Page 4 | DS leaves school on Friday and I only realised today.

Yellowbowlbanana · 2021-04-28T22:24:25+00:00

My DS is in Year 11. His GCSE years have been a washout, not helped by the fact that his school have been a bit shit. The school have opted to do a formal assessment in the style of GCSEs but modified. These begin in ten days after a week of study leave and last for three weeks. He will be finished by May 23rd. I'm assuming that is then it. This hasn't been communicated by the school. We have had nothing to indicate that this Friday will be his last day at school except for a note in the weekly calendar saying there is a Leaver's assembly on that day. This is way earlier than GCSEs would normally finish and they would also usually do work experience which has been cancelled. My DS is leaving the school to go elsewhere and I feel so sad that there has been literally nothing said or done to acknowledge this is the end of his, and many others, school journey. I didn't even realise it would be his last day until he mentioned that he'd had his last ever lesson of French. AIBU to have expected more by way of communication?

FedNlanders · 29/04/2021 11:07

We had this last year. I thought it was so sad tbh :(

MrsMaizel · 29/04/2021 11:08

It is normal practice to have leavers day then go onto exam leave . There would usually be Certificate Evening then in the Autumn when all get together . I don't think proms are going ahead currently .

steppemum · 29/04/2021 11:11

about assessments
I have to say both schools have been good at letting us know and keeping us in the loop.

They are both having loads and loads of tests this term, finishing with formal assessment.

dds school (GCSE) told us that there is a 'basket of assessments' in the basket where a load of things, mocks, current tests, formal tests done in 2 weeks time, and any end of topic tests they have done this year.

They are expected to be able to show that they know, understand and can do everything they are tested on. If they showed that in the mock in Nov, then they have shown it. That is enough. If they did badly in mocks but show it in a test, then they have shown it. Not everything in the basket has equal weight, but they only have to show it once.

This seems to me like a sensible approach.

ds (A level) is less clear. Unfortunately for him he is a exam person, cram before and pull it out of the bag on exam day. He was predicted 3 As, but hasn't done well in ongoing assessments and mocks. He now has 3-4 tests per week and then a week of formal assessment. He is now doing the cramming etc and it looks like these tests and exams are going really well. He thinks that means if he gets an A in all these tests and exams that he will be given an A as a final grade. I am not at all sure, and school's information is not sure. They have said it is not an average of tests taken, but that it won't be based on one thing.

randomlyLostInWales · 29/04/2021 11:25

DD1 is still in school till end of May - lots of small assesments happening building up to two weeks of exams at end of May.

No study leave and no formal announcement about will be happening after that date - not sure if they'll be some extension work or prep for A-level and who'll be allowed to attend as many will be going elsewhere - or if they'll all be out of school.

They'll be no prom but friendship groups are talking about doing something - like pinics or what's open in June maybe meal or bowling or something they can dress up for as they're all scattering to different places for A-levels.

Hardbackwriter · 29/04/2021 11:33

DH is a teacher and mentioned this morning that it was his last lessons with his year 13s. I was a bit shocked that they were still sending them on study leave - he's hardly seen them all year! - but he said that they have covered the whole curriculum and done revision sessions as they normally would, so keeping them there for the sake of it seems like a waste of time.

Belladonna12 · 29/04/2021 12:00

@Laggartha

Many schools try not to publicise a Last Day in order to prevent pranks, reprisals, revenge, damage etc.

Study Leave is pretty much a thing of the past, so I'm really surprised that students aren't expected in class during the "exam season".

It's not a thing of the past in all schools at all. Regardless, the only reason for them staying during the exams normally in some schools would be to make sure they revise. If the school already has the data they need there is no point students being there.

Laggartha · 29/04/2021 12:12

but he said that they have covered the whole curriculum and done revision sessions as they normally would, so keeping them there for the sake of it seems like a waste of time.

So this last year has been more successful than the usual model?

Hardbackwriter · 29/04/2021 12:16

No, sorry - that did sound a bit like they were sending them off earlier than usual, but this is when they'd usually go on study leave so they've just finished on time which I guess is unsurprising as they taught to timetable in the most recent lockdown so in theory they've all had the normal number of lessons. I just assumed that they'd actually have some catching up to do and so would keep them longer, but apparently not.

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 29/04/2021 12:53

I hope all those people moaning about how there were no proms and leavers' ceremonies in their day have their summer plans cancelled. Your week in Cornwall or wherever (and indeed you having fun ever again) is absolutely not a priority. No one ever had any fun in my day.

123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 29/04/2021 13:44

I have a year 11 DS and we haven't yet been told when they are leaving, how the assessments are being done other than if they are going to 6th form they can then go into there for a couple of months (which he isnt) so we have no clue about any plans!!!!

BluebirdHill · 29/04/2021 14:10

@LowlandLucky

He is leaving school ! What do you want, a gilt edged card. Many many millions have left school and their parent(including your own i would imagine) didn't make a fuss.

Let's put this comment on every single thread on MN then and that's that. 'Millions have had this happen to them and they didn't make a fuss!'

mumofthree22 · 29/04/2021 14:38

My son is in year 11 and they have been assessed with mini GCSE style exams, carried out at school under exam conditions. (So each gcse subject is split into 2 or 3 x 1 hour long papers) that is spread over 6 weeks - started before Easter holidays (so 1 week at school revising all the subjects), 1 week of exams/ exam leave and so on till Mid May ( the schools will use these marks in addition to other coursework/ class work to submit to exam board to support predictive grades). Then the week before half term they have an additional week off as all exams have finished so they can relax/celebrate with friends etc. After half term back at school full time till mid July where they can trial their alevel subject and start the curriculum and decide if they want to make any changes to subjects chosen for Sept. They also can carry out their DOfE expeditions, end of year prom etc.

Comefromaway · 29/04/2021 15:02

How can they keep them in school until mid July when official school leaving date is the last Friday in June? I can understand the odd taster but full time?

Belladonna12 · 29/04/2021 15:02

@mumofthree22

My son is in year 11 and they have been assessed with mini GCSE style exams, carried out at school under exam conditions. (So each gcse subject is split into 2 or 3 x 1 hour long papers) that is spread over 6 weeks - started before Easter holidays (so 1 week at school revising all the subjects), 1 week of exams/ exam leave and so on till Mid May ( the schools will use these marks in addition to other coursework/ class work to submit to exam board to support predictive grades). Then the week before half term they have an additional week off as all exams have finished so they can relax/celebrate with friends etc. After half term back at school full time till mid July where they can trial their alevel subject and start the curriculum and decide if they want to make any changes to subjects chosen for Sept. They also can carry out their DOfE expeditions, end of year prom etc.

Their school seems to be making a huge effort. I'm not sure that is happening everywhere. Will the prom be at school as I'm not sure they will be able to have it elsewhere.

Tangledtresses · 29/04/2021 15:17

Mine is leaving on the 27th.... after leaver assembly
Phew 😅 I'm looking forward to never getting another email again 😂

I'm going to change my name for the next child who starts in 4 years

BabbleBee · 29/04/2021 15:20

Last year, we were told on a Wednesday that schools were closing on the Friday for lockdown. DD was sent home at 1:30pm the following day, year 11s were sent home. That was it. No leaver assembly, no goodbye, nothing.

FedNlanders · 29/04/2021 17:04

@BabbleBee

Last year, we were told on a Wednesday that schools were closing on the Friday for lockdown. DD was sent home at 1:30pm the following day, year 11s were sent home. That was it. No leaver assembly, no goodbye, nothing.

Same. It was sad for them.

Musmerian · 29/04/2021 17:13

@SunIsComing - this year, unlike last year, evidence is required and if the OPs child’s school is having a three week period of exams it is highly likely that this is the evidence that will be used.

mumofthree22 · 29/04/2021 17:19

@Comefromaway the official school term leaving date for my sons school is 9th July.

NotSorry · 29/04/2021 17:50

@Comefromaway

How can they keep them in school until mid July when official school leaving date is the last Friday in June? I can understand the odd taster but full time?

If they’re year 11 and staying on for 6th form, it’s a good thing they’re going back until July, they’ve missed so much

LynetteScavo · 29/04/2021 18:05

Well, it's way better than last year.

DD is finishing school at half term. There will be a leavers assembly by Teams.

But there will also be a prom!!! DD is super excited.

I've no idea what she will between may and September. She won't be 16 until the end of summer so can't even get a part time job.

CurlyMango · 29/04/2021 20:50

Mine are halfway through 36 exams....next two weeks are in school revision and then next half over the next week and a half. That’s the lot. Then awaiting end of school date, expecting 27th May

Comefromaway · 29/04/2021 21:08

[quote mumofthree22]@Comefromaway the official school term leaving date for my sons school is 9th July. [/quote]
The legal school leaving date for year 11 is always the last Friday in June.

Comefromaway · 29/04/2021 21:09

But very few of our local schools have 6th forms.

lazylinguist · 30/04/2021 09:03

YANBU It's perfectly reasonable to expect the school to inform you in plenty of time about the arrangements for your year 11 child finishing school, OP. There is no earthly reason why they shouldn't have done so (except crap organisation and poor communication).

My dd is in Year 11 and we got a very detailed schedule about mocks, exam board national tests etc. Dd has the latter in a couple of weeks, breaks up a week early for half term, then goes back for a couple of weeks of '6th form experience '. No prom obviously, but they're getting a leavers' hoodie and a leavers' assembly/gathering of some kind.

Given how much they missed, I'd of hoped they can teach them until the end of term.

Tbh I don't see the point in dragging on and teaching more GCSE content after the assessments have been done and all evidence for teacher assessed grades compiled, in a bunch of subjects most of which they will never be doing again!