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Original poster

First year A levels 2015 exams

30 replies

Kraktoa · 03/06/2014 10:42

Hi all. First post with a Gove inspired headache.

DS is first year A levels next academic year. Will he have January 2015 exams? The answer i get is No but not definitive

will he have June exams in 2015? The answer i get from other parents is Yes but not definitive.

Could ask the school but afraid will look like a plonker. I just dont have that relationship with the school or teachers (snooty independent)

If answer to 2nd question is definitive yes, would it be ok for me to book a holiday in May half term for my wifes 50th birthday? The exams wont be in May half term will they?

Thanks all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kraktoa · 03/06/2014 11:16

Definitely not taking son for the may half term holiday. He will be 17.5 years and will be ok at home alone revising for just 3-4 days. Only a city break in Paris planned.

OP posts:
Expatedout · 03/06/2014 11:11

Agree just got one going through GCSE's with A levels following in September and May half term holidays are definately off the agenda for the next few years for us. Shame about your wives birthday could you defer the holiday to the summer or do something over a long weekend or not take the DS if you want to get away for a week

TeenAndTween · 03/06/2014 11:08

Hopefully developing OPs post rather than hijacking.

If AS exams no longer will count towards final A levels (am I right?), does that mean they will still all be starting with 4 and then dropping one, or is there expected to be a return to the traditional 3 subjects only that we used to have?

Furthermore, I know these changes are being introduced a bit on a rolling basis. e.g. English is an early changer. So does that mean that some A levels can still be taken in 2 parts over 2 separate years and some can't, or what?

(y10 parent also).

SwedishEdith · 03/06/2014 11:03

Once they get on the exam treadmill I think of May as totally out in terms of going on holiday really

Unexpected · 03/06/2014 10:51

The exams won't be in the May half-term but (assuming you are taking your son on this holiday and not just your wife) it would be very unwise to go away in May half-term. Exams will probably be part-way through, depending on your son's subject choices and he should be doing lots of revision during half-term. School will also probably run revision sessions which he will miss. With the best will in the world, even if your son says he will revise on holiday, the lure of sun and sea (or whatever) will prove too great to resist!

I also have a son in Yr 11, we normally go away in May half-term, last year it was a struggle to get him to revise for the one Core Science exam he had after half-term, this year would have been impossible and unfair on him.