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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Does anyone else’s DC not really have any GCSE study leave? Ours is finishing so late!

63 replies

FedUpOfThisGCSEmalarkey · 01/05/2026 19:48

My DC’s school made the decision this year that they’re keeping them in school until 12th June!! Their last exam is 15th!

I can see pros and cons of this approach tbh, so I’m not necessarily adverse to it, but I’ve yet to hear of another school doing this?

OP posts:
Holdonforsummer · 01/05/2026 19:51

My daughter’s school has just announced study leave after half term (so beginning of June). She would like it to start from now as says it is subs/supply teachers taking lessons, everyone is noisy and no work is getting done. But at least starting study leave after half term is better than nothing. She is brilliant at self-study so I am trying to help her out with the odd cheeky day at home here and there. I guess schools don’t trust their pupils but parents know their child.

Mrswalliams1 · 01/05/2026 19:52

I work in education and a lot of schools do this now. They want to maximise study time as if they were at home, a lot of kids won't do anything.

Octavia64 · 01/05/2026 19:53

Most schools are pushing study leave later and later as so few kids actually do anything effective with the time.

MabelsBeats · 01/05/2026 19:54

That’s madness. Assuming your child works better at home, can he or she simply put themselves on study leave, and just not go in now apart from for exams? What can school do about it at this stage?

My DD officially finishes next Thursday, but in reality her last day was today. She will only go in now for exams and I’m happy with that, she is working very hard.

Some children in her year have been ‘invited’ to continue to go into school, I think where school has genuine concern that work won’t get done at home.

This is a private school so I’m not sure whether the same options apply to parents if in state.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 01/05/2026 20:00

Our youngest is in year 13. They finish 2/52 today for study leave. I’m not sure what year 11 are doing but ds definitely had some time off when he was in year 11. Non selective state school

Original poster
FedUpOfThisGCSEmalarkey · 01/05/2026 20:01

Mrswalliams1 · 01/05/2026 19:52

I work in education and a lot of schools do this now. They want to maximise study time as if they were at home, a lot of kids won't do anything.

Yes this is exactly their rationale. And I do get that. I think it’s unfortunate for those who prefer quiet study though.

my DC was initially a bit pissed off, but they’re ok with it now and said one of the other plus points is that it will feel more ‘normal’ for them on the exam days and less likely to make them stress.

OP posts:
Smartiepants79 · 01/05/2026 20:16

Mine has finished today. First exam Tuesday. They can go into school for supervised study if they wish.

Holdonforsummer · 01/05/2026 20:20

I think the point being made is: the kids should have a choice! Some will undoubtedly work better in school, others on their own at home. What is annoying for students (and parents) is them not being given the choice. If schools haven’t made independent thinkers out of them by now, it is too late.

CatsLikeBoxes · 01/05/2026 20:20

Our school has said it's a government decision behind why they have pushed study leave back by a month.

TomorrowMoreWorsts · 01/05/2026 20:33

I remember getting a lot of study leave when I had my exams, but DS is only getting a couple of days.

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 01/05/2026 20:39

My dcs school does this every year. They don’t finish until all the exams are done

Cucumberre · 01/05/2026 20:41

Both my DC were home educated until sixth form and find the school environment utterly disruptive for quiet study. They'd far prefer to revise at home and it would be more effective for them, but no, blanket rules for all regardless.

PlateauDeChamp · 01/05/2026 20:45

Ours were in until the last core exam (English, Maths, Science) so for them the last science exam was in the morning. They went straight into leavers' assembly with pizza and then shirt signing. Off school grounds before lunch time for everyone else. Then in school just for any remaining exams plus the 30 minute intensive pre exam lesson.

DC's school was outstanding for Progress 8 and helping each individual child. They were kept on their normal timetable and then in exams, when the exam was over the went back into a class.

If they had sat all the exams for that subject they were timetabled to go into another room with a teacher for a subject they hadn't finished. The timetables were personalised to the child to give them the most help in the subject they needed the most support in.

The school's stance is that given the choice a lot of children would choose not to be studying anywhere near as much as they should be and they wanted the children to have the best chance at exam success. Plus the school could also say we did everything in our power to help your child succeed. I cannot fault the school. It was fantastic.

HelenaWilson · 01/05/2026 20:47

What is annoying for students (and parents) is them not being given the choice.

But would the ones who would do better going into school actually choose to go into school, or would they choose to doss around at home not doing much?

MigGirl · 01/05/2026 20:49

MabelsBeats · 01/05/2026 19:54

That’s madness. Assuming your child works better at home, can he or she simply put themselves on study leave, and just not go in now apart from for exams? What can school do about it at this stage?

My DD officially finishes next Thursday, but in reality her last day was today. She will only go in now for exams and I’m happy with that, she is working very hard.

Some children in her year have been ‘invited’ to continue to go into school, I think where school has genuine concern that work won’t get done at home.

This is a private school so I’m not sure whether the same options apply to parents if in state.

It's been fairly common since they up the official school leaving age to 18. Many schools keep them in longer or even over the exam period, it's changed for a number of different reason and we where allowed to ask for DD to study at home during the exam period, but they didn't get any time off beforehand.

JustFrustrated · 01/05/2026 20:58

No study leave at all here. In between exams they’re in class

Ikeameatballs · 01/05/2026 21:01

My son has not been told anything official. He would rather be at home.

mrsfeatherbottom · 01/05/2026 21:12

My DD finished today!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 01/05/2026 21:15

MabelsBeats · 01/05/2026 19:54

That’s madness. Assuming your child works better at home, can he or she simply put themselves on study leave, and just not go in now apart from for exams? What can school do about it at this stage?

My DD officially finishes next Thursday, but in reality her last day was today. She will only go in now for exams and I’m happy with that, she is working very hard.

Some children in her year have been ‘invited’ to continue to go into school, I think where school has genuine concern that work won’t get done at home.

This is a private school so I’m not sure whether the same options apply to parents if in state.

They can give big fines to parents!

MabelsBeats · 01/05/2026 21:17

Oh gosh how awful, really so stupid to issue fines in cases where children just want to crack on at home!

quarterlyreporting · 01/05/2026 21:33

Ds is in school until exams finish on the 15th June so no study leave here at all.

HamBap · 01/05/2026 21:37

I could have done with this, I was shite at self study and my results showed it.
My child finishes after half term, they're currently doing dedicated study classes, I think this is a good balance.

Talkingfrog · 01/05/2026 22:32

Our school have said that it is a council wide policy that they still go into school, until their final exam. If there is a subject that they have done the exam in, they take other revision to do for that lesson.

I can see pros and cons to it.

Some would not do any revision at home, so will be more likely to revise in school.

Some would be better off at home - they may be more likely to distracted by others when in school. If they have worked out a revision plan, things covered in a revision lesson may not fit in with it.

SlightlyVintage · 01/05/2026 22:42

Same for my DS and A levels.Supposed to be in until 8th and exams start on the following Tuesday. In school they are just doing a lot of ‘self led revision’ in lessons so no benefit to going into school now. Pointless. They won’t be going in next week!

Happytaytos · 01/05/2026 22:45

Phone in sick and take her home after an exam so she gets one mark per day and you won't be fined. It is vanishingly unlikely you'd be fined at this point anyway. If you asked really nicely they might put your DD on early study leave. We turn a blind eye to nice kids working well at home. Don't force her in if she works at home.