going on holiday in A level year?

[Beachturtle]

Just wondering if anyone more experienced than me can give an insight please? DSD is doing A levels, currently in L6, I'm looking ahead to next year here. She stays with us for half the school holidays but it's not evenly split. So we have more time with her at Easter / half terms and less in summer once she will have finished her exams. Because of other commitments we struggle to go away in summer anyway. Is a holiday in spring half term, summer half term or at Easter advisable or are we likely to jeopardise her revision? She is not academic but does well enough and likes her subjects. She needs a push to work but is conscientious about getting everything done when supported and encouraged and helped to plan.

I can't imagine that we would be able to go away by air for a week and enable her to revise sufficiently, not least because of the piles of books and files she needs to cart around, am I right?

[BakeOffBiscuits]

I really would not recommend a holiday when she's just about to sit A levels. She needs to concentrate on revising.
Can't you go for a week in the summer holidays or she will finish her exams round about June so could you go in early July?

[titchy]

I wouldn't do it tbh no. She'll have finished A levels by the end of June though so early July, before the main school holidays, might work. Cheaper too!

[jaguar67]

Spring half-term possibly (unless she has mocks immediately after, unlikely but check). Easter & especially summer half-term I'd seriously question. Have you talked to her about what suits her best?
I remember a holiday several years ago, seeing a couple of Yr 13s huddled over books every day in the bar area of hotel (this was over Easter). Gorgeous location & it wasn't noisy, but I can't imagine it was ideal revision conditions and couldn't have been much of a holiday for them either.
Have you considered a short, city type break of a few days, if you're after some family time together?
Key is, ask her! It's a big year for her & you need her buy-in to any holiday plans around major exams.

[BackforGood]

I wouldn't at Easter or in May.February 1/2 trm is probably OK, but it will depend on your individual child, the school, their attitude to work / revision etc.
My dd is only doing her mocks now, this week and last, so Feb 1/2 term revision was crucial. Some schools do them earlier.
I understand there are some super organised youngsters who might be all on top of everything and can plan around a holiday,........ but I've not met one yet.

[Beachturtle]

Thank you for the feedback, it's what I was thinking but it's good to have confirmation.

[Leeds2]

My DD is now in first year at uni. We went away at Easter before A2s for 4 days, so a sort of relax and then get down to work time. It worked well for her, but she is/was fairly conscientious.

[Iamastonished]

I agree, definitely no holidays away for Easter and May half term. The May half term falls in the middle of AS exams anyway.

DD got tons of homework for February half term so I'm glad we didn't go away. She felt that she hadn't had a break due to the amount of homework.

[happygardening]

DS2 went away for a week in the Easter holiday in yr 13 it was a trip organised by his school. If she's working/revising consistently I really don't think 1 weeks holiday at Easter is going to make any difference.

[LIZS]

We had a short break right at the beginning of the Easter break so ds still had a good 2-3 weeks to revise before summer term started. It was a good stress reliever for everyone. It also depends when Easter falls next year as that creates a natural hiatus.

[Iamastonished]

We only get 2 weeks at Easter.

[SparklesandBangs]

DD2 is doing her A levels this year.

She worked (paid job) for 5 full days at Feb half term but then did spchool work at the evenings and weekends. When her sister was at this stage she went skiing for the week.

At Easter DD2 is away on a school trip for 5 days then will be studying for the rest of the break. And then constantly until the exams start.

Exams are over by the end of June and that then gives 3 months for a holiday before university starts in October.

[fairweathercyclist]

I think a short break at Easter would be ok. Feb half term if there aren't mocks afterwards (mine were in November).

Not May half term. It's the best time of year to go away in my view, but not if you've got a dc in Y11 or Y13 (or even Y10 or 12).

And as people say - late June and early July will be free and you could do something then.

People seem to start revising very early these days. I think I did some notes in January and started revising in earnest in May.

[JooLoo]

Ok, this was a long time ago. But I went skiing for a week with family in the (early) Easter hols before my A levels. Best thing I could have done. I had been working hard and it gave me a real break before knuckling down in the last month or so.

[Decorhate]

Agree with everyone who has said to avoid any holiday plans at Easter & May half term for now. Many schools run revision classes in the holidays now. However, you should receive your dd's exam timetable well before Easter. I think one of my dd's friends had all her exams finished before May halfterm so was able to go away then after all!