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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To insist dd go school everyday between now and GCSE exams since school has no official study leave period?

81 replies

Dreadmill · 09/03/2026 20:07

I expect that teachers will be focused on revision and exam practise etc. My thinking is that there's still much to be done and the exams are a way off

Dd is adamant a high percentage of her cohort are now "WFH" at least 1/2 days a week.

For context, she is very high achieving (predicted 8 grade 9s) has always had 100% attendance and punctuality.

She's convinced that we're being too strict by making her go. Any MNers with recent experience??

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/03/2026 07:28

My daughter and all the girls at her school (girls comp) went in every day until May.

The school tried to put in place having no study leave, but the parents and kids all rebelled and kept calling them in sick when they needed to stay at home and study.

School backed down and gave them study leave, with the option to be in school if they wanted, with revision sessions etc.

They won’t be allowed to have home study days now though, that’s ridiculous.

They need it from May when they’ve finished teaching the curriculum to be at their best for the exams I think - the time to study quietly.

A lot of kids need quiet time to study at their best. They need to pace themselves and get extra sleep (or sleep to a routine that suits their own body) to be at their best.

Dragging themselves in to school to study in a less comfortable environment with the journey at each end is totally pointless for many and counterproductive in alot of cases. I have no doubt my dd would have done less well if not given the breaks between exams.

Some kids do need the school environment to work and that’s fine. Either because home isn’t set up to be a place of study or because they need the push from the teachers or the routine. They should have the option to go in.

But forcing studious quiet kids to go in when they’d be better off at home to drag up those who aren’t self motivated is unfair.

falalalaa · 10/03/2026 07:29

Bless her for trying. It’s the start of March ffs. Of
course she needs to go in. She’s got some imagination

falalalaa · 10/03/2026 07:30

RampantIvy · 10/03/2026 07:27

I’ve told my dd she can choose after Easter. whether whether she can go

How sure are you that the whole syllabus for every subject will have been covered? Will non attendance affect whether she can go to prom?

Don't you think that teaching her that the rules don't apply to her is the wrong attitude?

For the record, DD revised better at home, but her school didn't offer study leave until mid June when most of the exams had been done.

Probably explains dd attitude when mum caves in so easily

Kendrickspenguin · 10/03/2026 07:30

My son was in year 11 last year. Not only was there no study leave, but the young people were expected to attend lessons during the exam period when they were not actually sitting an exam. There were also extra revision lessons before and after school and during the Easter and half term holidays.

Zanatdy · 10/03/2026 07:30

My DD finished in April and studied at home - the school agreed due to her health issues. She is incredibly self motivated and I knew she would get more done at home. She got all 9’s so it didn’t impact her negatively. Depends on the child though. She is doing her A levels soon and hasn’t mentioned doing it again, but her classes aren’t disruptive like they were at GCSE’s so she enjoys going in a lot more for 6th form.

Zanatdy · 10/03/2026 07:34

I don’t think OP’s DD is suggesting there is study leave, but saying the school are turning a bit of a blind age to non attendance. The fact is its still March, so they certainly won’t be agreeing to kids being off a couple of days a week. So i’d be saying not a chance at this stage. Review after Easter if you know she will revise at home better.

clary · 10/03/2026 07:38

Yes of course she needs to go in.

There may be content not covered yet as a number of teachers note on here, especially IME in content-heavy subjects like history or science. And there will be vital revision of topics and texts last looked in year 10. There will be support from teachers who know the exam and the mark scheme. There will be timed and marked practice papers.

I suspect there may be one or two students who have an agreed reduced timetable for various reasons as @wonderstuff notes – not your DD or anyone achieving highly.

FakeTwix · 10/03/2026 07:39

My yr 11 is doing another round of mocks at the moment.

They are expected to attend every day until after May half term. Things like prom tickets depend on it.

They are still covering content and doing structured recap sessions in school - no way would I want her to miss it.

PrincessOfPreschool · 10/03/2026 07:42

Sorry, I should have been clearer. My DC school had no study leave. You were in school during exams and when the exam was over. The last week of exams (mid June), they could go home when an exam was over. If you now the area and the type of students, you understand why this works best. My kids were not like many of the other kids, but I'm not going to let them feel superior just because they are clever and have supportive family. So they went in as was the expectation for everyone and it did them no harm.

Ohcrap082024 · 10/03/2026 07:44

My DS is now Y13, grammar school. His study leave is from the first May Bank holiday. His 6th form expect him in every day until then.

When he was in Year 11 (same school) his study leave started after the May half term so beginning of June really.

Most of the schools in our area are similar. The days of study leave after Easter are long gone. Your DD is pulling a fast one…check with her form tutor or head of year.

Ohcrap082024 · 10/03/2026 07:47

Oh and no school in the land will be “turning a blind eye” on attendance for Year 11s in March.

andfinallyhereweare · 10/03/2026 08:00

@Dreadmill I was a history teacher (taught GCSE) and we didn’t even finish the content until Easter! As there was so much to fit in…

Nottodaty · 10/03/2026 08:17

My daughter is in everyday, after May half term it’s a reduced timetable but more structured revision times during the day.

When I left school we went on study leave till mid -May (I just picked up more shifts at work, didn’t use the time wisely) . Randomly I do remember if you 16 before Christmas you could leave at Easter. But I think it’s long since changed!

Boolabus · 10/03/2026 08:25

Not in UK but my dd has her final school exams in June they finish and graduate mid May. The thought of her home now on her own studying until June feels too much and very isolating, I think she would burn out plus I doubt the curriculums are finished yet and I think the guidance and support from teachers as they work through past exam papers is beneficial

Laserwho · 10/03/2026 08:35

She's having you on. 2 years ago today when on of mine was in year 11. From this point on school ramped up lessons and study sessions. At least 3 times a week students had to attend after school revision lessons. The triple science had revision lessons on Saturdays and revision sessions took place over the Easter holidays. They only got study leave during the final week of exams, if they didn't have an exam they attended their normal lessons or a revision session for the next exam

GladHedgehog · 10/03/2026 12:22

Kendrickspenguin · 10/03/2026 07:30

My son was in year 11 last year. Not only was there no study leave, but the young people were expected to attend lessons during the exam period when they were not actually sitting an exam. There were also extra revision lessons before and after school and during the Easter and half term holidays.

Same at my sons' school. They saw a significant increase in grades when they stopped study leave and it was a pretty high achieving school in the first place.

Mayflowerz · 10/03/2026 12:25

Schools I work with have stopped study leave as they felt it was more beneficial for children to be in school where they could get teacher support if they needed it, think many schools are following suit.

RampantIvy · 10/03/2026 12:26

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/03/2026 07:28

My daughter and all the girls at her school (girls comp) went in every day until May.

The school tried to put in place having no study leave, but the parents and kids all rebelled and kept calling them in sick when they needed to stay at home and study.

School backed down and gave them study leave, with the option to be in school if they wanted, with revision sessions etc.

They won’t be allowed to have home study days now though, that’s ridiculous.

They need it from May when they’ve finished teaching the curriculum to be at their best for the exams I think - the time to study quietly.

A lot of kids need quiet time to study at their best. They need to pace themselves and get extra sleep (or sleep to a routine that suits their own body) to be at their best.

Dragging themselves in to school to study in a less comfortable environment with the journey at each end is totally pointless for many and counterproductive in alot of cases. I have no doubt my dd would have done less well if not given the breaks between exams.

Some kids do need the school environment to work and that’s fine. Either because home isn’t set up to be a place of study or because they need the push from the teachers or the routine. They should have the option to go in.

But forcing studious quiet kids to go in when they’d be better off at home to drag up those who aren’t self motivated is unfair.

Edited

Loads of year 11 pupils don't have the privilege of somewhere quiet to study at home or supportive parents. Also, it has been shown that students do better by staying at school.

In our case there is only one school bus that goes to and from the school in the nearest market town. For pupils in rural areas with poor public transport and without parents to run them to school for exams, getting the school bus to school means that they need to be in school all day.

Original poster
Dreadmill · 10/03/2026 20:37

Hairyfairy01 · 09/03/2026 20:15

There’s an awful lot of coursework due in around this time of year OP, are you sure she hasn’t fallen behind with this and feels she would be more productive at home catching up? If not she is having you on.

This is what she wants to do. Her coursework deadlines are looming but I feel that potentially missing exam tips and revision guidance are not worth the hassle of trying to figure out what happened.

We'd rather she study evenings and weekends and skip family events for the next 2 months. She's already been given a free pass on chores till summer....

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/03/2026 20:43

RampantIvy · 10/03/2026 12:26

Loads of year 11 pupils don't have the privilege of somewhere quiet to study at home or supportive parents. Also, it has been shown that students do better by staying at school.

In our case there is only one school bus that goes to and from the school in the nearest market town. For pupils in rural areas with poor public transport and without parents to run them to school for exams, getting the school bus to school means that they need to be in school all day.

Show quote history

That’s exactly what I said - the school
should be open and running revision sessions for those who can’t work at home or who prefer it, or need it due to temperament etc. That’s literally in my post.

Some as you say won’t have the transport for it (my dd is able to walk to school, London single sex comp).

There comes a point though when you don’t sacrifice your child’s achievement to the greater good - I knew my dd would do better if she got the chance of some
rest and the ability to study at home. That’s what she did as much as necessary (she did attend some days between exams or for the other half of an exam day by choice). She got 10 x grade 9, so all 9s. I stand by that decision! She wouldn’t have got all 9s if she’d burnt herself out going in every minute of every day.

Original poster
Dreadmill · 10/03/2026 20:44

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/03/2026 07:28

My daughter and all the girls at her school (girls comp) went in every day until May.

The school tried to put in place having no study leave, but the parents and kids all rebelled and kept calling them in sick when they needed to stay at home and study.

School backed down and gave them study leave, with the option to be in school if they wanted, with revision sessions etc.

They won’t be allowed to have home study days now though, that’s ridiculous.

They need it from May when they’ve finished teaching the curriculum to be at their best for the exams I think - the time to study quietly.

A lot of kids need quiet time to study at their best. They need to pace themselves and get extra sleep (or sleep to a routine that suits their own body) to be at their best.

Dragging themselves in to school to study in a less comfortable environment with the journey at each end is totally pointless for many and counterproductive in alot of cases. I have no doubt my dd would have done less well if not given the breaks between exams.

Some kids do need the school environment to work and that’s fine. Either because home isn’t set up to be a place of study or because they need the push from the teachers or the routine. They should have the option to go in.

But forcing studious quiet kids to go in when they’d be better off at home to drag up those who aren’t self motivated is unfair.

Edited

Good point actually, her study at up at home is pretty good. We may revisit the issue after Easter.

The trip to school is a slog, sure that time could be better used as exams get closer.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dreadmill · 10/03/2026 20:45

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the discussion.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/03/2026 20:46

My son is likely to be a wholly different kettle of fish and may need to go in most days, although he does also get very tired and need rests to be at his best, so we’ll see.

RampantIvy · 10/03/2026 21:37

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/03/2026 20:43

That’s exactly what I said - the school
should be open and running revision sessions for those who can’t work at home or who prefer it, or need it due to temperament etc. That’s literally in my post.

Some as you say won’t have the transport for it (my dd is able to walk to school, London single sex comp).

There comes a point though when you don’t sacrifice your child’s achievement to the greater good - I knew my dd would do better if she got the chance of some
rest and the ability to study at home. That’s what she did as much as necessary (she did attend some days between exams or for the other half of an exam day by choice). She got 10 x grade 9, so all 9s. I stand by that decision! She wouldn’t have got all 9s if she’d burnt herself out going in every minute of every day.

Show quote history

I admit to bending the rules by the third week of exams in regard to school attendance. DD had taken maths early and didn't need to attend maths classes. The school had turned a blind eye to attendance by then even though study leave began during the last week of exams only.

Trevfndd · 10/03/2026 21:40

My school had this. There were kids who were smart enough that they didn't need school to get all 8s and 9s. But because they were persistently missing school, they were excluded from end of year 11 celebrations.