Year 11 - 2024/2025: Half way, half baked, half term!

[QueenMabby]

Continuation of the year 11 support thread. Go!

That was essentially my email to the HoY in response to his 'no' to study leave when I requested it. He never replied so I've taken that as an OK. Although I would have preferred a straight answer.

What's wrong with going home "sick" after an exam?
Where I am half the schools have study leave and half don't.

Kids (and parents and probably teachers) are tired. Surely allowing a bit of autonomy at this stage is not an issue?

IME the SA and PA kids just turn up for the exam, sleep through it and go home so punitive measures aren't affecting them at all.

Quite shocked by schools being so heavy-handed with attendance over the exam period! DC school have been on study leave since May 7 and only have to be in for exams (there's a sign-in/out system). Anybody who is around when they don't have an exam on has to study in the library.

DC are quite envious of friends who live closer to school, who just disappear home after each exam. They have to get the school bus so it's a full day even if they only have one exam - I did say they could come home early on the train on those days, but they want to save their money!

i’m in middle east, my daughter sat her last A level exam yesterday and my other daughter is half way through her gcses. 🙏🙏

I've emailed HOY today. DD had a bad end to the week last week and didn't sleep Wed or Thur (overtired? Overstimulated?) then had exams on Thur and Fri so not ideal. She's had exams every day this week so I said she could come home after French today. Apparently she tried but wasn't allowed to leave school. She's Head Girl so I assume they trust her - she has great attendance and works hard! Anyway so I've sent a strongly weirded email requesting permission to leave tomorrow after Physics. She needs permission because I can't physically get her as I'm at work but it's only a 10 min walk. If I don't hear back I'll have to email the attendance officer, I think.

Totally agree with you. My friend's DD had her period last week so the added stress of exams was enough for my friend to call her DD in sick. With no apologies.

Many PPs have outlined why study leave at home is better for some than for others. I prefer my DS in school but completely understand some kids work better at home. Particularly when on their period.

Incidentally I had an awful period a couple of weeks ago (flooding and painful) and my heart went out to these girls having to go through both periods and exams

Sorry to hear about all the attendance woes and lack of flexibility. DS’s school requires them to be in daily until the end of exams, but there are some slots where they can come in late or leave early. No actual days off, though, even if no exam that day.

How did everyone’s DC find RE paper 2? DS thought it was fine, and he was able to use some of his prepared answers from his German speaking about what people could do to live a more environmentally friendly life apparently! So RE is now done and he’s gearing up for Physics tomorrow. That’s normally a good subject for him, so fingers crossed.

RE all done here too, went pretty well today.

I’m so looking forward to getting rid of all the books and all the uniform in a few weeks!! Going to take a day off work to help her blitz her bedroom when it’s all over.

@VioletIndigoBlueGreen there are so many options for RE… my child had to do catholic Christianity and Judaism (AQA RS B) and sounds like that was ok

Round here all the state schools seem to be keeping them in until half term, it’s only private schools who are on study leave. I haven’t challenged it as DS hasn’t been too bad, but i do feel he might have been better with more time at home.

He was happy wirh French today though said others weren’t. Physics is probably his strongest subject so i think he is almost looking forward to that one tomorrow!

DD given permission to come home tomorrow after Physics but HoY said she needs to sign out 'discreetly'. I hope he lets the office know or that'll be another hurdle to getting out of the prison!

Physics and media tomorrow for dd
She's done some media revision today
She's off out later with some friends for an hour or two

DC did the same, is at a Catholic school. The “It was okay” response I got when I asked how the paper had gone, was a markedly more cheerful “It was okay”, than the tone of the same words uttered after Eng Lit yesterday!!!

French today.
Apparently DS had a meltdown before going in. But they did go in and did both listening and reading. Said some of the questions were not well written but DS is very literal.

Ds said RE was really wierd, so basic common sense and barely anything to do with all the stuff that they'd learnt as syllabus. We discussed few of the questions over dinner and Dh and I agreed they were general common sense that a 6 year old could answer, which is disappointing.

He's going out with Dh to watch football.

DS did AQA RE today, bit of a late start they were still going in about 13.45....after it rained on the poor souls. had been drizzling then decided to pour down just as they waited / were going. DS doesn't know why started late but says it was ok paper and didn't end up to soggy from the rain.

Physics tomorrow, English language Friday and then thankfully half term.

Mine did this combo too. Can I ask which parts they were in the exam, e.g. part A and B or A and C etc.?

I don’t think I commented yesterday but English lit went well for my daughter.

She has had French higher and Religious today and wasn’t looking forward to French listening as she says it’s usually the hardest but thinks it went ‘ok’. Very happy with Religious.

Physics and Media tomorrow, then English language on Friday. She’s very ready for this half term. I’m less looking forward to it as we need to try to get shoes and accessories for prom.

Our school has resorted to bribing children to be in after half term with prizes.

Study leave after half term at DS state school. The timetable outside exams over the last couple of weeks seems to have been a real mix of useful revision sessions and not doing much. Apart from the odd bit of helpful studying, he's been happy to be there for things like PE and seeing friends. I'm glad they've had to be in, but also glad they're not cracking the whip.

Yes I understand there was a question about giving to Oxfam I believe

DC is taking 10 GCSEs. I think you have to write all results on a UCAS form but on any job application form, can they just write their 9 best results?

Their SpLD means one subject will likely be much lower than the rest.

Dd said French was fine although, apparently, the word for ‘tyres’ threw quite a few of them, including dd.

She’s gone over as much as she can remember with a friend who got a 9 in their French GCSE and is now on track for the same at A Level and seems reassured that she’s done ok.

She’s really not looking forward to Physics though.

RE was awful apparently. Suspect that she'll have done better than her brother though! (Compulsory subject at their school)

Dd had double science today and instead of doing some last minute revision, the teacher let them chat.

I am concerned about how little she seems to have done. I’m hoping some last minute cramming over half term is going to happen. I keep reading that she should have started revising 6 months ago!

She has said apart from the first English literature they have gone ok, oh and PE as she said nothing she knew came up.

Too late now I guess but I am wondering what I could have done differently.