6th form study periods

[loobylou44]

What does your child's 6th form do about study periods?
Up until now dd school allowed them to study in the common room, the library or a free classroom. They were allowed to use phones, laptops and headphones. This was ideal for dd as she uses podcasts and YouTube videos effectively as revision and 'reading' around the subject.

All of a sudden school have changed this completely and they now have set classrooms and seats. All desks are laid out like exam conditions and they're not allowed any technology or to talk to each other about schoolwork.
Is it just me that thinks this is a step backwards? Many of dds friends study using podcasts, videos etc. There are many more effective ways of studying that sitting in silence.

Sounds as if the privileges given to the 6th formers has been abused by some of them and the school are reigning them in.

I don't agree with whole class punishments but that's what it looks like to me

It would be best if both options were available. I can see the value of a completely silent, book focussed study area for some students at certain times.

But they also need spaces where they can use their phones and laptops.

I agree, someone has obviously abused a privilege somewhere.

Seems very strict to me. I went to a 6th form college and we didn't even need to be on site during frees. We had registration at 11:45 so if you had a free first thing you didn't need to come in until your first lesson. Same if you had a free at the end of the day.

The best was having a free between break and lunch. 2 and a half hours off in the middle of the day to go into the city.

My son’s 6th form timetables 6 hours of supervised study per week in the library with laptops allowed, but no phones or headphones. They can work however they want, socialise or go out for any remaining free sessions.

He’s not the biggest fan, but even he admits he can get a lot of work done inside school hours now.

Sounds really strict to me. My dd gets one free period a day but those doing three A levels would get two. They can go wherever they like in school but are only allowed phones in the sixth form area. They can also go to the local shop but can't go home unless the free periods fall at the end of the day.

Yes, I agree it sounds like there was some abuse of the "privilege" and school has gone full scale regimented. I'd suggest it might be worth some of the students getting together and going to appeal to the head of sixth form/whoever is responsible for this decision.

At DC's school you can use your study periods how you want. Lots of children don't stay in school for them. If you do stay at school you can work in the library or the sixth form study area with phones, laptops etc. DD is writing her NEAs, EPQ and making notes on her laptop. Being forced to sit in a classroom without tech would make her life more difficult. She already finds it annoying that she has to spend tutor time without them (during tutor time the tutor has 1:1s with students and the others are supposed to get on with work).

Sounds very strict and I am surprised the school is able to staff this. We don't monitor study periods at all, and we don't have classrooms available for this. Our sixth formers are still allowed off site during the day, too, which I know some schools have stopped, but honestly we don't have the space for all of them to stay all day!

I think having quiet study available is good, but enforcing it for all study periods is too much at post 16. Students need to learn to make their own mistakes. If there has been an issue with e.g. misuse of technology, then the individuals involved should be dealt with.

Personally, I would speak to the school and ask why this has been put in place and how long it is going to last for.

I would say though, that your DD may benefit from doing more active revision. Watching videos is good, but solely doing that is very passive.