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Original poster

Holiday in the middle of GCSEs?

38 replies

Username123343 · 21/01/2024 08:57

Hi there,

Did any of you go on a sightseeing holiday with your mid-exams 16 year old in the half term break in June?

I’ve got the opportunity to go with my 3 children and it’ll be fine for them and I think they’ll enjoy it, but for the 16 year old I’m worried it’ll affect his performance in the next set of exams after the holidays. Then again, maybe it’ll help him keep a level head/good for mental health by having a break away?

Should we stay or go? Any experiences to share that might help make a decision? At the moment I’m thinking best not to go. This opportunity is only for that particular week though.

OP posts:
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Alainlechat · 22/01/2024 15:21

I was in two minds if it was ok in the Feb half term. Absolutely no way I'd do this.

My parents did take me away at a similar time under the guise I could relax and study there. I did anything but and I'm sure it impacted my results.

ThanksItHasPockets · 22/01/2024 15:18

ThanksItHasPockets · 21/01/2024 16:20

You’ve made the right decision, OP. Maths paper 2 is on the morning of Monday 3 June - imagine if your flight was cancelled and you were delayed getting back? Then Eng language p2 on Wednesday and biology on Thursday, plus history, Spanish and business if he does any of those for his options. It’s one of the heaviest weeks in the whole exam series.

I don't expect anyone will take my word as gospel but just in case it causes confusion I am putting some dates in my diary and realised that I misread these dates when reading a doc on my phone! English Language p2 is on Thursday 4 June and Biology is on Friday 5.

Original poster
Username123343 · 21/01/2024 18:25

@ThanksItHasPockets - that’s amazing, thank you

OP posts:
ThanksItHasPockets · 21/01/2024 18:13

@Username123343

Here is AQA: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/admin/t_table_pdf/AQA-TT-GCSE-JUN24-CONFIRMED.PDF

Most core subjects will be in the same session across the exam boards but to be sure you should check the timetable for each board your DS is taking. He should have been given (or will shortly be given) a statement of entry with details of the subjects, tiers (where relevant) and boards he has been entered for. You can then Google ‘Eduqas / Edexcel / OCR GCSE exam timetable 2024’.

Original poster
Username123343 · 21/01/2024 18:08

@MrsAvocet Thanks for that, I’ll have a look this week. I’ve just ordered a guide to ‘how to revise’, more for my own benefit really. 😅

OP posts:
BaconAndAvocado · 21/01/2024 17:49

Are you mad?

MrsAvocet · 21/01/2024 17:46

@Username123343 all the exam boards have their timetables online now. I've just this minute been writing my DS's A level dates in my diary in fact!
Re your original question, I think you are right not to travel in that week but I don't think there's any harm in a bit of down time like a local day trip or two. It's a stressful period and I don't think revising all day every day is necessary or productive for most DC.

aramox1 · 21/01/2024 17:37

Good grief no. Not at Easter either or only for a couple of days.

Original poster
Username123343 · 21/01/2024 17:35

Thanks everyone. Just to reiterate what I said this morning, I won’t be booking anything for that week.

@ThanksItHasPockets - where did you find the exam timetable? I knew about maths paper 2 as I found it on the BBC Bitesize website but I don’t know about any other dates.

OP posts:
ThanksItHasPockets · 21/01/2024 16:20

You’ve made the right decision, OP. Maths paper 2 is on the morning of Monday 3 June - imagine if your flight was cancelled and you were delayed getting back? Then Eng language p2 on Wednesday and biology on Thursday, plus history, Spanish and business if he does any of those for his options. It’s one of the heaviest weeks in the whole exam series.

LIZS · 21/01/2024 16:07

Definitely not. There are still three weeks of exams to follow.

IggyAce · 21/01/2024 15:59

Definitely don’t, my dd did her GCSEs last year and she attended extra revision sessions during the holidays.

Spacecowboys · 21/01/2024 15:57

I wouldn’t do this either. Could you go in July when schools break up and GCSEs are finished?

Butterfly44 · 21/01/2024 15:44

Having been through it I really wouldn't. They have a ton of exams and lots of content.

fleurneige · 21/01/2024 14:56

Total NO- it would be totally unfair to scupper his chances- he might have to retake the year to get his grades, and re-takes are taken into consideration by Uni selection too.

clary · 21/01/2024 14:51

Really really really don’t.

Recall a story last year about a 16yo “woe is me, I’m going to miss maths GCSE” bc of holiday delays or strikes - I just thought why would you go away that week?

paigeeemicj · 21/01/2024 09:26

@Panic71 they didn't care too much they said my GCSEs weren't that important yet. At my school we took some GCSEs in year 10 and then the rest in year 11. So they said missing my maths GCSE wasn't a big deal because I'd get the opportunity to take it again in year 11. My physics GCSE however caused issues because I was supposed to take physics and biology in year 10 and chemistry in year 11 and because I missed that one the only option I had was to drop my science GCSE's completely and take core and additional science instead in year 11 ( as I didn't make the passing grade on biology despite being predicted a B grade )

Thankfully i was predicted A* in the two English GCSEs and my history GCSE I was predicted a B so because I had studied so much before I managed to pass those ( just ) with a C in all. It wasn't the end of the world when it came to the rest of my studies throughout the years in college etc but for a 15 year old it was devastating that I didn't get my predicted grades and I was heartbroken that I didn't get triple science GCSEs. My school was very excluding when it came to core and additional science and I couldn't reuse any of my coursework from my triple science so I had to redo so much stuff it was so much extra work.

All so my parents could get married in Florida 🙃

Panic71 · 21/01/2024 09:16

paigeeemicj · 21/01/2024 09:03

Going to come at this from someone whose parents did this to me when I was a kid.

We ended up on a delayed flight back home causing me to miss my Maths GCSE and my Physics GCSE. The rest of the exams I had that week I got lower than my predicted grades because I was so exhausted and I hadn't had enough chances to revise. I also didn't enjoy the whole holiday because I was worried about my exams.

Just don't do it it's not worth it

This is heartbreaking. How did your parents react afterwards? I’m so sorry. That must have been so stressful.

tennissquare · 21/01/2024 09:14

@Username123343 , have you googled the exam boards and looked at the exam timetable? The first week of June is always so full on, it would be very unfair on your ds to take him away from home during that week.

Original poster
Username123343 · 21/01/2024 09:13

OK - unanimous answer there. I had decided it was a no for eldest’s sake, but for various reasons I was finding it hard to know this would pan out to be the best decision.

Thank you for your speedy answers everyone.

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 21/01/2024 09:10

Surely you want to give them the message that you are supporting them to be able to do their best in their exams? That means being at home with the option to revise every day. They may not but you have not taken it away but trotting off on holiday.

Sunflower8848 · 21/01/2024 09:06

Geez, no!

CadyEastman · 21/01/2024 09:06

DC2 is in Y12. There is no way I would have five this last year. They need a break, at home to relax and revise.

getfreddynow · 21/01/2024 09:06

If the trip is UK and you can shorten for whole week to say 3-4 days then yes, I’d do that (with the 16 yr old’s buy in)

PotatoPrimo · 21/01/2024 09:04

Heck, no. What a terrible thing to do to your 16 yo.