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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Year 11 half term - in school?

39 replies

Ohgetreal · 25/10/2023 18:37

Is anyone else's year 11s being asked to go in during half term?

Our school are pushing for them to go in and are even buying in a company to run seasons. My child is adamant that no one will be going and it's a waste of time.

OP posts:
clarepetal · 25/10/2023 18:40

I know the school I work for does in some holidays for revision. I know it's annoying but it is a good opportunity for them. It's only a short period in their lives to sacrifice their social lives!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/10/2023 18:41

We've had some in.

It's a shame when funds are spent and people give up their half term (as it won't be just one person on site) to facilitate opportunities, only for kids or their parents to decide it's not worth the bother.

Parker231 · 25/10/2023 18:42

They need a break - no revision over holidays (we were always away so couldn’t have attended anyway).

Original poster
Ohgetreal · 25/10/2023 18:45

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/10/2023 18:41

We've had some in.

It's a shame when funds are spent and people give up their half term (as it won't be just one person on site) to facilitate opportunities, only for kids or their parents to decide it's not worth the bother.

Well yes, quite.

How do you get this across to a teenager who thinks they know everything?

OP posts:
Spacecowboys · 25/10/2023 18:51

No our year 11 hasn’t been asked to go in , if school were offering sessions he would have gone to them though. He has been set a lot of homework for the half term.

Needmorelego · 25/10/2023 18:54

When I was in secondary school I remember being annoyed at being given homework to do during half terms.
I remember having a discussion with a teacher once along the line of if they wanted us to do work why don't they just not have half term and give us an extra week holiday at Christmas and a couple of extra weeks in the summer.
I find it odd to give children a week holiday and then expect them to go to school or be doing loads of work.
It's a holiday. If an adult has a week off work they have....well....a week off work.
@Ohgetreal I think your child should have a break from school work and use half term to actually do something that interests them.

EarthlyNightshade · 25/10/2023 18:56

Ours had after school sessions every day from September, but no holidays in school until Easter. Not compulsory but were well attended.

Needmorelego · 25/10/2023 18:56

@NeverDropYourMooncup a lot of families use half term to visit family in other parts of the country. It's not that parents "can't be bothered" to send their teens in it's just half term breaks are the only time you can do these things.

Parker231 · 25/10/2023 18:59

Needmorelego · 25/10/2023 18:56

@NeverDropYourMooncup a lot of families use half term to visit family in other parts of the country. It's not that parents "can't be bothered" to send their teens in it's just half term breaks are the only time you can do these things.

That was us - our families don’t live in the uk so school holidays were precious opportunities to travel to see them.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/10/2023 19:14

Needmorelego · 25/10/2023 18:56

@NeverDropYourMooncup a lot of families use half term to visit family in other parts of the country. It's not that parents "can't be bothered" to send their teens in it's just half term breaks are the only time you can do these things.

The OP isn't saying 'we're 200 miles away visiting my 98 year old grandmother' though. Her DC is saying it's a waste of time and nobody wants to do it. Which is completely different.

Poke · 25/10/2023 19:21

My year 11 child is going in for a day.

I don’t normally agree to extra school work, but GCSE year is important. Only 7/8 months left! 😬

Needmorelego · 25/10/2023 19:39

@NeverDropYourMooncup but surely there's only so many times they can go over and over the same work again? They won't be learning anything new. The constant "revision" is what turns many Year 11s into zombies. They need a break.

BungleandGeorge · 25/10/2023 19:41

I guess it depends on the child but many of them need a break more than they need to be doing extra in school. Year 11 is very pressurised and it’s very early in the year.

K4tM · 25/10/2023 19:53

I think do what’s best for you. My DD is doing loads at home and I’m proud of her. She has ambition and wants to do well. Preparing for her mocks will stand her in good stead for the real thing next May.

Our school isn’t offering, but if they were I’d give her the choice. Some kids don’t care, some say they just don’t know how to revise, others plan it and do it themselves.

henrysugar12 · 25/10/2023 20:07

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/10/2023 18:41

We've had some in.

It's a shame when funds are spent and people give up their half term (as it won't be just one person on site) to facilitate opportunities, only for kids or their parents to decide it's not worth the bother.

But surely you would get numbers before committing to the sessions? Half terms are family time and a lot of families go away or have plans for that week.

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 25/10/2023 20:13

It’s a really long term. They need a break.

Some days fully off with no work and done with revision / homework. But not in school and not full days. My school doesn’t offer this and I wouldn’t be sending mine in if they were.

shamoola · 25/10/2023 20:57

My son was in for English revision on Monday (3 hrs) - he said it was really good and there was lots of discussion and has helped with understanding. He was also in all morning yesterday for DT focusing on the course work.

The school has also laying on a couple of before school lectures and after school exam skill lessons.
He goes to all of them - he likes them much more than studying on his own.

I am v grateful to the school and there is a really good turnout from the kids.

Hellocatshome · 25/10/2023 21:06

My DS was predicted all 2s and 3s he went to every before school, after school and half term session. He came out with all 4s and 5s.

I think they are very valuable IF your child wants to make the most of them.

IsItThough · 25/10/2023 21:07

It shouldn't be necessary.

Hellocatshome · 25/10/2023 21:09

IsItThough · 25/10/2023 21:07

It shouldn't be necessary.

It shouldn't but in some cases it is. Some teachers are not going to have covered the whole syllabus by the time exams start, some children can't or won't revise independently.

Attendance is voluntary and the fact it is there as an option for those who want to make use of it can only be a good thing.

Needmorelego · 25/10/2023 21:11

@shamoola I can understand going in to do DT work as that's hands on and you presumably don't have the equipment at home but why aren't they doing the discussion in the actual English lessons during the school term?

MigGirl · 25/10/2023 21:14

My DD did this last year, both half terms and one week at Easter.

She choice which session to go in for depending on the subjects. Yes she did a lot of her own revision, but what she found useful about the extra revision session was there where less students than in a regular class so they got to discuss things more and ask questions.

Individual revision is great, but sometimes you do need to ask explanations on certain points.

MigGirl · 25/10/2023 21:18

Hellocatshome · 25/10/2023 21:09

It shouldn't but in some cases it is. Some teachers are not going to have covered the whole syllabus by the time exams start, some children can't or won't revise independently.

Attendance is voluntary and the fact it is there as an option for those who want to make use of it can only be a good thing.

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In science at my school they aim to finish the combined science content by Christmas. Separate science take a few months longer.

I'm not totally up on other subjects, but they shouldn't be learning new content just before the exams start. There a lot more content in these newer GCSE'S, which is why science, maths and English normally start teaching GCSE content in year 9 now.

Hellocatshome · 25/10/2023 21:20

MigGirl · 25/10/2023 21:18

In science at my school they aim to finish the combined science content by Christmas. Separate science take a few months longer.

I'm not totally up on other subjects, but they shouldn't be learning new content just before the exams start. There a lot more content in these newer GCSE'S, which is why science, maths and English normally start teaching GCSE content in year 9 now.

Show quote history

My son did his GCSEs last year so I'm pretty sure their year 9 learning was affected by Covid. I was just aware that schools were struggling to finish the content before the exams started from the GCSE threads on MN.

I suppose this year probably didn't have any of year 9 to 11 impacted by covud so shouldn't be as much of an issue.

Dishee · 25/10/2023 21:34

@MigGirl it all depends on the cohort, if they need more time to absorb the information then yes they are still learning content close to the exams. In contrast Ds's science finished combined content before the end of year 10 and some were moved onto triple content that was taught in lessons but also one hour after school every week and a couple of Saturday mornings over the year! But the children wanted the best grades so all went willingly.

Ds had sessions in holidays but it was only 2 sessions so either a morning or afternoon maybe 3 hours max and targeted to bring up a grade no matter what that grade was ie you could be a 7 and they wanted you in. Ds had November and February mocks though so any help toward November mock revision was welcome.

Year 11 is intense though, usually October half term is for some revision work especially if November mocks, February half term is right before February mocks and deciding foundation and higher tier. Easter usually has the first week as revision sessions offered by school and May half term is in the middle of GCSEs so no full break then but 10 whole freaking weeks over summer to make up for it all.

The school my children were at basically said we do all this so that on results day we can say we have done everything we can to get your child the best grade for them. If they choose not to engage with it then that is their look out.