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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:
whenwillthemadnessend · 06/05/2022 07:35

Op. You Know your dd best so take her out earlier.

I dont understand what some of you are saying though

At our 3 schools in my town all kids are finishing on Friday 13th May then just go in for exams and a week sixth form induction at the end of June
So saying it's not allowed is obviously wrong. Maybe it's a local thing

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 06/05/2022 08:06

It’s a school thing. When you make a decision in Year 6 to send them to a ‘good’ school, you don’t realise that a good school put so much pressure on them.

Her school is outstanding so the pressure is even worse. I asked them what they would do if she vomited in an exam. They said they’d deal with it if if happened🤷🏼‍♀️If l had another child they would not be going to an outstanding school.

OP posts:
OnTheBenchOfDoom · 06/05/2022 09:02

@whenwillthemadnessend when Ds sat his GCSEs in 2019 they were in school and had their leavers' assembly after their last core exam which was physics on Friday 14th June as most children had finished their exams. Not all schools allow study leave as in school they can make sure that children are revising. Whether that is beneficial to every child is debatable. I completely agree with @lanthanum on that score.

Ds2 is year 11. He had an upset stomach last week and could not go into school for 2 days. Needed to be very close to a toilet. When I rang in they were very clear that there was only 2 weeks left until exams. Ds spent the day revising his lowest grade subject and practising for his French oral. This was far more beneficial than sitting is lessons of subjects he is excelling in. There are no more online lessons as the work is complete they are just revising in school.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow I cannot see why school would not allow your daughter to take time out as study leave, far better than marking her as absent for illness. Do what is best for your daughter, keep her at home and make sure she is in for exams. There is surely a clear case as to why she would benefit from being at home. She has diagnosed anxiety, is taking medication for it, why on earth would they choose to make her life more difficult? Ds1 threw up before every morning exam. School bent over backwards to accommodate him with offers of the smaller room, staying at home until the exam rather than the morning booster session. He chose to go in as he felt that was better for him. But the school were incredibly supportive.

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 06/05/2022 09:08

No, l think they think we’re making it up or something🤷🏼‍♀️

Tjis is what outstanding schools are like. She has medical evidence going back to age 9.

l haven’t finished with them yet. I’m waiting for the doctor letter and will go back with a request under the Equality Act. I used to be a teacher. This is one reason l got out. They are managed by 20 year olds who know sweet FA.

But that is a whole new thread!

OP posts:
ScottishBeeswax · 06/05/2022 10:28

No, l think they think we’re making it up or something🤷🏼‍♀️

So her school are suddenly the experts on her mental health problems and know better than HCPs involved in her care🤷🏼‍♀️
Unbelievable!

noblegiraffe · 06/05/2022 11:13

I cannot see why school would not allow your daughter to take time out as study leave, far better than marking her as absent for illness.

Study leave is only allowed to be given to Y11 during public exams so at this point it would count as unauthorised.

Studyleav1 · 06/05/2022 15:19

Hi OP,
I have managed to get study leave for my child as he has ADHD and is not managing any revision in school or focussing in lessons, where as at home I am able to support him and he does a lot more.

I quoted the relevant bit of the equality act in education and explained that he has a recognised disability and that being in school between exams would have a negative impact on him due to his disability and that this was indirect discrimination. Study leave has been granted.

If it hadn't been I would have kept him off anyway as at this point all that matters is what is best for him, but it would have been quite stressful going against schools wishes.

It is entirely reasonable to ask for study leave for her and to point out that there policy of coming in to school is indirectly discrimating against her.

Good luck!

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 06/05/2022 18:37

Thank you yet again everyone. Just had letter from GP so sending email this weekend quoting Equality Act, and indirect discrimination.

Also, l don’t think study leave for y11 Is dictated by law so l will mention that. Thank you to whoever put that link on.

l will try and come back and update, but you’ve all been great.

OP posts:
Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 06/05/2022 18:41

@Studyleav1

Which bit of the act was it? I’ve tried reading it…!

OP posts:
Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 06/05/2022 18:44

@Studyleav1 found it!

Is this it?

Dd bad anxiety and not allowed study leave.
OP posts:
Studyleav1 · 06/05/2022 19:10

I just sent this

The duty is ‘to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the substantial disadvantage’ to a disabled person caused by a provision, criterion or practice applied by or on behalf of a school, or by the absence of an auxiliary aid or service.

and said that the provision of being in schools for exams would disadvantage him and then explained how.

also look here. www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/education/disability-discrimination-in-schools

look under when schools must make reasonable adjustments. I think she would easily fall in to that.

essentially I would bring it back to the fact that being in school would increase her anxiety, make her less able to revise and prepare for her exams and would be harmful to her chances in her GCSEs. Both you and school want her to be able to achieve the best she can and in order for that to happen this reasonable adjustment needs to be made.

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 06/05/2022 21:16

That’s really helpful. Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 11/05/2022 16:23

Thank you for all your support.

They have agreed she can leave school when she wants after during the exams.

Thank you for all your help

OP posts:
catsonahottinroof · 11/05/2022 16:42

That's great to hear - thanks for updating us. Hope everything goes well for her.

Studyleav1 · 11/05/2022 20:25

Great news.

Allotment123 · 13/05/2022 22:00

Great news, well done for your persistence, it's hard to keep fighting, you're doing a great job

Manchestertimes · 13/05/2022 22:46

Hi sorry to hijack the thread but I am having the same problem with my daughter whom has ADHD. School are just ignoring my request, even sent medical evidence and no response. I plan to keep her off school anyway but how can she just walk out after the exams. She will be refused exit so don't know how to get her out? Any suggestions please?

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 14/05/2022 09:22

I’d go back to the school. Tell them you are reporting them to the Equalities Comission. Tell your daughter to just leave.

Then I’d report them to Ofsted for failure to implement proper safeguarding procedures and leaving your daughter vulnurable.

OP posts:
Manchestertimes · 14/05/2022 11:45

Thanks for your advice. I will tell her to leave but the problem is the security on the gate won't let her leave without a pass from school. So don't know how she can actually get out. If there is a confrontation with school it will make things even worse for her.

Original poster
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 14/05/2022 12:46

Phone the Equalities Comission on Monday. And contact Ofsted and LEA.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 14/05/2022 13:34

Ofsted will expect you to have followed the school complaints procedure, it should be on the school website. If you have complained to the head the usual next step is chair of governors.

ittakes2 · 19/05/2022 00:50

My daughter was like your’s with anxiety and severe headaches. She ended up having POTS and inattentive ADHD. It’s common for them to come together in teen girls. Her headaches were due to her blood pressure pushing blood up to her brain in spikes. The anxiety was made worse with increased heart rate. If you have a blood pressure machine or finger tip oxygen monitor - test her heart rate first thing in the morning lying down and then get her to stand for three mins and test again. If her heart rate goes up 30-40 beats per min as gp to refer to check for POTs. My daughter was put on beta blockers and it helped her headaches and anxiety almost immediately. She also started sertraline and melatonin for sleep. Sleep issues common with adhd in females. People think the H is for hyperactive physical behaviour but it also stands for hyperactive mind.

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