From Leaving CertiFiCate to Leaving SChooL a Longitudinal Study ...

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From Leaving Certificate to Leaving School
In the discussion so far, homework and study time have been combined.
However, it is worth exploring how students are allocating their
time between the two activities. Over a third (35 per cent) of sixth year
students are spending broadly equal amounts of time on homework and
study, 41 per cent are spending more time on homework than study
while just under a quarter (24 per cent) are spending more time on study
than homework. Students were asked whether they found it easy to balance
homework and study; over a quarter (28 per cent) found it ‘easy’ or
‘relatively easy’ but 48 per cent found it ‘difficult’ and a further 24 per
cent found it ‘very difficult’. Difficulties in balancing homework and
study are evident across the spectrum of student achievement (as measured
by Junior Certificate grades).
During the qualitative interviews, it became clear that many students
availed of the opportunity to participate in supervised study sessions after
school which may have influenced the amount of time reported by
students (above). Some students welcomed this facility as it provided a
chance to get their homework and study done without distractions. However,
it could sometimes lead to a ten to twelve hour school day. Some
students in Park Street, for example, appeared to spend up to four hours
in supervised study after school where they could do their homework and
have study time:
You can get your homework done, I do double study, you get your
homework done in the first one and then you can study in the second
one.
Interviewer: So how long would that last?
The first study is an hour and a half and then the second study is two
hours.
… Interviewer: This year?
Well, you see you have the supervised study in the school so it’s four
hours after school, four hours in there. (Park Street, boys’ school,
mixed intake)
Similarly, students in Argyle Street and Fig Lane enjoyed getting all
their work done without any distractions before they went home: