GCSE study leave

[Poppy155]

When my eldest took her GCSEs study leave started a couple of days before exams began (state school). Now my youngest is in Yr 11 and we are told that study leave starts at half term ie 2 weeks into exams. Reading around I get the impression that this is because of a DofE directive related to how absence is reported in yr11?

Is this the reason and does anyone know if the school is allowed to authorise study leave from the start of exams in individual cases? If not what would happen if you took 2 weeks unauthorised (mostly afternoons when no exams)? For context DC has adhd and will focus better at home. I do realise that some students will be better off/prefer to be in school. Thanks

My dd did GCSEs and her school changed things so there was zero study leave. She planned to go in for study sessions anyway so wasn’t bothered but others were annoyed. School got best results for years so I imagine they’ll do the same this year.

Can you request a reasonable adjustment?

You may find the school gives you informal go ahead in your circumstances.

But they will run revision lessons which you would miss.

They find kids as a cohort do better revision in school than when sent on leave.

Thanks all. In school’s case results are went down not up this year so they can’t use that argument but I do realise some prefer it. Nearer the time I will obviously approach school, just wanted to know if they are allowed to authorise it once exams start or if, as a parent, the only option would be to take unauthorised absence.

My DS did GCSEs last school year. He got study leave about 2 days before the exams started, he is at a state school, so a couple weeks before half term. He has two friends at other state schools in the area, one got no study leave at all, the other got study leave half way through the exams after half term. It seems it varies from school to school.

The kid who got no study leave got the best results, but that could be a coincidence. He found no study leave annoying as he still had to attend lessons as timetabled so could not revise a subject right before an exam. However I think he revised more than my DS who found it difficult to stay motivated at home. The mum of the no study leave kid said their DS was the same during half term.