Y11 2025-26 - Trying not to melt and pushing through the final weeks

My son will finish school the minute the physics paper is over on Monday.

The last exam signals the end of school.

They have a short leavers assembly mid week next week to be praised for all their hard work, to swop momentos and sign shirts etc. Then prom on Thursday which is always a big deal with horse drawn carts and all sorts (mid performing but rising state secondary).

I am quite glad they didn't get study leave as the impetus would have been on me to ensure he was studying. It also kept a good schedule so that he was up and out by 7.30 every day.
He is enjoying his day off today though - I think he deserved it. I told them he had a headache.(still revising today for Chemistry though)

Just a question about schools not giving children study leave. I gather that this is because it shows up as absence, which schools are keen to avoid. BUT, what happens after the child’s last GCSE exam is over, and there’s still weeks of term to go. Do they still make them come in? If not, surely it’s marked as absence, so what’s the bother with giving the study leave, as there will simply be high rates of ‘absence’ (study leave / time after exams) in year 11 regardless.

Oh @3GoldenLampsthat sounds hard. They definitely should do a range of awards - input as well as output.

Weirdly we’ve been invited to son’s school awards (never been invited before) as he has an award but we won’t be told until the event what it’s for. So that’s a mystery! At least they don’t make everyone attend though.

Agree!

DDs speech award thing was done last day before half term. Was the same people who got awards couple annoyed DD as some where picked by students so popular kids got them rather than the more diserving kids. The ones voted by students where normally done at prom but some strange reason they picked a smaller venue and under half the year are going !!

Food Tech today - I don't think my daughter has given it any time whatsoever as has Chemistry tomorrow 🫣

Russian written yesterday seems to have gone ok.

Oh you know- awards and all that.

Every year we go and it's always the same successful students, naturally. Plus a speech from an alumni who has gone on to Great Things talking guff about believing in yourself and Never Giving Up (Trademark.) Our school sadly does not do much by way of rewarding students who have battled through despite adversity. They give out 50 awards. 5% could be given to kids who have really done something special even if it's not achieving some sort of traditional sporting /academic success. I am a bit bitter though as DS (SEN and LDs) a few years back asked if it was essential he had to attend and was told it was absolutely 100% super extra essential- which he interpreted as meaning he'd get an award. So we went along and DH dressed up in a suit as DS had had an awful year with diagnosis of a life limiting condition and Tourettes and had been self harming and in the end it just meant that he was meant to go and watch other kids (who have achieved wonderful things, no argument) get awards.

Now the school has it the same day as Prom and if you don't go to speech night you are not allowed to attend the prom.

I genunely like our school. But sometimes I think they need to refelect a little more about the unseen quieter students who never put a damned foot wrong and are overlooked.

I'm invested now. What is speech night? 😂

Yes same.

We are going to Australia to see family this summer. I ahd originally tried to get a flight a day or two after the exams but the school said it was compulsory for him to attend the stupid speech night and got quite agitated about it. TBF now I am pleased because he'll need those couple of weeks to decompress.

(Don't get me started on compulsory speech night.)

DD reported Geography aqa I think went well.

Yippee just st 3 to go.

Our state school has offered a mix. There are timetabled revision sessions for all subjects, some in school and some online, but they’re not compulsory. It’s been good to have the flexibility to balance individual needs, especially when we’re navigating burnout. There’s no chance my child would have been able to get into all of their exams if they were also trying to get to lessons.

Oh and to add an ‘outstanding’ but middle of the road state school. However they have put on lots of extra sessions not just rock up and revise yourselves

@ItsPickleRick That sounds silly. What will they do after exams?

DD's school has revision sessions immediately prior to an exam (So today she is in school all day for revision sessions for tomorrow's exams). Yesterday, she had maths in the morning then no revision session in the afternoon and she was allowed to come home to revise. There was only 2 half days when this happened, so DD has effectively been in school non stop

Zero study leave here. It’s been fine.

I offered to take the day off today and she said no wanted to go in. It’s really not that bad.

Also what’s been interesting her school is very strict and over the last few weeks the teachers have relaxed a lot. She’s talked about having a lot more ‘banter’ with the teachers and I think it’s been lovely. Suddenly they are all having a different relationship with the teachers and it’s going to finish school on a high on this respect.

They have kindly “allowed” students to only come in for exams from Monday next week. It just makes no sense to me. There have been many sessions where they have sat in the social area with nothing to do. Booster sessions were running prior to half school, but as after school clubs!

I wonder if the catchment including quite rural areas has an impact on study leave. There are villages here where students would struggle to get to and from school for exams if not on the school bus.

No study leave here at high performing state school. Although they have started letting kids go when not in exams or booster sessions this week if their parents let them know that's ok. I wasn't impressed with no study leave initially but the school have done amazingly to put on lots of extra booster sessions so there have been very few lessons where they have just had to do self study. Understandably, this week has been quite different as there are just so few subjects left to complete so I have given permission for DD to leave when she wants to. She's only left about an hour early on Tuesday and half day yesterday though so has still been in a lot. I don't think she would have worked anywhere near as hard with proper study leave. It's a big change from when I was at school though

@Caddycat yes Monday is her last one thankfully.

She’s predicted 7-9s & is moving onto A levels but she’s found the whole process of exams excruciating, she’s extremely resentful of having ‘given up her life” !!! for revision. I cannot face a battle through the next 2 years (btdt) & I think there will have to be a conversation about whether she’s actually committed to another exam cycle & if not what she proposes as an alternative plan.

Good luck to all competing.

I know a few at national level but they go to private school so exams have been more spaced out.
DD is competing Saturday but it's only county level thankfully so localish can study in the morning after getting up late compete and be home foe dinner. It has definitely helped her with stress levels.

I think making kids go in now is awful - they need rest!

High achieving state school here and zero study leave.

Though I called in sick for him today - he begged me last night and promised to do some chemistry revision.

That's so so tough. I think the high of the competition might carry her through the last morning of exams? Is she done after physics?
DD auditioned for something and hasn't been able to attend rehearsals yet, there is a rehearsal this week end and I wondered whether to let her go but she's decided against it, and I was glad. She has spanish on tuesday too, so it's not just monday morning.

State school (but very high achieving) and no state leave. They haven't stated it's law but threatened no prom for offenders. DD is too scared to even miss one session. She's got no exam today and could have done with an extra hour or 2 in bed.

DD is in state school and study leave started after May half term.
Another state school few miles away said no study leave but after all the kids signing out for fake doctor appointments and fake illnesses gave up and agreed study leave.
Good luck to all doing Geography today. DD went if feeling sick hoping she can last the exam.