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Original poster

Sixth form supervision- normal?

64 replies

Baker111 · 26/09/2024 05:25

Hi all,

I attended a secondary school open morning yesterday with my Y6 daughter. I’m just wondering if what I saw is normal in schools now?

We were taken into the sixth form area to be shown the facilities. There was a large group of sixth formers there (40 ish) all doing ‘independent study’. What I thought was strange though was that they had a teacher supervising them- not to answer questions- simply telling them to be quiet. So not independent at all. This has made me feel quite uncomfortable, my recollection of doing A-levels is about learning how to study by yourself- which might sometimes mean mucking about in a free period and then regretting it when you have two essays to write that evening- but taught me a valuable lesson!

My question is. Is such supervision normal now in schools? If it is I guess I have to get over it, but I can’t help thinking this is a general reflection of the schools ethos to behaviour and that they will be extremely strict.

OP posts:
borntobequiet · 26/09/2024 06:41

I retired over a decade ago and was timetabled for sixth form (Y12) private study supervision/support for many years before that.
Not all young people enter sixth form with well-developed independent study skills. Some can be disruptive and distracting to others. This practice helps everyone.

antlead · 26/09/2024 06:29

Baker111 · 26/09/2024 05:54

Thank you all.

I can see the value of this- both supervised and unsupervised areas or times. At my school we went to the library (which was supervised) if we need more quiet. But I didn’t get the impression that this was the case in this school- they suggested everyone was supervised for every free period. It wasn’t as if the teacher was sitting at a desk doing their work, and occasionally telling them to be quiet either. She was actively roaming around- almost exam invigilator style.

Show quote history

obviously based on her experience with this year group that you weren’t privy to

antlead · 26/09/2024 06:29

totally normal

think of her role akin to a librarian

KateDelRick · 26/09/2024 06:23

Baker111 · 26/09/2024 05:54

Thank you all.

I can see the value of this- both supervised and unsupervised areas or times. At my school we went to the library (which was supervised) if we need more quiet. But I didn’t get the impression that this was the case in this school- they suggested everyone was supervised for every free period. It wasn’t as if the teacher was sitting at a desk doing their work, and occasionally telling them to be quiet either. She was actively roaming around- almost exam invigilator style.

Show quote history

Yes, that's fairly standard. It ensures that non lesson time is used constructively, and that quiet study time is available to all, without disruption.

DoublePeonies · 26/09/2024 06:22

I'm mean, if you take it further, the Uni library was vast, but still had staff about - mainly returning books, or finding obscure stuff - but they would boot out people who were bring a PITA. So even then, there was a level of supervision.

Original poster
Baker111 · 26/09/2024 05:54

lovemyboyz247 · 26/09/2024 05:39

Yes, our school has this too.

A quiet study area that is supervised by a member of staff and then a comnon room wheee students can socialise with their peers

The system works well

Thank you all.

I can see the value of this- both supervised and unsupervised areas or times. At my school we went to the library (which was supervised) if we need more quiet. But I didn’t get the impression that this was the case in this school- they suggested everyone was supervised for every free period. It wasn’t as if the teacher was sitting at a desk doing their work, and occasionally telling them to be quiet either. She was actively roaming around- almost exam invigilator style.

OP posts:
90yomakeuproom · 26/09/2024 05:44

In my sixth form we had half of our free periods as study sessions like you describe. The other half you could do what you wanted.

PrincessOfPreschool · 26/09/2024 05:43

At my DS school, they were banned from playing cards! They didn't have a social area because the whole sixth form block was unstable and had to come down so there was limited space but I thought that was very harsh. I think they were only allowed at lunchtime, otherwise they had to work.

Pinkl · 26/09/2024 05:40

when I did my A-levels there was a library which had both a silent area, and a collaboration area where talking quietly was allowed. However we also had a few small study areas throughout the building where you could speak freely and those got pretty noisy.

lovemyboyz247 · 26/09/2024 05:39

Yes, our school has this too.

A quiet study area that is supervised by a member of staff and then a comnon room wheee students can socialise with their peers

The system works well

KateDelRick · 26/09/2024 05:33

Ours get registered for one silent study period per week. The rest of their frees they can use how they like, but if we didn't have this, then some of them would waste it all. We have to provide a supervised quiet space in fairness for some students. Some of them learn self regulation that way as well.

Daisy4569 · 26/09/2024 05:33

Definitely normal, my school 20 years ago did this. We had a combination of supervised sessions which we had to register for and then ‘free’ lessons which were more as you remember

PastaPest · 26/09/2024 05:29

40 is a lot of people.

My Dd found the sixth form unbearably noisy

So the messing about people were harming her more than themselves.

I would have been glad if the teachers had enforced minimum standards of behaviours in the private study areas

i’m sure nobody would be forcing them to be in there for their free period – and there is plenty of mooching around the time in the purely social areas

KateDelRick · 26/09/2024 05:28

Yes, we do this. It enables everyone to have quiet study time. Otherwise there will be loud and silly behaviour and no-one can get work done.

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