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

[gov]

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.

Oooh look twice

How'd I manage that

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.

Says who? I know I was able to revise a lot better by being able to organise my own time and revise what I wanted when I wanted away from the noise of school and I know my children are the same. OP has said her DC is more able to revise at home as have many others. You may not have found it easier but not everyone is the same!

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.

As I said that doesn't say much for comprehensives. I not a particularly huge advocate for grammar schools even though my children go to one but this thread is making me very glad they did.

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).

They might do well in either setting but if that doesn't mean they will as well in either setting. If a child can revise better at home than being forced to sit through revision lessons or distracted in a library then they are liikely to get better grades.

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.

I don't think anyone expects parents to keep an eye on the children at grammar school or any other school. Many would be at work. You can just let those who did well in their mocks and other exams have study leave as this demonstrates that they are self motivated. Many schools seem to do this according to this thread.

“You can just let those who did well in their mocks and other exams have study leave as this demonstrates that they are self motivated.“ no it doesn’t- because presumably they didn’t have study leave for them.........

"It won’t be this. Lots of schools are deciding against study leave because not much studying tends to happen!" This - dds old school now doesn't offer much study leave because the kids were just treating it like a holiday and not studying. When they're in school they're not being taught usually but revising AND getting support with any areas they're struggling with which imo is much better.

Some students study in silence in the library or assembly hall (if no exams on) but they are still in school)

It's also better for those children without supportive families, or who lack the space/equipment to study at home. And if everyone/most are in school they're not stigmatised for having to request/be given this.

It's also meant students are more likely to seek support if they're getting too stressed. Here we have a guidance teacher system but at this time the school also runs mindfulness/meditation/relaxation sessions and a child psychologist comes in once a week.

Grammar schools are also more likely to have motivated and supported students.

How on EARTH is it 'lazy' when it requires MORE Work from the school? Also to be honest it sounds like your DC protesteth too much! This is their first major exams you can't possibly KNOW which option is best for them. Chances are the experts in education know better.

And the children unsupported at home aren't always obvious. My school probably thought I was well supported as parents put on a good front at parents Eve's etc the reality was a drunk father causing arguments over nothing and playing loud music when I was trying to sleep for an early exam the next day!

Neglect/abuse is rarely displayed.

And for the supported children - well it's highly unlikely to do them harm.

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.
so are all the labour mps shame they won’t allow anyone else’s children have the same privilege

Now that sounds like school diplomacy rufus

I had a chat with a parent once and it was like obviously, I can't give the authority for x y z, but if you found yourself in such a situation and happened to ask for some material then it could be supplied.
As I said that doesn't say much for comprehensives
Of course it does. State comprehensives are some of our most high performing schools in our region. They are on par with the local independents.

No school or education institution is going to be perfect for everyone all the time. Just some seem to think that the world should cater to their child's preferences because they happen to be middle class abd obviously so much better than any other child/family out there.
(There are many people of all backgrounds who manage just fine without all this but my child is so smart they couldn't possibly gain anything from a revision session. Funnily enough I teach one child of the view that school revision is below them and they are so much smarter than their peers. Amusingly, they'll probably come in the bottom 3rd of the class because the less arrogant pupils are seeing the benefits of marginal gains whereas resident i know best is still making the same mistakes.

You can just let those who did well in their mocks and other exams have study leave as this demonstrates that they are self motivated.“ no it doesn’t- because presumably they didn’t have study leave for them.........

They did at DDs's school between exams but even if they didn't, doing well still demonstrates that they are self motivated as they would have had to revise out of school at weekends and evenings.

This is their first major exams you can't possibly KNOW which option is best for them. Chances are the experts in education know better.

But it seems that the "expert in education" don't all agree as many do still have study leave.

“They did at DDs's school between exams but even if they didn't, doing well still demonstrates that they are self motivated as they would have had to revise out of school at weekends and evenings“

Which they can still do.

Some pupils do no independent revision, with the school being held to account it is a way of ensuring that at least some revision is done. Agreed that got the conscientious this is not the case

*Of course it does. State comprehensives are some of our most high performing schools in our region. They are on par with the local independents."

I meant that it doesn't say much for comprehensives versus grammar schools for children who are more academic and self-motivated. I wasn't a hugely in favour of grammar but this thread makes me glad my children went one where they weren't forced to attend revision lessons or be distracted in a library because other children couldn't be trusted to revise without supervision.

Which they can still do.

Yes, but if they are competing with children who have a lot more time to revise independently rather than being distracted in a library etc during study leave then it is not a level playing field.

I'm happy my daughters school are keeping them in and not having study leave. There is no way she'd do the same amount of revision that she will at school.

Oddly, local comp has study leave ... grammar doesn't.

It's a school by school, not a sector by sector decision, based on what they feel would enable most of their student body to do best.

So you can be glad that your school - which happens to be a grammar - allowed study leave whereas other schools - which happen not to be grammars - don't. Making it out to be a selective vs non-selective school thing is invalid - especially as the intake of grammars in some areas is significantly less able and more deprived than that of comprehensives in other areas....

Also, surely if study leave is beneficial, then boarding schools should do worst of all schools? Except that isn't what the data shows....

I haven’t enjoyed the intimations that because we’re middle class, that we don’t have the right to the best for us from our comprehensive education, and that we should piss off to the grammar system. Millicentf, maisypops, you seem to despise us, just because we’re academic, & yes we’re looking at 8s & 9s - which is exactly why independent revision helps, as well as targeted boosters, which the kids will be going to anyway, but crowd control lessons, they don’t need. At least I feel that my kids teachers actually appreciate them for being bright & hard working, even though in some cases I think their aspirations for the classes don’t extend to the highest achievement for the brightest.

Also, surely if study leave is beneficial, then boarding schools should do worst of all schools? Except that isn't what the data shows....

They aren't necessarily being forced to attend revision classes or sit in a crowded library though. They may be able to organise their own time and have a wide range of areas to revise including their bedroom etc. Not much different from study leave.

It's a school by school, not a sector by sector decision, based on what they feel would enable most of their student body to do best
This.

maisypops, you seem to despise us, just because we’re academic, & yes we’re looking at 8s & 9s
Bloody hell! Nobody is despising you
I teach many middle class academic students who get 8s and 9s. I have no issue with academic students.
I have an issue with the attitude of 'well my child is so much better than all the others (who are also on 8s and 9s)... my child would be so much better on study leave so the premise of study leave is flawed and my child should be able to do what they want'. And that is an attitude you tend to only get from a certain type of middle class parent who are perfectly fine with social inequality in education because their child is on the 'right' side of things.

“Millicentf, maisypops, you seem to despise us, just because we’re academic, & yes we’re looking at 8s & 9s - which is exactly why independent revision helps, as well as targeted boosters, which the kids will be going to anyway, but crowd control lessons, they don’t need.“

Jesus wept! I have 8/9 children myself. I just don’t think they are the most important people in their schools. One had study leave from a grammar school, one didn’t from a Secondary Modern. He would have been fine on study leave - what with being academic and motivated. But for the same reasons, he was also fine in school. And being in school was better for the vast majority of kids in the school. So that’s what happened. Because when it comes to things like this, children who struggle, or who are disadvantaged absolutely have to take priority. Because apart from anything else, it makes no difference to kids like mine but makes a massive difference to others.

DS is currently attending early morning revision sessions for ASs (as well as normal school days).

There isn't a huge take-up, but amongst those who go is the highest achiever in the year group. No 'I am so much better' from them or from their parents - just an acknowledgement that every opportunity to revise is a good one, and revising under the guidance of an expert teacher is always likely to be beneficial.

MillicentF
Well said.
It was only a matter of time before any of thr following came up-
Teachers hate bright children
Teachers can't teach bright children
Schools don't like bright children
There's inverse academic snobbery

Typical responses to anything in an education chat that points out social inequality plays a role in education or suggests that a small cohort of people shouldn't have their own way because I want...

He would have been fine on study leave - what with being academic and motivated. But for the same reasons, he was also fine in school. And being in school was better for the vast majority of kids in the school. So that’s what happened.

Exactly this. What is right COLLECTIVELY is what guides policy. the fact that some people would be EQUALLY FINE if the policy is different is irrelevant - what a school decides should be what is in the best interests of its students as a body, and that will depend on e.g. family support, distances travelled, socio-economic (and parental education) background, historical and projected results etc etc.

Of course I cannot ask that every aspect of school policy is individually tailored to my child. However, i absolutely trust that the policy will be a reasoned one, based on the collective benefit to the cohort as a whole - and therefore i support it.

cantkeepawayforever
Well said.
Why should some parents feel they can pick n mix elements of school that suit them?
I'm sure the people thinking their child should be given special treatment are the ones who'd be annoyed if another child was given a free pass for anothet element of school life.