as everyone lies a bit, I think. After a couple of days fed up that she spent at her desk, I have said it would be better to do 2 hours in the morning, go out for a bit, 2 hours in the afternoon, have dinner and watch sime TV, then another hour or so in the evening. This seems like a lot to me and I think breaks are necessary, but DD thinks she can fit more in. She has probably worked on 4 or 5 days of the holiday so far and will do another 2 at least.

No study leave here there hasn't been for at least 5 years. Apparently government attendance rules have changed making it less easy to give according to teacher friends. DS stopped after 1 week after half term 5yrs ago . I still remember ringing his head of year and telling her either they allowed him to study in the library the morning before his tech.exam or I was keeping him at home. He wasn't doing a morning of geography revision untill 20 minutes pre exam!

DD has one day study leave before exams start, she's not happy as last year they had 3 full weeks off

Hopefully the revision has started in earnest now, she has averaged 6/7 in most subjects throughout the year (with very little work...) but she knows she needs 7/8 to get in to sixth form. We shall see!

Yes I agree it does seem rather relentless for them my DD has one day clear I think on each week and 2 exams on a couple of days. Her last one is Dance on the 20th June then hopefully their prom on the following week, but school haven’t confirmed the date yet!

His go on into 5 weeks as well.

I got a shock at how many days ds has at least one exam. I naively thought there would be more breaks in between.

We haven't been told either. I assumed they would finish school a week or so before the exam period, which is what I think we had, but it doesn't seem to happen any more. Just checked my daughter's timetable and she has only 3 days in the 4 weeks where there is no exam. It's a lot, isn't it?

I have no idea what my DDs school are doing 🙄their communication is appalling I guess they may tell us after Easter!

DD is at home but they are also running revision sessions for anyone who wants to attend.

Year before dd1 did her exams (so 7 years ago) that year was told their behaviour was too poor for study leave and so they didn't get it.
I said to dd1 at the time that they'd probably find results improved and then decide to stop study leave from then on, which is exactly what happened. It was a pity for dd1 who would have worked better at hone, but for d's it at least means he'll have done some work before the exams.

I guess I can see the benefit for those that won't study at home or are borderline but I was surprised!

She had said Jo study leave previously but I assumed that meant prior to exams.

Varies hugely. "Study leave" at home for mine!

I think since Covid the norm is to be in school.

It depends on the school. Some send them on study leave and they only go in for exams. Ours are in all the time, when they are not doing exams they are doing structured revision sessions with the teachers.

Anyone else know what happens during exams for their DC? I assumed my daughter would be home outside exam times however she has just told me that they are expected in school all day unless they don't have an exam in the afternoon or the next morning (when they can go home after lunch) which is zero days I think! The school run targeted revision sessions for the exams the following day....

Thanks, I have 2 with EHCPs been through a tribunal etc.

And also the mental health support. Maybe look into eotas too as this can be funded in an ehcp and include social activities, forest school etc, anxiety sessions.

@ThePenOfMyAunt apply for the ehcp and appeal if necessary. The ehcp can last until they are 25/26 (not university though). Get the OT to write that he needs these sessions (not recommends but needs) in order to access education and any other sessions, equipment, znything and get it included in section f. The LA will have to fund it. If you need to appeal you can make a complaint if needed via the ombudsman as well and you should get compensated for any sessions etc you have funded that they should have after issuing/ assessing. Good luck, contact ipsea or sossen if you need support with this.

hello. We've had sagas upon sagas here still. DS2 does now have a conditional sixth form offer, though the English teacher has gone from saying he'll definitely get a 5 to putting him down as a 3. It's caused all kinds of upset. I have managed to find a tutor who is apparently v good with kids like DS2, and he can start just after Easter (online). He does at least only need to get a 4 to do his A Levels, rather than the official 6 as per brochure, so I am hoping it is doable. We're funding private anxiety management sessions with an OT, though that finishes in April. the mental health service has referred him to a provider who does some kind of outdoors therapy, which we felt would be good for DS2 as he is incredibly isolated, socially.

He is revising and doing work, the school also has arranged an online Geography tutor, which I think is through lockdown catchup funding, which he has found helpful.

I'm leaning towards online school might be best, but i've left it a bit late to get an EHCP and funded, though I should probably apply anyway. We can run to funding it ourselves I just bitterly resent it(!)

Finally, DD has started her revision. Motivation is always an issue with DD even though I know they do want to do well.

My DS's school doesn't have a 6th form so he'll be going to the local college. Well he will be if he ever picks what he wants to study! Doesn't want to do A Levels, which is fine, but he can't find anything he does want to do! It's going to become a problem soon as the deadline to apply is looming, me and his dad just despair.

Yes, my daughter is. I have said to pick four (which she has) and then not worry about it until September as her GCSE results may make everything clearer. Besides, they can change their minds for the first few weeks.

Are anyone else's DC completely stuck what to do for sixth form? Mine is trying to decide between 7 A level subjects! Think she is terrified of narrowing down any options.