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Original poster

Arses - we're abroad when entrance exams are taking place

55 replies

whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 12:19

Eldest daughter will be doing 11+ entrance exams in the coming months. Turns out the exams for her top two choices are incredibly early in January - and we're still away (Canada). Holiday has been booked since January.

I'm trying to get hold of the admissions teams to find out if there's a way around this, but are we just fucked, do you think?

It's our big/only family holiday this year – her school doesn't go back until the following week - so we never expected an exam on the bloody 4th Jan.

Anyone know if schools typically offer alternate dates?

ARSE.

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 06/09/2018 13:04

Ummmm that's pretty normal - most of those around here are 4th/5th - as others have said they are normally the weekend before schools go back as it's hard to fit them in otherwise.

All you can do is talk to the the school. Some will be more accommodating than others.

whenwillsummerend · 06/09/2018 12:57

DD had one on 2nd Jan this year but she also went back to school that day!

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 12:52

No way we could afford to rearrange/fly back on a different day at this point. FUCK. FUCK FUCK FUCK. I never imagined they'd be so early in the year… 4th Jan?

OP posts:
Somerville · 06/09/2018 12:47

Around here they’re all Saturdays, rather than before term starts.
Have to say, though, that we wouldn’t book main family holiday for just before important exams - mine have tended to want time to revise with few distractions/no risk of jet lag on return/holiday to look forward to during next school hop after the exams out of the way.
Any chance of transferring your flights to Easter, or I guess other options would be one parent and DD1 returning a few days earlier than everyone else?
Fingers crossed for alternate option from schools.

OlderThanAverageforMN · 06/09/2018 12:31

Oh dear, it has certainly always been the case locally that entrance exams take place before term starts, you need an empty school for entrance exams, so always first week of January, they also all pre-book with each other, so they don't clash. Definitely check if they offer alternate dates, but don't hold your breath, I know lot of schools don't do this, as it would be open to abuse, and also it would put back their offer process. Could you and your daughter fly back a bit early??