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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..to think that the school is wrong about study leave?

222 replies

gov · 04/05/2018 15:54

I have twins doing GCSEs starting on the 14th May. I fully expected them to go onto study leave next Friday, and only be required in school when they have exams (as was the case with their older brother) but it turns out that they are expected to be in school every day, and in lessons if they are not in exams right until half term starting Friday 25th. DS has 14 exams in these 2 weeks - and he needs peace & quiet between the exams to prep for the next ones (DD less exams, and probably better prepared). AIBU thinking that the school is wrong to not give them study leave? What are other schools doing? Two other local schools that I have heard of - one starts study leave today, one next Friday.

I'm thinking that our school is doing it to keep their attendance stats higher - and that it isn't in the kids best interest.

OP posts:
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 07/05/2018 09:30

The grammar schools themselves obviously believe that it is the best way for the more able/motivated students to revise though or they would stop study leave Maybe it has more to do with them encouraging their pupils to be independent learners?

Dungeondragon15 · 07/05/2018 09:36

Maybe it has more to do with them encouraging their pupils to be independent learners?

At the GCSE stage they are probably just interested in getting the best results.

JustDanceAddict · 07/05/2018 09:37

Just before the exams here, so next Thursday is the last ‘official’ day. Students can go in to study, there will be specific places available, but I have to say she is studying very well at home/the local library by herself. I remember study leave being much longer when I was at school though.,

Dungeondragon15 · 07/05/2018 09:38

They also have study leave during the mock exams although this would only be the odd morning or afternoon.

Original poster
gov · 07/05/2018 09:39

I think everyone makes valid points - probably overall results are higher, most kids benefit from staying in school, but some don’t, including mine. Mine are clever, privileged, hard working kids & I am around at home for them & they’ve space to work. I make no apology for this, but I don’t see why they should be made to do something which is not in their best interest for the benefit of other kids. The school told me that kids could revise in the library, but DCs scoffed at this idea, noisier than the music block they said! There’s nowhere to work independently, & they are supposed to be in lessons anyway which will be original timetable & not related to upcoming exams. Many teachers are running pre exam sessions at 8am, or after school & my kids fully intend to go to these. Yes, I can keep them off during the days anyway, but we’re very law abiding types so that’s stressful for them & me. Comprehensive schools should strive to get the best from all children, not just drag up the average grades. I’m really frustrated that the school has dropped the discretionary approach. Laziness on their side - one size does NOT fit all.

OP posts:
Metoodear · 07/05/2018 09:41

Sorry but very little actual study happens and tbh they likey to be worried about the children who are already on the cusp of failing

If you have children who are due to fail and coupled with disinterested parents it’s highly unlikely that children who don’t study under normal circumstances will take up the chance of being at home during the summer as a chance to hit the books sorrry I totally agree

MillicentF · 07/05/2018 09:44

Don’t worry, gov. Yours will still get their grades. Even if they are forced to stay at school with the hoi polloi..

Metoodear · 07/05/2018 09:47

MillicentF And the post demonstrates why everyone now has to stay because some wouldn’t have it if that others need more support and structure and that some parents would pretty much just allow wondering and merriment instead of studying

Dungeondragon15 · 07/05/2018 09:49

Comprehensive schools should strive to get the best from all children, not just drag up the average grades. I’m really frustrated that the school has dropped the discretionary approach. Laziness on their side - one size does NOT fit all.

Yes, I don't think this policy benefits all children by any means and I'm glad my children go to a grammar rather than a comprehensive.

Dungeondragon15 · 07/05/2018 09:53

Don’t worry, gov. Yours will still get their grades. Even if they are forced to stay at school with the hoi polloi..

What does "getting they grades" mean though? It is not just a pass/fail exam. If a pupil can revise better at home then the chances are that their final GCSE grades will be better.

Dungeondragon15 · 07/05/2018 09:57

they their

Mumofkids · 07/05/2018 09:57

Our school does this. Despite my elder dd being perfectly capable, having a room and a desk she was completely unmotivated and did not do a single jot of revision at home, and she has admitted that the times I thought she was she was just daydreaming and doing art... my dd about to do hers is completely different and has a schedule and plan that she sticks to daily and I think that it will be beneficial for her to study independently at home so I will be requesting that. I understand with this period you have the right to do this.

MillicentF · 07/05/2018 10:11

"What does "getting they grades" mean though?"

There are only two Mumsnet grades. 9s and 8s. Everything else is a fail. Grin

Dungeondragon15 · 07/05/2018 10:22

There are only two Mumsnet grades. 9s and 8s. Everything else is a fail.

Considering those grades are hard to get, I think it is quite dismissive to suggest that for the more able/motivated students, it makes no difference whether they have study leave or not. If you are motived and organised and can revise better in a quiet room with no distractions then you will probably do better revising at home rather than wasting time getting to and from school or being distracted in the library.

MaisyPops · 07/05/2018 15:30

Fascinating how all the "oh, they should be able to revise independently by 15/wrong to spoon feed/doing them no favours" rhetoric is for the benefit of well supported privileged children
Of course it is. But this is mumsnet education discussions where 75% of people have a well rounded, highly academic child who will work perfectly independently, knows everything about their course, couldn't possibly gain anything from their teachers, a fridge full of snacks and a nice study area. The entire idea of going to school is just a conspiracy to prevent able children doing well. Grin

The grammar schools themselves obviously believe that it is the best way for the more able/motivated students to revise though or they would stop study leave
Or because their intakes are disproportionately middle class, lower PP intake, lower SEND intake and a reasonable chunk of students will also have had 11+ tutoring (and probably more private tutoring out of school), the grammar school know they have a cohort of families who will put a huge amount of emphasis on education.
Social selection strikes again.

As a teen did I use my study leave well? Yes.
Did the majority of my year group in a well performing state comprehensive? Not a chance.

I like how most schools in our area do it:
Y11

  1. Lessons
  2. In school but on a revision timetable whilst the early exams are on (some do normal lessons, some do interventions and private study time, others do revision classes so lessons get doubled. Lots of options)
  3. Leave at May half term and only come in for exams

Sixth form:

  1. Study leave from the week before exams unless you've demomstarted poor attitude and work ethic in which case you lose study leave and have to sign in each day and revise on site.
Springersrock · 07/05/2018 15:43

My DD has to be in school as usual unless in an exam

She’s on a revision time table now so no actual lessons as such.

Mosschopz · 07/05/2018 15:58

I know everyone has said this but...

  1. Study leave doesn’t affect attendance figures.
  2. Yes they do it get the kids who won’t work on SL working, and the ones who will working smarter.
  3. Why would you assume the school take a decision to do something that ISN’T in Year 11’s best interest? Hmm

You sent your kids there, support them.

Rufustheyawningreindeer · 07/05/2018 16:20

Normal timetable until half term

Then they are still supposed to go in for the relevant lessons until the exam is over

Dd has CFS/ME so my intention is that if the lesson is just before an exam then she will attend school but if in theory she has only two lessons and no exam that day then she will stay home and revise

Ds1 went to every single lesson and so will ds2

So in effect i am tailoring it to the needs of the child...as long as dd is happy

MaisyPops · 07/05/2018 16:30

Rufus
In your situation ypu could probably get that approved by school too. I taught a child with CFS/ME and timetable allocations and flexible working were part of our arrangements for that child.

We all provided home with tasks for the student and home were awesome and ensured work got back to us so we knew how the student was getting on.

Rufustheyawningreindeer · 07/05/2018 16:34

maisy

I did have a chat with school they did say 'we are sure you will act in the best interest of your child' but didnt give absolute permission

And last week we got an email personally addressed to her (generic copy sent to all parents) saying

'From now until May half term, students will follow their normal timetable. After half term, students will be following their exam timetable however all lessons will be running as normal and I would recommend that students continue to attend their lessons, when they are not sitting an exam'

So not a definite either way

Dungeondragon15 · 07/05/2018 16:41

Or because their intakes are disproportionately middle class, lower PP intake, lower SEND intake and a reasonable chunk of students will also have had 11+ tutoring (and probably more private tutoring out of school), the grammar school know they have a cohort of families who will put a huge amount of emphasis on education.

How is that relevant? There will also be children who are middle class with parents who take an interest in education at comprehensives too. It doesn't matter if they are a lower proportion than at grammar school. They exist and their needs should be taken into consideration. If the more academic and motivated children do better at home than being forced to stay at school during exams (as suggested by the fact that grammar schools have not stopped study leave) they should be allowed to have study leave.

Loandbeholdagain · 07/05/2018 16:49

I would have hated not having study leave. I went up 4 grades in most subjects. I definitely learnt better when left to my own devices!! I didn’t excessively revise either. Probably 3-4 hours a day with lots of breaks. All in the sunshine. My parents provide meals, snacks and TLC but no actual ‘coaching’. I think study leave should only be rescinded if you know there is some problem at home that makes it impossible to revise.

MillicentF · 07/05/2018 16:51

But the more academic and motivated kids don’t do better because of study leave, they do better because they are more academic and motivated.

And think of the difference it makes to the rest of the school to have an entire year group absent!

MaisyPops · 07/05/2018 16:54

rufus
How frustrating! As a teacher, I'd much rather have an agreed set up to support a child in your DC's situation rather than trying to navigate ambiguity.
I'd take their lack of objection as a green light though.

There will also be children who are middle class with parents who take an interest in education at comprehensives too. It doesn't matter if they are a lower proportion than at grammar school.
I know they exist, but schools are set up for their cohorts and make decision accordingly.
I'd much rather have a dozen middle class parents feeling irritated that their DC can't do what they like on study leave (given that staying in schopl works) and be in a situation where more children of all abilities and backgrounds can achieve.
A well motivated student can and will do well in either setting (I say that as a quiet hard working child who did use my study leave well).

Do we start saying well you can have study leave because your home situatipm is ok and your parents will keep an eye on you and you can be trusted, whilst keeping others in school? People who love social selection are always the ones on the better side of it.

Anecdotally, I look at my y11s and it's been very useful having these lessons to tweak exam technique, have 1-1s, address any misconceptions. Students are calm and aren't going home wasting 5 hours a night highlighting notes or staring at revision guides because they have structured revision during the day. At the end ofeach lesson there is a suggested follow on task so students are being taught how to revise effectively, which will be preparing them for 6th form.

Rufustheyawningreindeer · 07/05/2018 17:05

I'd take their lack of objection as a green light though

That's exactly what im doing Grin

It must have looked quite funny

Me: so can dd make the decision what lessons if any to attend

Teacher: we are sure you will do what you feel is best for your child

Me: so that won't be a problem

I'd take their lack of objection as a green light though

That's exactly what im doing Grin

It must have looked quite funny

Me: so can dd make the decision what lessons if any to attend

Teacher: we are sure you will do what you feel is best for your child

Me: so that won't be a problem

Teacher: we are sure you will do what you feel is best for your child

Me: so she can revise at home

Teacher: we are sure you will do what you feel is best for your child