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Best time for term-time holiday to NZ - dd new y7 at secondary

31 replies

SarfE4sticated · 02/06/2019 07:04

Hi there, I have no experience of secondary school timetable structure so hoping you can advise.
My ILs live in NZ and we need to visit soon due to MIL health problems. We can either go Easter or Xmas to coincide with their school holidays - both holidays for dds secondary are 16 days. We’d like to take a couple of days off each end but not sure which holiday would be best. Are there end of term exams at secondary? Also is Christmas such a big thing? Any advice would be gratefully received

OP posts:
CheesecakeAddict · 02/06/2019 07:23

Like the pp said, each school has it's own exam timetable, and often each subject.
In one school I worked at, the Christmas exams were used to set students, in another school it was the October exams. In one school I worked at, exams were at the end of every term, at another the end of every half term. You would need to contact the school and find out.
However, in year 7 I can't see them making a fuss about missing assessments unless it's the setting assessment. Any other assessment, worst case scenario, DC will have to complete them after school when they are back.

SarfE4sticated · 02/06/2019 07:18

Easter 2020 RuRu 😁

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SarfE4sticated · 02/06/2019 07:17

Thanks both - we normally go at Easter as it’s cheaper- but I don’t want to upset the school or miss anything important- dd would never forgive me! Will try to find out from current parents when exams are.

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Ruru8thestars · 02/06/2019 07:13

Easter has been and gone. Christmas will be much better weather wise. Find out school name and their website will have term dates. Book quickly though!

caranx · 02/06/2019 07:12

Weather will be much better at Xmas than Easter. You would need to book ASAP though as flights get expensive at Christmas time.

xyzandabc · 02/06/2019 07:11

Each school chooses how to run itself. In yr7 it's up to each individual school. You will have to ask the school concerned what they do at those particular times of year. Though it would be more common to have exams at the end of the summer term in year 7, no one here will be able to tell you for sure.