AIBU in being hostile towards a collapsed curriculum day a fortnight before exam season starts?

[cressetmama]

Just that... DS (Y11) announced this morning that his school is having a day off normal lessons so all pupils can focus on racial awareness and sensitivity. This comes on the back of a recent OFSTED inspection that found the school (otherwise rated outstanding) was falling short in its citizenship teaching. I can accept that this may be efficient for delivering messages but think that it should have been scheduled after GCSE and A levels. Should I express my views to the school? And to whom?

Sometimes it's good to have a break and see the bigger picture ... but if you want to complain, then complain!

It'll probably do them good to have a more relaxing day away from exam pressure.
To be honest, missing one lesson in a subject isn't really going to make much difference at this stage - they must have covered everything they need to by now surely.

That is completely ridiculous. They could do this after the exams. I would complain.

I would throw a sickie and have an extra revision day!

jeanne They are Year 11. They won't be there after the exams

one day off timetable; not revising, not thinking about the exams can be worth far more than another day of stressing

Absolutely complain. This sort of peripheral stuff should be after exams or elsewhere in the year at a less critical time. Right now kids should be focusing on their revision and exam prep. If the school sticks have your DC take the day off with sickie and do some proper revision work at home.

If their revision is well managed there is no reason why they shoushouldn't enjoy a day off for this, or sports or a trip or similar. Students MUST keep a balance in their lives in the build-up to exams and realise the value of quality not quantity in their revision. If a child is unwell, for example, for a few days before exams. it's not a reason to panic. GCSEs reflect their work over two years not a few weeks if last minute cramming.

? Surely they shouldn't be spending their entire time at school and at home revising??

I imagine that the teachers themselves are pretty pissed off at losing lessons at this vital point of the year. If they are putting this in place now at this late stage then I expect there is a bloody good reason like trying to prevent Ofsted coming back and slapping them in special measures for a failure to improve.

If it's racial awareness and sensitivity, then possibly they've got one eye on the whole Trojan horse thing which has made Ofsted hyper-sensitive to that sort of issue.

Does anyone actually "enjoy" racial awareness and sensitivity days or in any way find them relaxing?! Honestly? I must be very out of touch. Its not what we did for fun when I was a teenager!!

I'd agree that the time could be better spent revising, but if individual Dc are truly on top of their studies, then maybe a day off getting some exercise and then doing something relaxing could be a good idea.

Noblegiraffe has nailed it I think. The school fell foul of a snap inspection a few weeks back and was criticized for casual racism and sexting among students, which prompted a search for a head of citizenship. There was an excellent one, but the person had retired and I think with the declining emphasis on the subject, it had been allowed to wither. I don't think there's much chance of the Trojan Horse sensitivity; this is solidly Methodist mining territory, with more east European immigrants than persons of colour.