The PPL(A) syllabus includes 10 hours of solo flying, this is to allow the student to gain experience of operating on their own where they will develop their confidence and decision making skills. At the circuit stage a student should practice Normal, Flapless and Glide circuits when they have been taught; typically, two hours solo of mixed circuits. 5 hours of solo navigation is mandated in the syllabus leaving a further 3 hours of solo where the student should practice GH including Stalls, Steep Turns and PFLs as briefed by the instructor.
If the student is just briefed to fly around aimlessly for 3 hours and not allowed to consolidate flapless and glide circuits their school is failing in its task.