Why is this important?

Petition to Bring Back Study Leave for Year 13

We, the Year 13 students, are asking for study leave to be reinstated during exam season. Right now, being required to attend normal lessons is making revision harder, not easier, and is stopping a lot of us from working at our full potential.

At this stage, revision is not about being in a classroom. It is about working smart, targeting weak areas, and preparing properly for exams. The current system is getting in the way of that.

A big issue is that we cannot focus on one subject for long enough. For example, you might finally get into a difficult physics topic, start understanding it, and then have to pack up and go to another lesson just as it is starting to click. That breaks momentum completely. In study leave, you could spend two or three hours pushing through that same topic until you actually understand it.

It also makes it really hard to do full past papers properly. A lot of us revise best by sitting a paper in timed conditions when we are most focused, like in the morning or evening. But in school, you might only have 40 minutes before you are interrupted, which is not enough to complete a paper or properly review it. That means we are not practising exam technique in realistic conditions.

Another problem is that everyone is forced to spend equal time on every subject, even though we all have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, someone might be getting A grades in maths but struggling in physics, yet still spend the same amount of time in both lessons. That time could be used much more effectively if they could prioritise what they actually need to improve.

For creative subjects, it is even more frustrating. People trying to finish coursework or final pieces need long, uninterrupted blocks of time. You cannot realistically produce your best work in short lessons where you are constantly stopping and starting. A lot of students end up doing most of this work at home anyway, which shows the current system is not working.

There is also the issue of constantly moving around. Going from class to class, seeing different people, and resetting every hour makes it really easy to get distracted. Even if you go to a study room, you are still surrounded by people coming and going. Compare that to working at home or in a quiet space where you can stay focused for hours without interruption.

Even things like fixed break times can be unhelpful. Sometimes you are fully focused and then suddenly have to stop because it is break. With study leave, you can take breaks when it actually makes sense for you, instead of being forced out of a productive flow.

A lot of us also feel like we are being used as a trial for a system that has not been properly tested. These exams are too important for that. If this approach does not work, it is our grades that are affected, not anyone else’s.

It also feels like the system is built around students who would not revise on their own. But what about the students who would? Right now, those students are being held back rather than supported.

You can already see the impact of this. Many students are planning not to come into school on the days before their exams because they know they can revise more effectively at home. If study leave existed, those same students would be much more likely to come in voluntarily to ask teachers specific questions before exams.

Teachers can still support us without forcing everyone into lessons. Booster sessions or drop in help would work much better. Students who need help will go, and it means that time with teachers is more focused and useful instead of being spread thinly across a whole class.

Being in lessons also does not feel like exam season. It feels like a normal school day, which makes it harder to fully switch into revision mode. Study leave creates that shift where you know it is time to focus and take things seriously.

Even in class, getting help is not always efficient. Teachers have to divide their attention between everyone, and sometimes one or two people take up most of the time. It would be much more effective to be able to ask for help directly, one on one, and resolve issues quickly instead of waiting around

Proposed Solution

We are not asking for a complete removal of structure, but for a more effective and realistic approach during exam season.

We propose that study leave begins on May 11th, the first day of exams.

Students would have the option to come into school and register, or stay at home on days they wish to, with the exact system left to the school’s discretion. We are fully willing to follow whatever registration process is put in place to ensure accountability and safeguarding.

During this time, there should be designated places for independent study, including the study room, library, boarding houses, and classrooms where teachers are available. This ensures that students still have access to a productive working environment and support when needed.

We do not want timetabled lessons.

Instead, students should have the flexibility to revise in the way that works best for them, while still having access to teachers through optional support or booster sessions.

This approach keeps students accountable, ensures safeguarding, and still provides access to school resources, while allowing us to revise properly and perform at our best in our exams.