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Original poster

I am willing to be enlightened:

84 replies

RollaCoasta · 21/05/2010 23:51

My son is in Y13, and last Friday (May 14th), he finished school for good. He is now on 'study' leave until his 3 A level exams in late JUNE.

Can someone tell me what teachers do during these extended study leaves for Y13,12 and 11? (There are two revision days offered for Psychology - my son could do with many more (i.e. regular lessons leading up to the exam))

As a primary teacher, it is the busiest time of year - we are running round like blue arsed flies doing our assessments, marking SATs, moderating, working out new classes, sports days, music concerts, looking at next year's planning, writing 27 full reports (10 subjects).... plus planning the weeks' lessons.

To tell you the truth, I'm feeling a bit miffed .

Please, someone set my mind at rest that you're not all out shopping.

(BTW son is at a much-admired (by some) state grammar.)

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 21/05/2010 23:58

They have their feet up on the desk,
gin and tonic in one hand and Boden catalogue in the other....what do you think they are doing? Of course they are still working!

Original poster
RollaCoasta · 22/05/2010 00:02

Doing what though? My son is missing about 20 psychology lessons during his 'study' leave, and I can be pretty sure that he's not studying.... If Y11,12,and 13 are off, what are the psychology teachers (for instance) doing, as this subject is only taken at A level?

There's no marking, no teaching, no planning...

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 22/05/2010 00:06

They will be covering for other teachers' absences, they will be invigilating other exams, planning for next year.

Study leave means just that....your son needs to have the maturity to use his time wisely.....has he any hopes to go to Uni?

Original poster
RollaCoasta · 22/05/2010 00:15

Teachers at his school don't invigilate (I thought that was one of the '24 tasks'. How many absences would you expect?!! I thought there was a limit on that as well.

6 weeks for 3 exams - I'd say that was de-motivational for any normal 18 year old (particularly one who has already been accepted at art college on very low grades)!

About 360 pupils are missing for the next 6 weeks! I can't get my head around it.

As to planning for next year... I daresay Far from the Madding Crowd is the same from one year to the next. (At primary schools, we're planning for next year too... after school)

OP posts:
Iggisfulloftayto · 22/05/2010 00:16

He's not "missing" any lessons, the course is planned out to be delivered in the time prior to study leave starting.
What are we doing.. planning for next year with doubtless lots of changes, taking part in things like activities week, giving more attention to the marking/progress of the non-exam classes, maybe even managing to leave work reasonably on time for once.

Original poster
RollaCoasta · 22/05/2010 00:16

I'm not convinced yet....

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 22/05/2010 00:22

No you are absolutely right, they are doing fuck all...write to the head, tell the board of governors and your MP about the lazy you-know-whats

Original poster
RollaCoasta · 22/05/2010 00:24

Lucky you!

There are no non-exam classes for psychology. Why can't they run revision classes in the period running up to the exams?

What's activities week? Never heard of that one.

OP posts:
Original poster
RollaCoasta · 22/05/2010 00:30

I'm trying to understand... not be confrontational. It really does look from this vantage point that they're doing fuck all tbh - there's nothing to imply that they're doing anything.

We really really are busy in primary schools - I'm not joking... we have all our reports to write, we have sports days, we've got to organise a mixed age world cup week, we've just done an assembly, there's a music concert and Y6 performances, assessments to analyse, books to sort, classes to allocate (mega job) ...

I'm sure you'd find it a little grating.

OP posts:
olcecado · 22/05/2010 00:41

What does your son's school website say is happening? My DDs lists all the things- clearly the teachers are all busy- some on school trips after the exam period- with invigilating and marking toi follow and school reports, plus the prep for the next year's intake - final decisions are being made as to notifications...

Original poster
RollaCoasta · 22/05/2010 00:57

The website says nothing. The learning gateway hasn't been filled in with any dates - neither exams nor revision days. As I said, they don't invigilate (one was heard flouncing out of an exam last year, having been called on to invigilate) - don't know of any school trips - history trip to Austwitz (sp?) didn't even go ahead this year. The website has even got two different dates for the art exhibition (which I want to go to).

He had his report in December.

What are final decisions to notifications?

OP posts:
musicposy · 22/05/2010 08:05

I'm sure they must be doing something, RollaCoasta - you will know that as a teacher there's always something to do! But I do understand where you are coming from. All this planning for next year I am a bit about - I was a primary school teacher and I always had to do that in the summer holidays.

However, I think that the issue is more that you are overworked than they are underworked IYSWIM.

AvidDiva · 22/05/2010 08:13

RollaCoasta, what's the relevance of how the teachers are filling their time? Your son has had the complete teaching course, now he has been given time to revise and practice what he's learned. How the teachers are engaged while he is studying is neither here nor there.

Your son not using his study leave properly is unfortunate, but it's his personal misfortune, not his teacher's responsibility.

Tanga · 22/05/2010 08:29

ROFL at the idea primary teachers are busy - how much planning does it take to say 'there's the sand pit, see you at the Christmas party'? After all, KS2 kids have taken their SATs and most of you didn't bother with that, and all of the primaries in my area are doing transition so the Yr6 kids are up at the secondary. Counting the beanbags ready for sports day?

Isn't it annoying when people say you're doing nothing at your job?

Feenie · 22/05/2010 08:31

Rollacoaster, as a primary teacher I would be so pissed off if a secondary colleague posted stuff like this. I think you are being surprisingly inflammatory for someone in a profession which has to put up with this kind of attitude all the time from ill informed parents who think it's all long holidays and finishing at 3.30.

Teaching is a ridiculously busy job, whichever stage you teach at. You know that they will have a hundred and one things to do, and that your ds is expected to have the maturity to organise his own time.

Ivykaty44 · 22/05/2010 08:35

one local school in my area has stopped study leave at home - the pupils have/are expected to go to school during the normal school hours and do study leave in the school building with the teachers also there for any assistance in revision.

The pupils will finish on 1 July with only really one or possibly two exams left

TheJollyPirate · 22/05/2010 08:47

Rollacoaster - are the teachers available for students if they need them? I suspect that having taught the entire course that they are now available shoukld students need them to go through x,y and z.

I used to be a midwife (bear with me ) and did antenatal clinics, homebirths, hospital births etc. Some of that time was spent "on call" in case I was needed. Nobody asked what I was doing with my time when I wasn't doing antenatal clinics, delivering babies etc. If it matters I was preparing for clinics, teaching antenatal classes and at night if I was "on call" but not needed I was (shock horror) at home and asleep in my bed .

I bet a similar analogy applies to teachers when they are not teaching or not needed - they are preparing, supporting IF they are fortunate enough (and I bet they are not) they might be at home doing those things but ready to come in if a student needs them.

Your DS sounds such a typical teenager "don't sweat it Mum I'll pass". Have you asked the school if there is any additional support available or if your son can go into school to study?

violethill · 22/05/2010 09:11

RollaCoasta - get a job in a secondary school if you think it's all so easy then.

No?

MelonCauli · 22/05/2010 09:19

I teach yr11 & 13. We run revision classes for everyone until exams end. We invigilate exams. We run revision sessions for an hour before every exam (including relaxation, exam tips etc). We organise & monitor yr 10 work experience. We work through the many changes to next year's specifications. etc etc.

The students need a huge amount of support during their exams and we are very busy!

frakkit · 22/05/2010 09:23

TBH I'd think the psychology teachers have a second subject that they teach in addition to 6th Form psychology.

Maybe the school do a PSE week that's their responsibility? Maybe they also have functions in preparing Y12 students for UCAS applications or giving careers advice? They probably also have reports to write, sports days to plan, classes to allocate etc. Many schools also do some end of year exams to help with setting next year so maybe they're drafted into helping mark those that have a very clear mark scheme.

Syllabi change from year to year (for some exam boards!) so lessons need to be adapted. Far from the Madding Crowd may not be a set text next year. The school may choose to rotate the texts even if it is. Secondary teachers could well say that Y2 cover the same material next year as well!

It's a great time for pupils in lower years to have some individual attention and do more exciting school trips. For most of the year they're a pretty low priority.

Do the AS students not go back to start their A2 courses after their exams are done?

cory · 22/05/2010 10:29

Your son's teachers really cannot do the revision for him- he needs to do that himself! They have other jobs to do.

It is the same at university level: our teaching finished last week but it is the busiest time of year what with all the admin, planning for next years teaching, conferences, going on courses to improve our own knowledge/teaching etc- the only reason I can find time to Mumsnet (and sleep!) is that I have a very part-time contract. My colleagues are working all sorts of hours. I expect it's the same in secondary.

If your son is in Yr 13, he is soon ready to go on either to a job or into higher education. If he goes to university, he will not have somebody holding his hand or checking that he is studying when he is supposed: he will have to look after himself like other adults do. This is a good time to start practising.

harpsichordcarrier · 22/05/2010 10:39

erm, you mean APART from teaching years 7-10?
well, rising above your rather rude tone
In my school there is a schedule for the use of gained time with a number of priorities and targets for this.
This is the time of year when we schedule exams for y7-10, so that needs orgniaising and marking.
We also have some department / whole school priorities that we are all involved in.
Training for use of new equipment.
writing new scheme of work or updating old ones.
working on requirements for new specifications e.g. there are very significant changes to the GCSE syllabus.
yes we DO invigilate exams
preparation for new year 7.

webwiz · 22/05/2010 10:54

I have been absolutely desperate for my year 12 to finish and go on study leave because school insist on carrying on teaching her when she needs some time for private revision - her exams start on Monday. Her teachers have been constantly available at any time to go through anything she has problems with and they are happy to mark practice essays and past papers. Her chemistry teacher is running lessons next week but DD2 will only be in for the friday when she has finished the three exams she has earlier in the week. Her other teachers have stressed that they are available for help and she has revision classes on four days in half term.

I can honestly say I have never once thought that her teachers are having an "easy" time of it now that the upper years are on study leave. In fact the weeks following the Easter holiday have been so intense that I would not begrudge my daughter's teachers a whole week of shopping! But of course they are busy doing things that involve the lower years. DS in year 8 has lots of cross curricular days planned for the reminder of the term. DD2 will be back in school on June 14th (before her exams end) and school has planned loads of UCAS preparation stuff.

Next year I hope she gets a decent amount of time of before her exams because she will want to do well and thoroughly revise. Her school doesn't give study leave to year 11s but the sixth form are deemed mature enough to deal with it.

harpsichordcarrier · 22/05/2010 10:56

oh yeah and revision school
there is that

cory · 22/05/2010 11:07

RollaCoasta Sat 22-May-10 00:15:21

"As to planning for next year... I daresay Far from the Madding Crowd is the same from one year to the next. (At primary schools, we're planning for next year too... after school)"

They don't teach the same set English texts, in the same way, year after year, surely? And in psychology, I would have thought the course would be changing from year to year, what with new books coming out and new ideas of teaching the subject.

I wouldn't be too chuffed if my dcs' A-level teaching was on a primary school level tbh.