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Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 10:46 am
by Rinette
My son's tutor strongly recommended him to have a week off school before the 11+ exam.
My first instinct was to decline as I do not like the idea of him missing school for another reason than illness and also I would like to keep it as low key as possible.
However I am now wondering what other children do ? Is it common to take a few days off before the exam ? Have you or will you do it ?
Thanks for sharing your experience :D !

Re: Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:11 am
by hermanmunster
Don't know of many doing that ... if it is the 11 plus then lots of kids at school will be doing it and they tend to jolly each other along. Also being at school takes their mind off it - whereas being at home for week - presumably to concentrate on the exam - may cause more anxiety.

Re: Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:19 am
by yoyo123
I think it is a ridiculous idea...(other opinions are of course available) especially if the exam is in the first few weeks of a new term.

Re: Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:23 am
by inmystride
I've heard a lot of strange advice on these forums, but this takes the cake. What next? Have DS/DD spend the week off school reclining on a sofa in a darkened room while you gently massage their feet and feed them peeled grapes, all the time playing soothing motivational tapes in the background?
:roll:

Re: Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:42 am
by yoyo123
just wondering if during this week he will be having extra sessions with the tutor?

Re: Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:04 pm
by Rinette
yoyo123 wrote:just wondering if during this week he will be having extra sessions with the tutor?
I am not sure. Lots of homework and revisions, probably...
But thank you for your opinions, it is reassuring. My first reaction was then not totally out of touch :wink: .

Re: Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:07 pm
by hermanmunster
No Rinette, sounds like your first reaction was a bit like ours!

Re: Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:15 pm
by no_ball
that is the most ridiculous piece of advice I have heard in a long time. I would have thought being in school picking up last bits of tips and techniques would have been the way forward. Unless that week is being used to start tutoring.

Re: Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 3:50 pm
by First-timer
I didn't keep my DS out of school, nor would I recommend it. The school will probably suspect why a bright child is absent the week before the exam and it adds pressure to the child. Better to keep things as normal as possible, I reckon. How much can you do in a week, anyway?

Re: Week off school before the exam ?

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 3:53 pm
by kaynor
Finish any studying weekend before and keep that week as "normal" as possible which includes going to school. The last couple of evenings before the exam we just watched some DVDs (light entertainment). The only thing to watch out for as they approach the date, if they show any signs of being a bit under the weather, pull them straight out of school to try and shake it off.