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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What’s happened to GCSE study leave?

198 replies

Whywere · 02/05/2023 19:56

No study leave at all at DS school. Even once exams start. School say pupils grades are higher if they stay at school. Overall this is probably true but I’m thinking probably not for higher achievers.

What’s the arrangements at your school?

OP posts:
Pegsandsunshine · 08/05/2023 11:49

jamimmi · 08/05/2023 11:46

@Pegsandsunshine I totally understand where you are coming from. Dd at normal state comp with very mixed catchment and DH is ex secondary teacher. But insisting they go in does disadvantage quite a few, especially as they can't focus on what they need just what the "herd" needs. I'm not keen on 2 hours of maths on the day of the technology exam in the pm, which did happen to my son, after I complained he was allowed to work in the library. If they keep then in then there should be a variety of options to suit ALL students.

Absolutely. Also, as an ex-teacher, I can tell you how hard it is to plan for those sessions- you never know how many will turn up (anything between 1-20), you don;t know who will turn up so no way to prep materials to suit best those who come. That being said, there are many useful things that we did do that would have benefited those who should have turned up. (Although having extra 6 hours free for one month more was not something I was complaining about before the new non-study leave thing happened).

hollyfrost · 09/05/2023 21:33

What a ridiculous idea getting rid of study leave. DD’s school (independent) started study leave beginning of May for both A levels and GCSEs, and the school gets excellent results

if some students don’t use study leave effectively, surely that’s on them. They’re old enough to deal with it, and motivated students deserve the freedom and time of planning their revision/rest how they like!

Obviously that said schools should stay open for the students on study leave who still want to come in and use the study rooms/library/cafe. But that said babysitting 16/18 year olds is absurd to me

Hellocatshome · 09/05/2023 21:41

hollyfrost · 09/05/2023 21:33

What a ridiculous idea getting rid of study leave. DD’s school (independent) started study leave beginning of May for both A levels and GCSEs, and the school gets excellent results

if some students don’t use study leave effectively, surely that’s on them. They’re old enough to deal with it, and motivated students deserve the freedom and time of planning their revision/rest how they like!

Obviously that said schools should stay open for the students on study leave who still want to come in and use the study rooms/library/cafe. But that said babysitting 16/18 year olds is absurd to me

I feel from your post you dont understand much about deprivation.

There are students who want to study but can't. They may get kicked out of home in the morning and not allowed back until the evening for various reasons, they may share a bedroom with several younger siblings, they may be dragged along to help Mum or Dad work or in some cases in their various illegal activities, there may he no electricity/gas at home, they may get made to babysit younger siblings etc etc.

Basically there are numerous reasons why a child may not be able to study at home during study leave. Your comment
if some students don’t use study leave effectively, surely that’s on them is far too simplistic.

MrsHamlet · 09/05/2023 21:43

Come in and use the study rooms or cafe?

Malbecfan · 09/05/2023 21:49

Ours starts on Friday for y11 and y13. Our school gets the best results in the county. Some kids prefer to come in every day, which is fine. I had my last lesson today with my y11s and have told them that they are welcome to come in if I would normally be teaching them and want some help.

Hellocatshome · 09/05/2023 21:52

MrsHamlet · 09/05/2023 21:43

Come in and use the study rooms or cafe?

This may be an option for some but certainly not all. The few schools I know in the worst areas of deprivation that still do study leave do not allow kids back on site once they have left for study leave, too much of a security risk.

Hellocatshome · 09/05/2023 21:53

Hellocatshome · 09/05/2023 21:52

This may be an option for some but certainly not all. The few schools I know in the worst areas of deprivation that still do study leave do not allow kids back on site once they have left for study leave, too much of a security risk.

Show quote history

Apart from for exams obviously.

Windowcleaning · 09/05/2023 22:03

My dd's school with a largely deprived intake isn't doing study leave for exactly these reasons. So many of the children don't have anywhere to study at home. They're not being 'babysat' - they're having access to teaching and teachers before their exams.

MrsHamlet · 09/05/2023 22:05

Hellocatshome · 09/05/2023 21:52

This may be an option for some but certainly not all. The few schools I know in the worst areas of deprivation that still do study leave do not allow kids back on site once they have left for study leave, too much of a security risk.

Show quote history

We don't have study rooms or a cafe. We also don't have study leave.

Sassoon · 09/05/2023 22:09

We still have it in NI and it's always reported our results are the best in the U.K? Exam years got off last Friday.

Littledogball · 09/05/2023 22:24

Mine goes on study leave in 3 weeks time. Just goes in for exams then.

Madcats · 09/05/2023 22:34

DD(15) had her last lesson for year 11 last Wednesday 3 May. Exams aside, and an outreach thing she has agreed to do in July, she just goes in for exams.

I'd much prefer her to be in school, even part of the week, to reinforce some of the learning for exams that might be 5 weeks away as well as being with her classmates.

Her exams don't finish until mid June and it just feels like "kids stuck at home" all over again.

MagpieSong · 09/05/2023 22:35

rainraingoawaay · 02/05/2023 19:58

I'm 30 and we didn't have study leave when I was in school! Would have been useful for the 30 odd exams during the year 😂

Really? We did. Or maybe that was A Level? Feeling old and forgetful now 🙈

Mitchumforthewin · 09/05/2023 22:38

My year 11 dd breaks up on Thursday for study leave. State grammar if that makes a difference.

lunaloveroo · 09/05/2023 22:41

My nephew broke up last week for study leave. Also Grammar school.

listsandbudgets · 09/05/2023 22:45

Nimbostratus100 · 02/05/2023 19:56

It hasn't existed for many years

DD had it for jers when she did them last uear and is about to do her end of year 12 exams and has some for those to.

Era · 10/05/2023 06:29

Ds2 has already finished gcse exams for English language snd will have finished English lit and done one of his biology exams by the end of this week. Next week he has four exams.

He’s doing a reasonable amount of revision at home but does lose motivation

EarthlyNightshade · 10/05/2023 16:28

hollyfrost · 09/05/2023 21:33

What a ridiculous idea getting rid of study leave. DD’s school (independent) started study leave beginning of May for both A levels and GCSEs, and the school gets excellent results

if some students don’t use study leave effectively, surely that’s on them. They’re old enough to deal with it, and motivated students deserve the freedom and time of planning their revision/rest how they like!

Obviously that said schools should stay open for the students on study leave who still want to come in and use the study rooms/library/cafe. But that said babysitting 16/18 year olds is absurd to me

What about kids who share bedrooms with younger siblings and just don't have a place to study? Is that still "on them"?
A responsible should be helping its whole demographic. It's likely at your DD independent school that DC do have study spaces, but this is not the case for everyone.

EarthlyNightshade · 10/05/2023 16:28

<that should say "responsible school">

jamimmi · 10/05/2023 23:22

Well the study time.table.for exams has arrived. In every day till half term. Then alot of early finishes and half days with "working from home" on the time tables. 1 or 2 full days of home when she's no exams. The sessions in general.are sensible. So biology exam am, maths revision and exam prep pm then maths exam.the next morning. It works for us as we are 10 mins walk away but how students further away will cop.who knows. Love the work from home instead of study leave...

Hellocatshome · 11/05/2023 16:27

For the poster that said if a student doesn't revise thats on them. How about this one? Student comes from a family who do not value education at all, they have this afternoon given her a lovely surprise. They are flying tonight for a lovely last minute break in Spain, they return after the first 3 GCSE exams. Some kids just really don't stand a chance.

listsandbudgets · 13/05/2023 16:27

@hollyfrost I think you are very blinkered. I'm sure some teens abuse study leave and don't bother but lots want to study and struggle to do so. So many reasons a child may find it hard to work at home - over crowding, no dedicated work space, younger siblings distracting them all the time, no decent internet, no books.. Some teachers even report having to buy basic stationery for pupils.. pens, pencils etc.

Domestic violence, children acting as young carers, not enough to eat as no access to free school meals, mental health problems... the list goes on.

It's lovely that your DD is at an independent and probably has all the facilities and support she needs at home - my DD was in the same incredibly lucky position but loads aren't and it's not just "on them"

MimiGC · 13/05/2023 16:52

My daughter's school has said no study leave until after half term. I don't see the rationale for that. If they think the kids do better in exams by staying in school, then why doesn't that hold true for the exams after half term? It makes no sense.

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