Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
ElfDragon · 08/06/2023 21:30

Mine is going in for various school events after exams finish, but just rehearsals/performances, no lessons. She has a couple of things in week of 19th June, and then a good few rehearsals for various performances in week of 26th June. Prom is the week after that, along with celebratory dinners etc, and then end of term.

Not long now!

Serena73 · 08/06/2023 21:36

It's very strange that you don't know! They would usually have had a Leaver's assembly by now and at our school they have a barbecue on the last day. Which would be sometime in May.

Dacadactyl · 08/06/2023 21:56

If you've not heard otherwise from the school, then I'd send her in.

DD is doing her GCSEs. She has to be in school (so no study leave) until her last exam and then they're off before the other years break up.

The school have communicated this to us.

OutDamnedSpot · 08/06/2023 22:05

What did the letter about 5th June say? It sounds like she ‘finished’ before half term if she’s only had to go in for exams since…

reluctantbrit · 08/06/2023 22:32

Y11. here

DD has currently an adjusted time table, either late start or earlier finish.

From next week she will only go in for the exams and her last exam is on the 16th. After that she only has a final leaver's assembly on the 20th and that's it. Nothing until September when she hopefully will start 6th form.

Snowtrails · 08/06/2023 22:36

Don't they legally have to stay in education until 30 June?

Needmorelego · 08/06/2023 22:41

@Snowtrails that’s the official finish date but most schools don’t require the students in once they have done all their exams.
I suppose if a school said they have to come in on (for example) June 25th for an assembly then that would be compulsory but if they said to come in on July 1st then they can’t insist on it.

Snowtrails · 08/06/2023 22:44

Needmorelego · 08/06/2023 22:41

@Snowtrails that’s the official finish date but most schools don’t require the students in once they have done all their exams.
I suppose if a school said they have to come in on (for example) June 25th for an assembly then that would be compulsory but if they said to come in on July 1st then they can’t insist on it.

Ok, how strange that schools get away with that! They're normally so strict when parents want time off during term time...

Needmorelego · 08/06/2023 22:51

@Snowtrails yes but there is nothing left to do. They’ve finished the curriculum. Compulsory education is done. It’s over. Wouldn’t make any difference if they miss a day of school because there is nothing to miss.
They could get them in and do ‘fun’ or ‘team building’ activities I suppose but for just a couple of weeks most schools don’t bother -especially as half the teens probably wouldn’t turn up.

Changingmynameyetagain · 08/06/2023 23:01

DD is in year 11, she’s on study leave now and only has to go in if she has an exam. Her last exam is next Friday morning for physics and that’s her done forever.
They also do a presentation evening in November when they get their exam certificates and all that jazz.
No 6th form at her school, she has a college induction at the end of June but then nothing till September.

piedbeauty · 08/06/2023 23:06

SabbatWheel · 08/06/2023 12:56

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

Why would she be doing GCSEs in Year 10?!

mrsfollowill · 08/06/2023 23:07

Normal in UK - we took advantage of an early 'term time' holiday abroad once DS had done his last GCSE and saved a fortune.

user1471453601 · 08/06/2023 23:16

After I finished my O levels (yes, I'm that old) a teacher took us aside and told us it would be unethical to suggest we didn't attend for the rest of term, but we also needed to keep in mind that Wimbledon started soon.

we didn't need any further prompt, as I recall

MIBnightmare · 08/06/2023 23:18

Yipeee !!! For them. Last exam bar annoying leavers assembly means schools out for extended summer .. (even though she went back for sixth form..

It meant I could take her abroad early to celebrate with a couple of other mums after stress of exams without paying through the nose ..

The only thing they really had to do was the 'leavers' thing (although they weren't actually leaving although some were) ... and prom.

Let her enjoy !!

x2boys · 09/06/2023 07:36

Snowtrails · 08/06/2023 22:44

Ok, how strange that schools get away with that! They're normally so strict when parents want time off during term time...

Show quote history

How could they force kids in ?
My sons school.doesn't have a sixth form ,and he's got a place at college in September,teachers probably have better things to do with their time than arrange activities for 16 years olds That have finished their exams .

Original poster
dexterslockedintheshedagain · 09/06/2023 07:38

OutDamnedSpot · 08/06/2023 22:05

What did the letter about 5th June say? It sounds like she ‘finished’ before half term if she’s only had to go in for exams since…

This is what the letter said:

As from Monday the 5th June, Year 11 students will be permitted to leave school after period 4 (12:55pm) as long as they are not sitting an afternoon exam. Students may remain on-site after period 4 if they so wish.

OP posts:
OutDamnedSpot · 09/06/2023 07:50

Wow. Yeah. It sounds like they’re still expected in school.

Does she know? Our pupils all knew exactly when leaving day was as they were planning decorated shirts, where to meet afterwards, etc…

Clymene · 09/06/2023 07:54

OutDamnedSpot · 09/06/2023 07:50

Wow. Yeah. It sounds like they’re still expected in school.

Does she know? Our pupils all knew exactly when leaving day was as they were planning decorated shirts, where to meet afterwards, etc…

My kid's school did that before the exams started. They only have to go in for exams so they basically finished school in mid May.

TheCyclingGorilla · 09/06/2023 08:12

Every school is different, I suppose. My daughter had a Leavers Assembly the Friday before half term. She had her blouse defaced Grin and her Leavers hoodie given to her. And that's it! She goes to school for the remainder of her exams, and for Prom, but nothing else.

Can't see the point of them going to school when there's nothing left to do.

Snowtrails · 09/06/2023 11:38

x2boys · 09/06/2023 07:36

How could they force kids in ?
My sons school.doesn't have a sixth form ,and he's got a place at college in September,teachers probably have better things to do with their time than arrange activities for 16 years olds That have finished their exams .

Show quote history

I suppose the same way as they force them to start when they're of compulsory school age! It's really odd that schools are allowed to let young people leave school before they are legally allowed to, don't you think?

Clymene · 09/06/2023 11:40

But some children have exams until much later and there are also contingency days for missed exams @Snowtrails.

In theory the kids could go to school but what would they do all day long? The curriculum is finished.

Snowtrails · 09/06/2023 11:46

Clymene · 09/06/2023 11:40

But some children have exams until much later and there are also contingency days for missed exams @Snowtrails.

In theory the kids could go to school but what would they do all day long? The curriculum is finished.

I don't what they'd do. Life skills, cooking, clean the school?

I don't think it's wrong that they don't have lessons after their exams, I just find it weird that it's ok to leave education before you're legally allowed to when it's not ok to start after you're legally meant to!

Needmorelego · 09/06/2023 11:54

@Snowtrails they will still be on roll until June 30th. The schools just say they don’t need to physically attend. It’s counted as ‘study leave’ so no one is ‘leaving’ school before the official day. Some schools do allow children to be in school (being in the library or somewhere) if there are certain circumstances.
The time between most exams finishing and June 30th is about 10 days (school days). Some schools might have a leaving assembly during those days plus there’s the contingency date for any other exams but realistically there is no reason for them to go into school.

Needmorelego · 09/06/2023 11:57

@Snowtrails it’s just a few days. They are hardly being denied a major educational experience.

Original poster
dexterslockedintheshedagain · 09/06/2023 12:22

OutDamnedSpot · 09/06/2023 07:50

Wow. Yeah. It sounds like they’re still expected in school.

Does she know? Our pupils all knew exactly when leaving day was as they were planning decorated shirts, where to meet afterwards, etc…

Transpires that yes, she does have a Leavers assembly on the 19th 🙄 and has been working on her shirt!!
So, yes, after that I have her all to myself until Sept!

OP posts: