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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Study leave or not?

21 replies

Flyhigher · 10/05/2024 08:46

Our school is allows very little study leave just before the afternoon exams.

Is this normal? There might be an ofsted too in exams.

If my DC takes time off because the lessons aren't useful is this an issue?

Also she revises using a computer for some subjects and they aren't allowed laptops at school.

And we print off past papers with answers. Can't do that at school either.

What do teachers and Mums think about kids taking study leave?

School has emailed to say they should be in.

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 10/05/2024 09:08

I think many children benefit from being in school.
Others are better off at home.
Do what works best for your child and wait for the school to complain.
For DD1 we mixed and matched depending on subject.

newmum1976 · 10/05/2024 09:11

My Dd has been off all week but she is meant to be at school. It works better for her. However, when the time comes, her younger sister will be in school as she won’t work at home.

Laserwho · 10/05/2024 11:21

Mine is at school. They are still taught by their subject teachers and are given past papers in some lessons. He is definitely benefitting from this. He also does his own revision when he gets home, it's not one or the other.

afraidand · 10/05/2024 11:23

most students work harder and more effectively in school. Working on a computer, you mention, for example, is not particularly useful at this stage

Itstoday · 10/05/2024 11:28

afraidand · 10/05/2024 11:23

most students work harder and more effectively in school. Working on a computer, you mention, for example, is not particularly useful at this stage

This is not true. My son revised mainly using a computer (youtbe videos etc) it was the only way that was working for him. He also needed study leave as didn't take anything in in lessons and was then too tired to revise once home.

You have to do what works for your child.

RoseZinfandel · 10/05/2024 11:38

My DC school does a case by case decision on study leave.

DC has been granted home study leave, but some have to be in school.
I had to agree DC could be at home, otherwise they would be expected in school.

DC is, obviously, allowed into school any time for specific revision sessions, and they have a suggested revision timetable to follow at home.

DC is better at home, in a quieter environment, can take breaks when it suits.

Enjoyed walking straight home after the exam this morning, rather than dissecting every questions and getting hyped into a panic about how it went.

I’m grateful to our school for having an individualised system.

Pharos · 10/05/2024 12:58

Ds asked to go into school for study leave. He has ADHD and knows he focuses far better there - was allowed to be in during lockdown and the difference was massive. He's much happier as a result.

He had to specially request it and have it cleared by the head of year, there are a couple who have been given permission with specific circumstances, a few have had the 'privilege' removed and are under much closer supervision.

He's a typist for exams so has his laptop with him anyway.

lanthanum · 10/05/2024 14:36

Case by case decisions are the best - some kids revise better at home, and some at school. It's not even that predictable who falls in which category - my DD definitely works better at school, but I think that would surprise most teachers. I think our nearest school now has a form parents can complete to request that their child studies at home (for specific mornings/afternoons), which seems very sensible.

DD (not at that school) starts study leave next week. I wish I could request that she has to go in!

You can have all the research you want showing what is best for "most children", but it's not "all children".

Original poster
Flyhigher · 10/05/2024 14:43

I think it also depends on the exam and the revision session offered.
Some teachers do great revision sessions. Others don't. Some subjects are brillant with how to videos. Maths and science for example.
Others like English might be better at home.
Why not allow kids to take in laptops for revision sessions. Or let them work in the school halls to revise.

OP posts:
Amista77 · 10/05/2024 16:21

I was about to post about this. DS's school has issued a blanket ban on kids studying at home during exams, saying they must all be at school and. I quote:
"we will not be granting any students permission to revise from home – no ‘study leave’ will be allowed. If a student is not in their timetabled lessons, we will consider it ‘truanting’. "
DS would much rather study at home. He doesn't find the teachers' revisions sessions useful as he's aiming for high grades in his A level subjects and most of the revision is aimed lower, or is on topics he's already revised.
I feel like writing to the school, especially now I've read that other schools are allowing some kids to study at home. I get that it's not going to work for everyone (like DS's friend, who spends all his lesson time in the toilets because he CBA) but it seems ridiculous to treat all the kids like this.

Redlocks28 · 10/05/2024 16:28

Lots of schools seem to be doing this now-I’m presuming they have decided the kids won’t do any work at home?!

Mine is at grammar and they broke up last Friday-they are on study leave now and only go in for exams, unless the parents have requested they stay onsite and they had to fill in a form. My DC works fairly well at home independently so this suits them fine. My niece is at private school and again -they have already broken up and are on study leave, but can stay in school if they’d prefer-it’s up to them.

Amista77 · 10/05/2024 16:36

@Redlocks28 This makes so much more sense to me - either the parents request it, or the school decides on a case-by-case basis. The tone of this email is really threatening and unhelpful, and poorly argued imo.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 10/05/2024 16:41

My DD is on study leave. To be fair though she is working really well and is super organised and determined. So it suits her. But I can imagine it's completely varied for each child.

plasq · 10/05/2024 17:10

Here they are Expected to be in school until half term, then can have study leave for the exam period after the break. I can't see the logic for treating the first half of exams differently to the second half.

Pre school booster lessons at 8am or after school booster lessons eve before the exam makes me think the teacher feel they still have useful information to impart!

PotPotPotting · 10/05/2024 17:10

Mine didn't get any study leave until almost the last week of exams, they were in until the last science paper when everyone is in, then it was leavers' assembly, shirt signing, pizza and then off site before lunch. The following week there are just a few exams remaining which mine were in for ie Statistics.

How it worked for them, booster in the morning if they had a morning exam, after the exam they are back into their timetabled lessons. Depending on the teacher some of these are driven by what the children need and they can have some of the class doing other revision than what they are teaching.

If there is an afternoon exam they have a booster before hand and up to 3 x 1 hour sessions after school per week but tailored subject wise for each child and in sets. If they are still in school when a subject is finished then they go to an alternate classroom for any upcoming exams. It must be a logistical nightmare to organise but they pull it off every year.

It is an outstanding state school and I can honestly hand on heart say that they want the best outcome for the children and of course the school reputation and I don't think they could have done more. Their progress 8 is well above average and they cater for the individual, they push the higher grade children as well as doing everything they can to bring up the lower grade children. I think some students do well in a structured environment and others prefer to set their own pace at home. Sadly if they allow study leave some children will just piss about and not revise.

Amista77 · 10/05/2024 17:26

@PotPotPotting Your school sounds great, and I get that if all the kids are signed up to the ethos, then it's worth it. It's really not like that at DS's school. The kids who want to piss about will piss about in school or out of school, and if it's in school, then it's worse for those who'd like to study.

menopausalmare · 10/05/2024 17:28

Study leave hammers school attendance, that's why schools don't do it.

Nicelynicelyjohnson · 10/05/2024 17:37

menopausalmare · 10/05/2024 17:28

Study leave hammers school attendance, that's why schools don't do it.

This is what I thought. It seems crazy to count Y11 or Y13 attendance in May/June but they do.

PotPotPotting · 10/05/2024 18:42

They have to be in school in year 11 until the last Friday in June if they will turn 16 by the end of summer holidays. Study leave goes down on the system as an S code but it is scrutinised as far as I am aware and guidance states to use it sparingly.

shandyoclock · 10/05/2024 20:41

@Flyhigher there was some Ofsted comments on study leave a couple of years ago ... https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/03/schools-should-not-send-exam-year-pupils-home-early-says-ofsted-head

... swiftly followed by clarification from the DfE ...
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-no-mark-down-if-schools-let-year-11s-leave-early/

... so schools are a bit more conscious of just pushing students out the door and leaving them to get on with it.

Our year 11s are in school before half term, then on study leave afterwards, with the option to continue to study in school if they want to.

Amista77 · 13/05/2024 15:36

@shandyoclock I thought that would be the reason. DS's school got a poor Ofsted last term. Another reason (imo) why the whole system doesn't work.
Mine doesn't get study leave till 2nd week of June, ie the final week of exams.

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