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Original poster

Christmas Hols

45 replies

Trixiebell06 · 02/11/2021 12:00

Hi ,my child is year 11 , would you go away for Christmas prior to the mock exams in Jan ?

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maofteens · 02/11/2021 15:24

A week away is absolutely fine in my view, especially as that will cover the days around Christmas as what kud studies Christmas Eve or Day? As king as there's a significant time when you return for revision then I'd go.
@ParmigianoReggiano you'd be a fool to believe that ! Last year the government also said exams were absolutely positively no doubt about it going to happen, until they didn't!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 02/11/2021 13:13

My ds seems to do so little revision that I’d definitely consider going away for 1 of the 2 weeks to somewhere that I know he’d enjoy and then I could reasonably expect him to put a bit of effort in over the rest of the time off school.
If the week away included Christmas that’s less missed opportunities to revise - unless you expect them to do school work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (days we’re usually with family).

Original poster
Trixiebell06 · 02/11/2021 13:08

I’m also thinking about a few days away but I’m two minds with the mocks coming up

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Original poster
Trixiebell06 · 02/11/2021 13:08

Thankyou all for your replies & advice , it seems mixed views . We would be leaving on the 20th for 7 days

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BlueRabbitWasNaughty · 02/11/2021 12:51

It depends on your plan.... definitely no to a full three weeks away but yes to a five day trip before Christmas. A break is good and a sensible plan to be 'on it' once home should be fine.

SoupDragon · 02/11/2021 12:51

No. I have a child in Y11 and I wouldn't take them away before mocks unless there was a very good reason.

CMOTDibbler · 02/11/2021 12:49

Mine is in Y11, and I wouldn't. You don't know what is going to happen this year, so mocks need to be taken super seriously

VanCleefArpels · 02/11/2021 12:48

We did it but took a suitcase full of books and had a conscientious student who was willing to forgo some sun lounger time every day. There was also no potential jeopardy in the sense that we knew they would be taking actual exams in the summer. If it were this year I might not be so gung ho about it

RampantIvy · 02/11/2021 12:48

A few days yes, a couple of weeks no. Trying to revise on holiday is really not the same as revising at home.

poorbuthappy · 02/11/2021 12:47

Nope. You have to treat mocks as important as the actuals now.
If everything goes totally wrong again the mock results will form part of the assessment.

Opal8 · 02/11/2021 12:46

Exams (as I stated) will take place but due to the disruption mocks will be used too

user1471464218 · 02/11/2021 12:44

My son is a bit younger but yeah I would go away over Christmas- I would want him to have a couple of days at home to study though. Are you planning on leaving as soon as school finishes on last day of term and coming home the evening before term starts?

RedskyThisNight · 02/11/2021 12:26

@Opal8

No The mocks will be used along with the exams next year to calculate their grade
Where do you get that information from? Current plans are that exams will take places as normal.
Opal8 · 02/11/2021 12:24

No
The mocks will be used along with the exams next year to calculate their grade

ParmigianoReggiano · 02/11/2021 12:18

Yes, my DS is in year 11 and we are going away. He'll take his books with him and do some revision while we're away.

RedskyThisNight · 02/11/2021 12:16

Ideally not - but it depends a bit how your child feels about it. My DD would get very anxious about lack of revision time. That said, a few days away (e.g. to visit family) would be a nice break, and they shouldn't spend the whole Christmas holiday working. It also depends on whether the mocks are straight away when they get back, or later in January. I'd be less concerned if they were later in January.

However, my DS has mocks next week and this week he is away on a (school organised) trip and therefore not revising. And school evidently think this is fine.

Bert2020 · 02/11/2021 12:14

Absolutely not for us, the mocks are so important for leading into the real thing.

RuthW · 02/11/2021 12:13

Do you mean taking your child? No way would I. They need to revise. Those exams could determine their results.

Original poster
Trixiebell06 · 02/11/2021 12:08

Please don’t judge ,

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