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Further education

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Original poster

Holiday during Easter in A Levels year?

66 replies

BarefootHippieChick · 30/09/2021 19:11

Currently debating on a possible holiday next year to visit family abroad during Easter. However, dd is in year 13 and I'm concerned how it might affect revision or in school study sessions during that time? (If this is even a thing). I know May half term is impossible but wondered if one of the Easter weeks might be more doable. I'm not even sure when A Level exams even start? Any advice from anyone who's been through A Level years?

OP posts:
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Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 03/11/2021 21:40

I wouldn't. Easter holidays onwards is full on revision until exams finished. Also who knows what will happen with exams next year.

My DD had another set of formal mocks straight after the Easter holidays and these results went towards her final grade for A levels.

Darbs76 · 19/10/2021 08:52

No I definitely wouldn’t

Oblomov21 · 13/10/2021 18:26

Please don't do it. At our info evening in Sept year 13 HoY said please don't.

NotDonna · 10/10/2021 09:00

If you can do summer that’d undoubtedly be the best time. Our yr7-yr10 have end of year exams in mid/end June (week after A levels and GCSEs finish). They then do more fun stuff so taking a Yr9 out of school at this time wouldn’t be a big deal - you could chat with school.
We have a very similar issue in trying to get over to Australia to visit ageing g’parents. We’d plan yr12 Easter but blooming covid.

SeasonFinale · 05/10/2021 11:40

Yes year 9 is far less of an issue than a y11 or y13 at Easter.

PileOfBooks · 05/10/2021 10:32

Definitely better yr 9 than an exam year!!

Hope you have a fab time in Summer.

Original poster
BarefootHippieChick · 05/10/2021 09:43

Thanks everyone who replied, having spoken to family over there Easter really wouldn't be good for us weather wise anyway (hate the cold!) so we will probably consider a few days in the summer holidays. If younger child was primary I'd have no problem pulling out of school for a week, but not in year 9!

OP posts:
BigSandyBalls2015 · 05/10/2021 08:34

My DDs spent that Easter holiday at school for most of it.

lockdownmadnessdotcom · 05/10/2021 08:32

Oh I see it's Canada so you'd have jetlag to contend with. Go after the exams in that case.

lockdownmadnessdotcom · 05/10/2021 08:31

I would have said fine, but the exams start earlier than they used to. First week might be ok, or a long weekend? It's doubtful unless you have very diligent children that they will revise solidly for two weeks anyway, so a few days off might be a good thing.

JaninaDuszejko · 05/10/2021 06:01

I'm not sure a longhaul trip is a good idea but a week off during the Easter holidays will not harm the exam results of a conscientious student and a planned proper break would do them good rather than months on end of constant revision. Planning in breaks during busy periods is teaching them how to maintain good mental health.

Conversely taking them away from University in October is a terrible idea, they will be only just settling into university life and they get long holidays that overlap with their younger siblings' holidays for Christmas and Easter if you want to go away as a family.

SeasonFinale · 04/10/2021 22:14

No to Easter hols. Some schools run revisions sessions over Easter. Easter is when the hard revision should be starting.

Notagardener · 04/10/2021 22:07

oh, and reading week in last 3 weeks not been same weeks as school midterms for ours. and neither would have wanted to miss a week of uni outside holidays

Notagardener · 04/10/2021 22:05

We have been going away in Feb mid terms as our school do their mocks straight after Xmas

Blubells · 04/10/2021 13:45

And I would certainly not go to Canada given the 5 hour time difference!

Blubells · 04/10/2021 13:44

I would love to go away straight after exams but other dc still in school unfortunately!

It's much better if your younger children miss a week or two of school rather than your A level dd going abroad just before her exams.

Depending on the subject, some A level (oral) exams actually begin in April.

WishingYouAMerryChristmasToo · 30/09/2021 20:56

We don’t Easter or may it in exam years but do at other times

RampantIvy · 30/09/2021 20:55

In spite of my advice not to go, I have just remembered that DD did a 4 day geography trip to New York at the beginning of the Easter holidays of year 13. However, Easter was very early that year, and the trip was only 4 days.

Rummikub · 30/09/2021 20:52

Missing a week first year is very different to year 2 or 3.
If it’s a choice between October or the Easter prior to A levels then October wins,

Chicchicchicchiclana · 30/09/2021 20:52

It's a no from me (also have a child in Y13).

PileOfBooks · 30/09/2021 20:52

I absolutely wouldnt (ex 6th form teacher.)
Easter is so important for keeping revision up ans many schools run classes then too.

Id take the others out of school when she has finished. Far bettef they miss a week than she does!!!

waltzingparrot · 30/09/2021 20:49

We let DS go in the first week of the Easter holidays of his exam year - on the school ski trip! The break did him the world of good after months of extra revision classes before and after school. To be fair, he was predicted high grades and he got high grades, but I suppose you could say, at least a week's break didn't send them plummeting.

RampantIvy · 30/09/2021 20:47

Also unis seem to be doing on line lectures and minimal face to face.

I think it s dependent on which university and which course. DD is doing a STEM degree with lots of lab practicals, and everything has been F2F so far this term, she would be panic stricken at missing a week of term.

Rummikub · 30/09/2021 20:45

In first year ? That won’t impact final year grades. As a one off.

Rummikub · 30/09/2021 20:44

Yeah there won’t be any fines
Just done catching up to do
Also unis seem to be doing on line lectures and minimal face to face.

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