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Original poster

AIBU to wonder what 16-year-olds do after exams before college?

95 replies

TheOpalFox · 24/04/2026 15:37

What do 16 year old do from the month of when they finish their exams to starting college?

OP posts:
CousinBette · 24/04/2026 22:33

DeftGoldHedgehog · 24/04/2026 15:48

When I was that age:

  • Not usually get up before 12
  • Plan my afternoon's TV viewing
  • Watch a lot of Wimbledon/Euro football tournament/cricket
  • Sunbathe if the weather was nice
  • Try and not do very much at all
  • Occasionally meet up with friends
  • Occasionally try to get a job (I got a Saturday job in a pub when I started sixth form)

Bliss!

DDs were much more active, were working and meeting up with friends and going to the gym, and went to Reading festival- far more productive than I was!

Edited

Same here (too long ago to mention).

Good times.

LBFseBrom · 24/04/2026 22:29

They have some fun.

PieLittlePony · 24/04/2026 22:21

For those of you saying work, can I ask how your 16 year olds find jobs? It seems quite difficult unless you happen to know someone, plus their time is very fragmented with family holidays/sixth form visits etc

Littlecrake · 24/04/2026 19:25

Mine all slept for a week. We’ve also done a family holiday the summer after GCSEs (we don’t typically have holidays). Then just work their normal jobs, do things with friends, festivals, camping trips etc. it’s a lovely summer for them

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 24/04/2026 19:19

My dd got a job working in a little kiosk serving coffee and doughnuts, she earned a couple of grand that summer and it paid for her driving lessons.

Alltgetreesarebrown23 · 24/04/2026 19:04

Im surprised how many are saying go away with friends? Are they not a bit young ? Mine has a part time job and will do day trips with friends, gym, hanging out etc but holiday with family. I am not in the UK though

gingercat02 · 24/04/2026 18:57

Mine slept 😴 a lot! played tennis and football, went to the beach, Leeds (we're north so not Reading lol)
Gamed, dosed about, helped with a small amount of household stuff, emptying dishwasher, hanging up bringing in washing.
He wasn't 16 until the end of July and we had our family holiday in August so he didn't have a job.
He had a lovely time.

CordeliaNaismithVorkosigan · 24/04/2026 18:43

I’ve saved all my holiday this year to do a couple of really exciting trips with DD, so that accounts for nearly 5 weeks of the break. Otherwise a couple of weeks relaxing at home immediately after the exams, and a visit to my DM.

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 24/04/2026 18:41

Take a well deserved (for many) break.
Hang out with friends
Maybe work a part time job if they’re lucky enough to have secured one.
Go on holiday with their families.

ChillingWithMySnowmies · 24/04/2026 18:40

mine rested, regulated, and de-stressed.

PartoftheBand · 24/04/2026 18:37

Volunteer/ work/ work experience if they can find anything. Reading festival. Bit of reading to prep for A levels/ college course (this may be wishful thinking) Have a well deserved rest.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 24/04/2026 18:29

Pick up extra shifts at their part time jobs

cobrakaieaglefang · 24/04/2026 18:25

Me in the 80s, worked and a week surfing holiday with a load of school mates and teachers from school..
My kids, worked and family holiday to Cornwall

StillAGoth · 24/04/2026 18:22

FloweryPenPot · 24/04/2026 15:59

They have a bloody good summer. Oh I miss having summers to myself, I should've gone into teaching... not saying its easy btw, just that they get lovely summers.

We do get lovely summers...

Mine worked between GCSEs and 6th form and then again between A Levels and university and then again whilst at university.

They also slept in late, went out with friends ,did sports but didn't spend nearly as much time just having fun as I encouraged them too!

DrCoconut · 24/04/2026 18:06

When I was between school and college we spent a month with family abroad. The rest of the time was just time off really. Same after A levels except I spent more time with friends then. Summer jobs weren't really a thing. Now I don't know.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 24/04/2026 18:01

Mine is hoping for a job.

A holiday with the family plus one with me.

A few days trips out with friends to London etc.

Seeing boyfriend.

Lots of training/competing.

Peopleshouldhavetails · 24/04/2026 18:00

Both mine (GCSE and A levels finishers here) have summer jobs for a few days a week,

  • a 2 week family holiday
  • they’re both going to some festivals
  • a DofE expedition (a week)
  • they’re planning some 1/ 2 night camping trips
Pernicketywishes · 24/04/2026 17:54

Summer jobs! I know lots who train as lifeguards and are making heaps of money!

beasmithwentworth · 24/04/2026 17:50

Yes I’ll have one of these in the summer. I’d like him to get a job when he’s 16 in June but he’s away on 2 holidays, 2 festivals and going to stay with his DF so I don’t know if he’ll be around long enough. I think it will mainly just be fun but I do like the idea of making one family meal a week as a minimum as I work full time and cook every night ar the moment.

He’ll do the odd pasta dish now but needs to broaden the repertoire!

ImImmortalNowBabyDoll · 24/04/2026 17:50

Mine is planning to spend "as much time with my friends as possible." I feel like they might all be a bit sick of each other after 11 weeks with nothing else to do, but we'll see!

PinkCatCushion · 24/04/2026 17:44

Mine had to plan and cook one meal a week, plus clean one communal room a week (they already did their own rooms).
Apart from that they were free to do what they wanted.
By the time they were in Yr 11 they all had a weekend job so they continued with that, which meant they all had spending money if they wanted to go out.

RoseField1 · 24/04/2026 17:35

They have a lovely summer mostly

TeenLifeMum · 24/04/2026 17:33

Dd worked a bit but spent a lot of it with friends having the best summer ever.

Jamesblonde2 · 24/04/2026 17:32

Holidays, spend time with friends, P/T job, go to a festival. What did you do OP? It’s just the same.

TheEasterBunny3 · 24/04/2026 17:29

Got a job, worked a lot, went on holiday with us, hung out with mates at the beach, went to the cinema, swimming etc. Just generally did what i did when I was 16.

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