Y11 2025/26… come and join

[wonderstuff]

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DS also got his first invitation to an interview today, from a sixth form I didn't know he'd applied to. It's 2 hours away by public transport so I screenshotted him the directions from Google Maps and suggested he go to the interview to try it out and see whether he'd be happy to do that every day for 2 years...

That's an awfully long way... do they offer something you dont have locally?

Not at all. I don't know why he applied for it TBH but appreciate his initiative. Hopefully the closer options will be in touch soon.

@Caddycat my DS went there and he had conditions on his offer.
@NotDarkGothicMama DD would have at least a 90 min commute each way. Only takes 20 to 25 by car. She fancied a fresh start the 6th form is quite small plus they don't do Law. Hope he hears soon from the closer options.

Good luck to all kids doing interviews.

It's 45 mins by car and in completely the opposite direction to where DH and I work, so he'd have to get himself there and back. He seemed unaware of the college's location when I asked him about it this evening 🤦‍♀️ Luckily, he's applied for 3 much closer options and at least one of them is a sure bet.

To be fair, kudos for applying for colleges by himself, I have done applications on my son’s behalf whilst he was sat with me. He is showing enterprise! 😁

He is! Apparently he has to read a book he said he'd read in his applications before the interviews 😁

Eek, only 7.5 weeks of classroom time here (obvs ignoring half term and Easter hols). Study leave starts on 1st May. Fortunately dd tells me she is going to “lock in” from half term.

Do most of your DC's schools do study leave? We have been told there is no study leave. They have to be in school all the time, including between exams and after school revision sessions the night before an exam...

DS2 who is doing exams this year and DS1 who did his 3 years ago at a different school didn't have study leave and honestly it was the absolute best thing for DS1 and I think it will be for DS2. However I know both schools have said they would make exceptions for certain student if they felt study leave would be more beneficial than going in and I know a few girls who did this and it worked well for them.

I think study leave is getting far less common. Schools have mainly found that keeping the kids in to do focused revision sessions with teachers gives them better results. (Though they may turn a blind eye to hard working kids choosing to stay home).
My DC's old school keeps them in until half term these days I think.

DD’s school is keeping them in later than I’d like, their last day of school is 7 May. She has a GCSE the morning of the 7th and the afternoon of the 8th. She’s a child who’d benefit more at that stage from being at home, they’re all different though aren’t they. I suppose school is trying to land on what they think is the sweet spot for the majority of the cohort.

DS2 is study leave from the start of May - though they can go in if they want . He is saying he will go in a couple of days a week . He has dropped a subject so has some supervised revision time at school . He says having the teachers around for support is helps . I’ve been surprised by how much more mature he is than even a few months ago 🤞

i think English state schools can’t give study leave as standard anymore as government changed the guidance a few years back. I think private schools can grant study leave.

something to do with attendance reporting and catch up post COVID. Not sure what the rules are in other parts of the UK

I think it’s an interesting topic as I can see how some children will benefit from staying in school and revising where maybe they wouldn’t revise at home whilst others would prefer to revise at home during the school day and have flexibility over what they revise.

DS1 ( state school ) had study leave last year - it impacts attendance figures though which might be one reason why some schools are reluctant

No study leave at my dd’s school or the school where I teach. I think most students benefit from being in school tbh. At GCSE level, revision supported and guided by teachers, with constant feedback and supply of resources, has got to be better than leaving them them to it, IMO.

Also, study leave is great if you have a quiet, safe, non-chaotic space to study at home, with room to organise yourself, if you have all the devices you need at home, if you have present carers to support (and nag), if you won’t be called on to look after younger siblings before/after school, if you have plentiful nutritious food in the fridge, if you don’t need SEN support. But for many young people this is not the case. So getting rid of study leave, especially in some schools, is far more equitable for the young people.

I think (tho am not sure) if carers really feel kids would be better off at home tho, eg if their particular SEN needs mean it would suit them better, the school can’t compel them to come in once exams start.

And old thread on the topic www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5024379-any-schools-not-give-study-leave-in-year-11-for-gcses

Dd has study leave - it’s an independent school if that makes a difference. Teachers are accessible via teams constantly if the kids need them from home and they can also come to school to revise if they prefer.

Error in my post - should have said, keeping study leave is more equitable in many schools (eg those with high social deprivation), not getting rid if it.

The kids (private school) have study leave and personally I would rather that they didn’t as would get more done in school imo

No study leave for DD or in the school I work in. I wholeheartedly agree with the second paragraph of @ECT22 post on this.

More lunch and after school sessions seem to be appearing, she’s gone to History and French this week. She’s having a day off today go a friends birthday and is very much ready for half term, it just seems to be flying by this term.

Grammar here and they go on study leave in first week of May. Dd is planning on going to the British library which she did before mocks too.

DD school breaks up for study leave May half term.
How many have to go to school during Easter hols? DD is there fir the 2nd week.

School is closed over the holidays but dd is going to a four day revision course elsewhere.

No study leave here either. I'm relieved as DS would definitely get distracted by devices if he was at home. Saying that, he took himself to the library to study on Thursday evening. I was so suspicious I checked his phone location and was pleasantly surprised to see he was actually there.