Y11 2025-26 - Trying not to melt and pushing through the final weeks

[Stowickthevast]

I finished the thread so started a new one. Welcome all Y11 parents, support and solidarity for the next big push here!

I've agreed to let my son have the day off school tomorrow.

They have had no revision leave at all and he is absolutely on his last legs. He's done really well for the last month so I'm going to let him have a breather.

He's going to revise at home instead for chemistry, food tech and physics.

Yes we have geography paper 3 here tomorrow

3 to go for DTs like some others. Geog tomorrow, chemistry Friday, then physics Monday to finish. Leavers assembly after physics exam.

DTs likely to get 7s, off chance of an 8 in maths for 1 twin actually thought edexcel higher maths was ok today unlike most on this thread. I wonder if they think it was ok as I they don’t expect to get all the questions and pints right whereas it sounds for those who are real fab mathematicians it was really hard as you need to answer them all. Hoping that grade boundaries are lower than 2025 which seemed very high compared to 2024: edexcel mat. Alternatively they may just be losing all sense of reality of the exam difficulty now.

We are in the final stretch

Yep Geography here tomorrow too!

I can't believe your poor DS gas had no study leave!

DD's school last day was 2nd May, which seems remarkably early compared to most.

I don't blame you letting him have tomorrow off.

We have five exams left. Geography paper 3 tomorrow, Chemistry on Friday, Physics on Monday, Spanish reading on Tuesday and Spanish writing on Wednesday.

No study leave at all at our school; revision sessions every day! Geography today- the end is in sight! Roll on Monday evening!

Same

Dd is very able at maths (reckons she got 100% for paper 2) and she reckons higher EdExcel was hard yesterday. She thinks she probably got a higher mark on Monday’s further maths than she did on yesterday’s maths.

Is anyone else’s child trying to combine GCSEs with (very) high level sport? (That is in season.)

It has been tough. (On us! Let alone dd!) The only thing is that I am starting to wonder if maybe it is not as bad a thing as I thought. She doesn’t seem to have the fatigue that everyone else is describing. Maybe because she is getting fresh air and (lots of) exercise every day. Whether she likes it or not.

Having said that she had a National last Sunday so left the house before 8am and got back after 7pm. So that wasn’t the best prep for biology and further maths!

I feel for the young people who haven’t had study leave. My son was shocked when I told him. Although I’m not sure if he’d have been more productive in school or not.

He has 2 subjects today that clashed (extended maths and music tech) so he has an exam at 11.00 and one at 13.30 which feels weird. I assume he’ll be supervised in the break.

There’s been no study leave here at all.

Those whose DC have had study leave, are they in state schools? Our school sent a letter stating that study leave wasn’t allowed in line with DfE rules, but if that was the case surely it would be the same in all schools?

My dd has had none at all! After each exam she is straight to lessons or vice versa doing 3/4 hours revision for the next one! She said her hand and wrist is really hurting now.
If they dont go in then no prom!!

My DS is doing a national competition on Saturday, he was supposed to do Sunday too but withdrew from the second day in order to revise. I think generally it has been good for him as he has learned to pace himself during mocks and while he is tired far less than I expected and while he’s cut back on training it has been good for him to do something other than revise.

My DC is in an indie and has had study leave since early May.

But I invigilate in a state school and the DC there have been on study leave since late May as well.

There was discussion about this earlier in the thread and I think there seemed to be a link between school results and study leave; regardless of the DfE advice. Schools with lower results who are trying to improve them seem to go down the ‘no study leave’ route; the ones that already get good resulrs (like the school I work in) seem to continue with study leave.

Good luck to all the exam takers today!

We’re in a state school and study leave started after half term. To be honest, I think my DC may have been better off with no SL / enforced revision at school as he struggles to structure his time at home.

Those talking about sports, mine doesn’t do anything at a high level but they have been either going to the gym or to sports training pretty much daily all the way through. They’ve needed it and I think it’s helped keep them sane!

DD has been on study leave since shortly after Easter, thank goodness. Independent school.

@ItsPickleRick- son is at a state comprehensive. He and his friends have been on study leave for ages. I think some pupils have to go in but it’s the minority as far as I understand.

edit: it is a high performing school if that impacts the study leave decision. Progress 8 Score: +0.6. Attainment 8 Score: 58. Outstanding Ofsted.

Dd is competing this weekend too, it was supposed to be both days but she’s dropped Sunday. She was training last night (she’s reduced her hours since mid April), she’s always way happier after a training session which is a huge plus 🙂

I’m not 100% convinced that being out this weekend is ideal though (it’ll be a 6am start, home after 7 & she will be exhausted). When the exam timetable was first published she announced that if she wasn’t allowed to compete she wouldn’t any work at all for physics so this is a compromise for both of us 🤷‍♀️

DD is in state school and study leave started after May half term.
Another state school few miles away said no study leave but after all the kids signing out for fake doctor appointments and fake illnesses gave up and agreed study leave.
Good luck to all doing Geography today. DD went if feeling sick hoping she can last the exam.

State school (but very high achieving) and no state leave. They haven't stated it's law but threatened no prom for offenders. DD is too scared to even miss one session. She's got no exam today and could have done with an extra hour or 2 in bed.

That's so so tough. I think the high of the competition might carry her through the last morning of exams? Is she done after physics?
DD auditioned for something and hasn't been able to attend rehearsals yet, there is a rehearsal this week end and I wondered whether to let her go but she's decided against it, and I was glad. She has spanish on tuesday too, so it's not just monday morning.

High achieving state school here and zero study leave.

Though I called in sick for him today - he begged me last night and promised to do some chemistry revision.

I think making kids go in now is awful - they need rest!

Good luck to all competing.

I know a few at national level but they go to private school so exams have been more spaced out.
DD is competing Saturday but it's only county level thankfully so localish can study in the morning after getting up late compete and be home foe dinner. It has definitely helped her with stress levels.

@Caddycat yes Monday is her last one thankfully.

She’s predicted 7-9s & is moving onto A levels but she’s found the whole process of exams excruciating, she’s extremely resentful of having ‘given up her life” !!! for revision. I cannot face a battle through the next 2 years (btdt) & I think there will have to be a conversation about whether she’s actually committed to another exam cycle & if not what she proposes as an alternative plan.