Cottenham Through aspiration and endeavour, we flourish
Cottenham Through aspiration and endeavour, we flourish
3 May 2024
Dear Parents/Carers of Year 11 students
Re: Start of GCSE Examinations and study leave.
We are now a week away from the start of the formal written GCSE exams. We are very impressed to see how well prepared most students in the year group are preparing for these exams and how seriously they are taking their studies. We wish them every luck in their forthcoming exams and are keen to support students as they take the exams that they have been working towards since they arrived at CVC.
For this reason, for the last two years, we have kept our Year 11 students in school full-time until the last core GCSE and not granted any study leave until the final week of exams. The approach we have used for supporting students to be academically successful is underpinned from knowing that a routine of getting up to attend to school each morning, with access to subject specialist teachers, as well as having some social interaction with their peers supports their learning. Indeed, we have seen in both 2021 and 2022, strong academic outcomes. The DfE guidance on study leave is that it should not be granted by default and should be used sparingly, only granted during the public examinations. As such, many schools adopt the same approach that we have done, particularly as students have access to experienced subject specialist teaching staff (some who have been/are also examiners in their subject) to work closely with. As study leave is unsupervised, it is marked as absence in school attendance records.
We have provisionally made plans for a Year 11 celebration day, so as not to interfere with the GCSE revision timetable, which will take place on Friday 24th May, between 11.30am and 1.00pm. This is the only day where we have planned an early finish for Year 11 students prior to June 11th. (There remains supervision provision in school in lessons for students who wish to remain on site to study rather than study at home in the afternoon).
The final core GCSE exam takes place on the afternoon of Friday 14th June (Physics). Therefore, our intention is for all students to continue to attend school full-time until the end of the day on Tuesday 11th June. At our discretion, some students will be able to have study leave granted on Wednesday 12th and 13th June (if this is in their best academic interests). Study leave will then begin for all students on Monday 17th June.
As with all areas of life, there are exceptional circumstances. Should you feel there are instances where exceptional circumstances apply to your child and you would like me to review with Mr Abbott whether a session of study leave could be individually authorised prior to June 11th, please complete the electronic form with a minimum lead in time of 3 working days in advance.
Should there be need for us to review our plans, we shall contact you to communicate any changes.
Yours faithfully,
Zoe Andrews
Principal
Cottenham Village College