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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Dd bad anxiety and not allowed study leave.

72 replies

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/05/2022 08:47

Is not allowing study leave a legal requirement.

DD has severe anxiety. We’re battling constant severe headaches, lack of sleep, meltdowns. She’s getting counselling and is on medication. She’s quite bad.

She doesn’t go on study leave until 1/2 term. But l think it would be more beneficial for her if she was allowed to start at the first exam. She’s conscientious and hardworking, but is really not well with anxiety.

l asked the school if she could start earlier and they aren’t keen, even though it would be better for her. They want her to go in in case she needs to ask a teacher something. She’s generally too anxious to ever ask a teacher anything. I know in theory it’s better for them to go to school, but she’s just a mess.

Dies anyone know where the law stands on this?

OP posts:
Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/05/2022 09:51

Bump

OP posts:
HairyBum · 05/05/2022 09:57

Personally I’d tell the school she is poorly with anxiety and keep her off, supporting her to return for exams. Talk to a GP if it’s extreme. Plan her day with her, study times, breaks, getting out of the house to exercise, undertake hobbies and see friends. Eating with family. Maybe do yoga and an evening walk together.

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/05/2022 10:00

That’s an idea. But she’s had so much time off with anxiety l think I’d be in trouble if she was off anymore.

It’s so exhausting. My GP would support it though.

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catsonahottinroof · 05/05/2022 10:02

Sorry, I can't help much but I'm also interested in the answer to this as dd has been told they have to be in school until the date of their last exam! Which will be ridiculous in the last few weeks or so.
The only guidance I can find is that study leave should only be granted in year 11 and should be kept to a minimum. In your situation, if school won't let your daughter have study leave, I'd just send her in on the days of the exams and phone her in sick on the other days (or tell the school that you are keeping her home for study leave as you feel it is best for her). The worst thing that would happen is she would get unauthorised absences, but I can't see that it would matter by this stage, unless maybe she is staying there for sixth form?

VariationsonaTheme · 05/05/2022 10:02

In England you can’t leave school until the last Friday in June, so school can decide what they want about study leave until then. Most schools that I visit don’t have study leave at all any more.

However, in your case I’d be saying she’s too ill to be in school.

titchy · 05/05/2022 10:06

Yes just tell them she's ill. What are they going to do?

Allotment123 · 05/05/2022 10:25

Have a meeting with your head of year / exams officer / mental health lead
Tell then it's a reasonable adjustment your child needs not an argument over the rights and wrongs of study leave
Offer to back it up with a GP letter
Make sure they see your child as an individual
If all else fails keep them off and just bring them in for the exams,
do what your child needs and be kind to yourself too, this is such a tough time

HairyBum · 05/05/2022 10:28

put the mental health of your child above the school regulations

HairyBum · 05/05/2022 10:28

As long as you keep the Gp in the loop and keep the school updated

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/05/2022 10:29

Allotment, that’s a fantastic idea😭😭

Im crying with gratitude! She’s staying in the 6th form.

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Cauliflowersqueeze · 05/05/2022 11:11

Schools can’t code study leave as an authorised absence until June. Also, it’s been shown to be far more effective for them to work in school with guidance from teachers.

However if she is too ill to attend then take her to the doctor. It will be difficult though if she has an exam if the doctor has said she is too ill to attend.

TeenPlusCat · 05/05/2022 11:16

I have a friend whose school has said


  • she can't go on early study leave or reduced timetable

  • however if you were to ring her in sick a couple of times a week that will be OK

lanthanum · 05/05/2022 11:20

Cauliflowersqueeze · 05/05/2022 11:11

Schools can’t code study leave as an authorised absence until June. Also, it’s been shown to be far more effective for them to work in school with guidance from teachers.

However if she is too ill to attend then take her to the doctor. It will be difficult though if she has an exam if the doctor has said she is too ill to attend.

It's been shown that, ON AVERAGE, it's far more effective for them to work in school with guidance from teachers. I doubt it has been shown that this is the most effective plan for every student. There are some very bright and diligent students who are capable of better revision at home, because they can focus on what they need to and not what the teacher has chosen to look at that day. (This group can be better catered for in school if teachers are willing to let them study something else when appropriate - DD has an agreement with the teacher of her best subject that she can work on her worst subject in those lessons.) And there are some children who have specific issues such as anxiety that mean they will be able to cope better at home. You'd hope that it wouldn't be necessary to resort to a letter from the GP (as they have quite enough to do), but that might be the way to go if the school won't budge.

Notagain76 · 05/05/2022 11:26

Has she been diagnosed with anxiety, my son has anxiety disorder and separation anxiety si this info might be a but different for your daughter. The doctors can sign her off sick for any length of time and the school can't argue it. Have the school put anything in place for the anxiety or offered her the pathways to getting help/support. Anxiety is horrendous as it can be masked so well. I hope you both get the support and outcome you need.

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/05/2022 11:52

Yeah, she’s been diagnosed. It’s awful. She’s on Propanalol and is having counselling.

She continuously tries to vomit on exam days. She gets horrendous stress headaches, and the more she tries to cram in, the worse they get.

l would have preferred her to stay at school, but l just don’t think she’s well enough. She sleeps really badly during exams, and not being in school would give her time to catch up on some sleep. She presents entirely normally.

Its so hard.

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Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/05/2022 11:54

They’ve let her take her exams in a different room ( supported by doctors letter) they’ve given her someone to talk to, but she won’t say much to her.

Its such a struggle to get her in!

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ChicCroissant · 05/05/2022 11:55

Does your school have a learning support-type room or centre she can use? If so, I'd ask if she can go there all day every day if she needs to be in school rather than her lessons. That way the teachers are available if she needs to ask any questions but she's out of her normal lessons. I don't think many schools round here do study leave now either tbh.

ChicCroissant · 05/05/2022 11:56

Cross-posted there, if she has someone named for support can you speak to them to see what the possibilities might be?

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/05/2022 11:58

She won’t ask any teachers questions. She never speaks in lessons.

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ThelmaDinkley · 05/05/2022 12:06

Anxiety is a hidden disability and so school should be looking to make reasonable adjustments to best support and help her. I would ask to speak to exam officer, pastoral lead, attendance officer and arrange a meeting. Get a drs letter and explain she will only be coming in for exams. Good luck to you and your daughter.

elliejjtiny · 05/05/2022 12:07

My year 11 son has to be in school until 10th June and then he goes on study leave.

Sending you lots of love. My year 9 son has mental health problems too.

ScottishBeeswax · 05/05/2022 12:08

You've had good advice from @Allotment123
Your child has a medical condition which requires reasonable adjustments to be made. Schools are not in a position to make informed decisions about medical needs, it's not their area of expertise.
Get GP or any HCP involved in her care to write a letter of support and be clear to the school what your daughters timetable should look like for the next few weeks DUE TO HER MEDICAL CONDITION.
This is not a study leave v no study leave one size fits all argument

Good luck

AReallyUsefulEngine · 05/05/2022 14:21

Schools can’t code study leave as an authorised absence until June

Schools should be coding study leave as S as per the guidance.

Lougle · 05/05/2022 14:28

DD2 has anxiety and since Easter I have only been able to get her into school twice, for a chat with a trusted teacher. I've realised that nobody dies if I can't get her into school.. We're made to think that it's the end of the world but it isn't true.

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/05/2022 15:30

I can’t thank you guys enough!

Vipers🙄you’ve been so helpful. Made me cry with your helpfulness.

Thank you again.

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