GCSE day off

[Mardymaryyou]

Ds is into last week of gcse. Thurs will be the day before a science exam on Fri. Last exam on Mon is also science. He has no exam Thurs but the school have kept them in throughout the exam period to "revise". However the revision is not structured it's just revise what subject you like. No he probably won't revise if at home and I'm at work, but I kind of feel like letting him stay home anyway. The school have given them no study leave and they've had to stay in school after every exam. I feel like this late, he isn't going to learn much more anyway and what will be will be. What's everyone else doing in this situation as I know it's not just our school who has adopted this view of study leave? On the other hand he finishes altogether Monday so maybe I just make him go Thurs. Apparently no one else is going in.

Go get yourself a coffee and chill out. I’ve got better things to do with my morning than argue over this petty issue. I think it’s mean and hard for the kids, end of. That’s my opinion and it’s really not that deep. I’m sure it works better for many kids, but wouldn’t for mine. Have a nice day.

Well she said that the last minute revision day on Tuesday will be useful for his maths exam on Wednesday, so she must have some expectation that he’s able to revise at school.

I think it’s reasonable to go in for an actual revision session. What I don’t like is this farce of turning up to lessons where the exam for that subject has finished. It’s incredibly disruptive for everyone.

You say he won’t revise at home yet are thinking of letting him stay home before an exam. V strange. Don’t you think these exams are important?

You don’t need to be here if you have better things to do. 😂

That’s a silly, rude and childish response. Why post something if you don’t want to discuss it. Do you know how this board works?!

If I didn't think he'd revise at all at home and probably would at school I'd encourage him to go as it will all be over next week anyway. But if he stuck his heels in I wouldn't lose sleep over it at this stage. Nothing will come of it other than potentially no last minute revision, which can be valuable.

I disagree with the idea that if you don’t know it by now you never will etc. I’ve always found cramming the day/night before or even morning of exams to be some of the most useful revision I’ve done, and has made the difference between grades. I’ve utilised this from GCSEs through Cambridge undergrad then onto postgrad studies and further professional exams, all science-based.

I think you are doing the right thing to send him in. He’s got the whole summer off to look forward to.

I agree with the cramming but I can't believe schools don't allow GCSE study leave, I think that would have been (2 years ago) and would be when youngest completes them very counterproductive for my two but luckily their school doesn't do this!

In my school they are..the HoY teaches almost a full timetable and is head of a subject.

I'll be covering for a colleague who went in at 7.30 for a breakfast session. Then I'll be hand holding my y11 form if they come out of their exam upset. Because we're all such mean bastards.

Cramming is the most valuable revision for a good chunk of people. Like another poster, the stuff I did the day before was always the stuff that got me through. I was never a slow and steady let it sink in over time type.

Cohort is also going to matter significantly. The OP’s son isn’t likely to do any revision therefore probably needs a prod. I can imagine at some selective schools, the aim would be to calm some of the kids down and get them to stop working and get some rest. You can’t apply a universal rule really as levels of ability and motivation will vary so much.

Gosh we were just given study leave and told to go in for the exams. If he won’t work at home then get him to go in. Personally I’d have hated to revise in school with all the distractions though.

@Zanatdy it’s the word “mean” that is pretty offensive to teachers to be honest. By all means say that you don’t think being at school is beneficial for all pupils, or that you think a degree of flexibility would be more helpful. But using the word “mean” makes it sound as if you think schools do this purely out of a desire to cause distress and unhappiness, just because they’re nasty bullies and they revel in the power. In reality, schools have clearly learned over the years that a degree of structure benefits most students.

Not many pupils are super high achievers who study happily at home like your DD. And actually, most kids value a bit of social interaction, even if your DD strangely wasn’t fussed about that.

I think he should go in. If nothing else a useful life lesson as if he ever has jobs that have hybrid working there will be office days which seem pointless.

@Zanatdy what a strange post! I suppose it makes sense though, from reading your other posts….

He does what the school says. You will be teaching him to oppose authority and that won’t help him in the future

If he honestly doesn’t give enough of a toss to do revision unless
a) it’s structured; and
b) it’s supervised…

. I doubt that anything extra at all at this point will make even the slightest difference to the end result anyway

But individual teachers aren’t forcing students to stay in. It’s a decision made by the head teacher / principal usually. I also think it’s a bit mean, especially when they have had a long exam in the morning.

Mine hasnt done any revision or homework but is on study leave, so I'd let yours stay off.

Well that sounds like results day is going to be a barrel of laughs

Last minute revision is almost never wasted. Even if it's just the confidence boost of going through all your notes and thinking "yeah - got this. No problem". Looking at something again (literally re-vision) is a very strong aid to retention, and will make it easier for him to recall the information under stress - i.e. in an exam. I wouldn't stay up all night cramming because people need sleep to function but a few hours calm quiet study won't hurt at all.

He did some exams (English and English Lit) last year (year 10) and got 6s so I think he'll do OK on the subjects that count.

Nobody cares about RE, Drama / Dance or PE so we don't care about grades for those subjects.

well, sounds like a family that really focusses on academic achievement doesn’t it

I didn't either but did finey in my exams. Grade As at O level ( except for maths)