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Original poster

Attendance after GCSEs

63 replies

dexterslockedintheshedagain · 08/06/2023 12:53

My daughter is saying she doesn't have to go into school after her last exam (16 June) even though the term doesn't end until 21 July.
I'm not so sure, but also don't know what she would be doing all that time, as her exams have all been done! What would she be taught?!!
I've tried to clarify with the school, but they're not replying.
Should I still make her attend?

OP posts:
user1471453601 · 08/06/2023 23:16

After I finished my O levels (yes, I'm that old) a teacher took us aside and told us it would be unethical to suggest we didn't attend for the rest of term, but we also needed to keep in mind that Wimbledon started soon.

we didn't need any further prompt, as I recall

mrsfollowill · 08/06/2023 23:07

Normal in UK - we took advantage of an early 'term time' holiday abroad once DS had done his last GCSE and saved a fortune.

piedbeauty · 08/06/2023 23:06

SabbatWheel · 08/06/2023 12:56

If she’s Year 10 then she’ll surely be expected back in school.

Why would she be doing GCSEs in Year 10?!

Changingmynameyetagain · 08/06/2023 23:01

DD is in year 11, she’s on study leave now and only has to go in if she has an exam. Her last exam is next Friday morning for physics and that’s her done forever.
They also do a presentation evening in November when they get their exam certificates and all that jazz.
No 6th form at her school, she has a college induction at the end of June but then nothing till September.

Needmorelego · 08/06/2023 22:51

@Snowtrails yes but there is nothing left to do. They’ve finished the curriculum. Compulsory education is done. It’s over. Wouldn’t make any difference if they miss a day of school because there is nothing to miss.
They could get them in and do ‘fun’ or ‘team building’ activities I suppose but for just a couple of weeks most schools don’t bother -especially as half the teens probably wouldn’t turn up.

Snowtrails · 08/06/2023 22:44

Needmorelego · 08/06/2023 22:41

@Snowtrails that’s the official finish date but most schools don’t require the students in once they have done all their exams.
I suppose if a school said they have to come in on (for example) June 25th for an assembly then that would be compulsory but if they said to come in on July 1st then they can’t insist on it.

Ok, how strange that schools get away with that! They're normally so strict when parents want time off during term time...

Needmorelego · 08/06/2023 22:41

@Snowtrails that’s the official finish date but most schools don’t require the students in once they have done all their exams.
I suppose if a school said they have to come in on (for example) June 25th for an assembly then that would be compulsory but if they said to come in on July 1st then they can’t insist on it.

Snowtrails · 08/06/2023 22:36

Don't they legally have to stay in education until 30 June?

reluctantbrit · 08/06/2023 22:32

Y11. here

DD has currently an adjusted time table, either late start or earlier finish.

From next week she will only go in for the exams and her last exam is on the 16th. After that she only has a final leaver's assembly on the 20th and that's it. Nothing until September when she hopefully will start 6th form.

OutDamnedSpot · 08/06/2023 22:05

What did the letter about 5th June say? It sounds like she ‘finished’ before half term if she’s only had to go in for exams since…

Dacadactyl · 08/06/2023 21:56

If you've not heard otherwise from the school, then I'd send her in.

DD is doing her GCSEs. She has to be in school (so no study leave) until her last exam and then they're off before the other years break up.

The school have communicated this to us.

Serena73 · 08/06/2023 21:36

It's very strange that you don't know! They would usually have had a Leaver's assembly by now and at our school they have a barbecue on the last day. Which would be sometime in May.

ElfDragon · 08/06/2023 21:30

Mine is going in for various school events after exams finish, but just rehearsals/performances, no lessons. She has a couple of things in week of 19th June, and then a good few rehearsals for various performances in week of 26th June. Prom is the week after that, along with celebratory dinners etc, and then end of term.

Not long now!

Original poster
dexterslockedintheshedagain · 08/06/2023 21:26

pointythings · 08/06/2023 21:17

@dexterslockedintheshedagain communication would be helpful, but it's basically an unspoken rule that after the last exam, that's it (bar prom) in most schools. And if not, they tend to let you know.

Thank you for this @pointythings. She has only a week left now then! My God, I swear it was only yesterday I was changing her nappies!!

OP posts:
LadyGaGasPokerFace · 08/06/2023 21:23

I did my GCSE’s in 1992 and it’s the same now as it was then. Only going in for exams. Done and dusted until September whatever that may be.

pointythings · 08/06/2023 21:17

@dexterslockedintheshedagain communication would be helpful, but it's basically an unspoken rule that after the last exam, that's it (bar prom) in most schools. And if not, they tend to let you know.

Original poster
dexterslockedintheshedagain · 08/06/2023 21:14

SKYTVADDICT · 08/06/2023 13:13

Ours have to leave the premises after the exam in the morning of 16 June and that's that (unless you have an exam in the afternoon or the week after!). We have had quite a few emails about it though so surprised you don't know. If she is Year 11?

We've had nothing from the school about arrangements once the exams have finished whatsoever, and no replies to my emails about it! That's why I don't know!
All they've said is if she has an exam in the morning, she can leave afterwards. And that was only from 5 June, before that they had to go in, exam or not.
Common sense tells me she won't be going back afterwards - she's Yr11-but the school have never been great on communication.
Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
pointythings · 08/06/2023 20:46

Neither of mine went in after their last exam except for prom (work experience happened in 6th form). They need and deserve the break after all that hard work.

Fairislefandango · 08/06/2023 19:35

It is normal for Year 11 not to go back to school after their exams. You can't just decide to send her in anyway! Some schools do run some 6th form induction sessions in the final half term for students who are staying at the school for 6th form though.

chickabilla · 08/06/2023 19:25

Mine had his ‘last day’ the Friday before exams so is all done after 16 June.

mondaytosunday · 08/06/2023 18:34

Yep my kids didn't go back in after exams finished bar the odd day for some reason or other.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 08/06/2023 18:29

I hope not- I've wangled DD a job in our local pub for after the exams. Only part time or she will lay in bed, watch Netflix and annoy the hell out of me.

That and she's going to help with her schools Pride week and get some work experience at their SEN inclusion center.

Patchworksack · 08/06/2023 18:28

Ours had their official ‘last day’ just before half term and now only go in for exams. The ones staying for sixth form have an induction day in July.

x2boys · 08/06/2023 18:23

Yep my son finishes on the 16th too ,there is no sixth form at his school.and he has a place a college so that's it he's done!

Always4Brenner · 08/06/2023 14:48

We had to go in but it was still a boarding school then thought I didn’t board left 13th July 1984.

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