GCSE exams and school leaving dates

[Lilymaid]

Two questions here:

1. When do your schools allow Y11s to stay at home for exam leave before their GCSEs? I've read that schools that do not start exam leave until the last possible moment get better exam results than previously. I don't want DS at home (largely on his own) for too long when he could be receiving structured revision classes in school.
2. What is the position about school attendance post-exams? I thought that children had to attend school for 190 (or so) days per year until they reached school leaving age. Is there an exception for this post exams? DS2 isn't 16 until August but I presume the same rule applies to all in his year. He is at a secondary school without a sixth form (we have sixth form colleges in our area)so his association with current school ends when he takes his last exam.

[PenelopePitstops]

Your son will not have to attend school once the exams are over, I have never heard of any schoolss ever doing this.
When I left 2 years ago I went on study leave from mid may until the exams were over. But note your son cannot start a full time job until he reaches the official school leaving age the last Friday in June of Year 11.
Many schools do now have structured revision lessons right up until the exams and even throughout the exams. This depends on your sons school and he should know the score, you should ask him. The school should send a letter home explaining exactly what will happen soon.
GOod luck to your son in his exams

[Lilymaid]

Thanks for your answer Penny. I shall check up with the school what the precise position is (just because I'm a pedantic old bag).I
At DS2's school they aren't told what their last day is because the school fears disruption breaking out, particularly from the ex-pupils who have been expelled in the run up to GCSEs! This is a supposedly good school in a country area. The children go in one day in May and are told that they will pack up at 12 and can only come back into the school for exams and some revision sessions.

[PenelopePitstops]

Really!
I can see why that is a good idea but really half the fun of leaving is the disuption you get to cause for a few hours, in the knowledge that a detention doesnt matter anymore!!
Do check the exact position, my sister managed to lie her way into 2 weeks of "study leave" for her mock GCSEs!!

[Blandmum]

yes, we teachers love to have our cars egged and floured, and we also love to deal with the fughts. lots of 'fun'. which if they did it on the street would get them arrested!

[Saggarmakersbottomknocker]

Our school don't do study leave. The children are expected to attend for each lesson until the exam for that subject is done. In between they have study time but must be in school. This way means that student's last days are staggered. No en masse final day, no fights, no egging!

[Lilymaid]

I like the idea of having no specific day to end school, but rolling on until exams actually start. I don't think that all pupils benefit from being at home (alone) all day to revise. I also sympathise with the teachers and their cars etc. The shop in the village where DS's school is always removes eggs and flour from its shelves when "the last day" is expected. Unfortunately, the revision period coincides with "Activities Week" for the other years, so a lot of teachers are away (out of the country) on trips with other age groups for the vital time just before the exams start.

[fizzbuzz]

Ours have lessons up until 18th May. This is one week before 1/2 term.

They are usually dismissed at a "suprise" time during the day.

Local police are usually in evidence nearby. This is a very good school BTW! They still get up to pranks though (but not as bad as 6th form)

[chocolateshoes]

Our Yr11s are finishing on May 15th. By then they will have already had GCSE language speaking exams and I expect some other practicals will have taken place. The schools in our town stagger the leaving dates. I have never known any Yr 11 have to come back to school after their GCSEs.

[kickassangel]

ours carry on until the exam for the subject, so have a week or two of 'part time' and staggered leaving. they are legally entitled to thier education, so contact school if you want your ds in - i often end up teaching classes of 2 or 3 so like a private tutor - better than being at home alone.

[Lilymaid]

I've now checked my county council's guide to school leaving and employment. The last day of compulsory schooling is the last Friday in June fwiw.
I'm sure DS will do his best to revise - he has already got us to engage two tutors (one of whom he found himself), asked to be enrolled on revision classes for the Easter holidays and has got one of our friends (a technology teacher) to go through his Resistant Materials coursework. Top marks for motivation. I just hope that it all goes into the brain and gets processed out the right way!
I shall now go away and worry - will he get a place at sixth form college, followed by will his GCSE results be good enough? Yep, I'm a neurotic mother.

[Lilymaid]

To resurrect this thread. DS's last formal day was on Friday 11th May. For the next two weeks he will go into school where revision classes will be held (and they will be taking some exams). DS thinks that this is a good thing as all the chavs won't bother to come in for these classes and those that are motivated can get more out of them!
Last day of school went without any egging and flouring or other bad behaviour so the teachers did not need the local car wash!