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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Attendance after GCSEs

63 replies

dexterslockedintheshedagain · 08/06/2023 12:53

My daughter is saying she doesn't have to go into school after her last exam (16 June) even though the term doesn't end until 21 July.
I'm not so sure, but also don't know what she would be doing all that time, as her exams have all been done! What would she be taught?!!
I've tried to clarify with the school, but they're not replying.
Should I still make her attend?

OP posts:
SabbatWheel · 08/06/2023 12:55

Is she Year 11? All ours left at half term and now only have to attend for their exams. This is pretty normal across schools.

SabbatWheel · 08/06/2023 12:56

If she’s Year 10 then she’ll surely be expected back in school.

LIZS · 08/06/2023 12:56

School leaving day is end of June so technically they should "attend" until then. There may be work experience, book return days, activities, pre sixth form tasters organised by school , plus Prom.

Feduptosaytheleast · 08/06/2023 13:03

My older two only went in after exams for leavers assembly at the end of term. The teachers at our school then use the 'teaching' time to get ready for the new year 7s, taster days, sorting timetables etc.
So no, she doesn't have to attend. My dcs both started working part-time after exams finished, as I'm sure my youngest will probably do too 😊

HerLadySheep · 08/06/2023 13:06

Of course not! There will be no lessons for her to attend

MumofSpud · 08/06/2023 13:09

Sorry if it's not what you want to hear but if she is in Year 11 and so has just done her GCSEs then yes that's it! She's done!
There might be a prom to go to but she would have known about that as would your bank balance!
How come you don't know?

mumonthehill · 08/06/2023 13:09

Ds on study leave now and will not go back after last exam on the 16th june. He has a job so will do that and have some much deserved down time!!

SKYTVADDICT · 08/06/2023 13:13

Ours have to leave the premises after the exam in the morning of 16 June and that's that (unless you have an exam in the afternoon or the week after!). We have had quite a few emails about it though so surprised you don't know. If she is Year 11?

BooksAndHooks · 08/06/2023 13:28

Ours had to go in for preparation for 6th form and then had compulsory work experience. They left around 7th July when they had their prom.

lemonyellows · 08/06/2023 13:29

Yes this is normal. They will be glad of the extended break after all these exams!!

Needmorelego · 08/06/2023 13:38

The statutory school leaving date is June 30th of the academic year in which a child turns 16 (so July and August borns technically leave at 15).
If she is planning to stay on for 6th Form some schools do transition stuff. If she is leaving I can’t see how they can insist after June 30th that they have to attend.

DumpedByText · 08/06/2023 13:41

My year 11 DD is on study leave and only goes in the exams or revision. Thru are not expected for anything else.

Foxesandsquirrels · 08/06/2023 14:45

Are you from the UK? The Y11 summer is known as the fun long one because of exactly this. Some schools do sixth form activities after GCSEs but not most.

Always4Brenner · 08/06/2023 14:48

We had to go in but it was still a boarding school then thought I didn’t board left 13th July 1984.

x2boys · 08/06/2023 18:23

Yep my son finishes on the 16th too ,there is no sixth form at his school.and he has a place a college so that's it he's done!

Patchworksack · 08/06/2023 18:28

Ours had their official ‘last day’ just before half term and now only go in for exams. The ones staying for sixth form have an induction day in July.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 08/06/2023 18:29

I hope not- I've wangled DD a job in our local pub for after the exams. Only part time or she will lay in bed, watch Netflix and annoy the hell out of me.

That and she's going to help with her schools Pride week and get some work experience at their SEN inclusion center.

mondaytosunday · 08/06/2023 18:34

Yep my kids didn't go back in after exams finished bar the odd day for some reason or other.

chickabilla · 08/06/2023 19:25

Mine had his ‘last day’ the Friday before exams so is all done after 16 June.

Fairislefandango · 08/06/2023 19:35

It is normal for Year 11 not to go back to school after their exams. You can't just decide to send her in anyway! Some schools do run some 6th form induction sessions in the final half term for students who are staying at the school for 6th form though.

pointythings · 08/06/2023 20:46

Neither of mine went in after their last exam except for prom (work experience happened in 6th form). They need and deserve the break after all that hard work.

Original poster
dexterslockedintheshedagain · 08/06/2023 21:14

SKYTVADDICT · 08/06/2023 13:13

Ours have to leave the premises after the exam in the morning of 16 June and that's that (unless you have an exam in the afternoon or the week after!). We have had quite a few emails about it though so surprised you don't know. If she is Year 11?

We've had nothing from the school about arrangements once the exams have finished whatsoever, and no replies to my emails about it! That's why I don't know!
All they've said is if she has an exam in the morning, she can leave afterwards. And that was only from 5 June, before that they had to go in, exam or not.
Common sense tells me she won't be going back afterwards - she's Yr11-but the school have never been great on communication.
Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
pointythings · 08/06/2023 21:17

@dexterslockedintheshedagain communication would be helpful, but it's basically an unspoken rule that after the last exam, that's it (bar prom) in most schools. And if not, they tend to let you know.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 08/06/2023 21:23

I did my GCSE’s in 1992 and it’s the same now as it was then. Only going in for exams. Done and dusted until September whatever that may be.

Original poster
dexterslockedintheshedagain · 08/06/2023 21:26

pointythings · 08/06/2023 21:17

@dexterslockedintheshedagain communication would be helpful, but it's basically an unspoken rule that after the last exam, that's it (bar prom) in most schools. And if not, they tend to let you know.

Thank you for this @pointythings. She has only a week left now then! My God, I swear it was only yesterday I was changing her nappies!!

OP posts: