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Original poster

What post-gcse holidays did your 16 year olds take?

56 replies

Toobuktim · 05/02/2020 19:26

Just having a conversation with my year 10 15 year old ds about possibilities (as he’s heard friends in year 11 are apparently going to Europe on a train Hmm)
I always thought it would mainly be post A level holidays kids would take tbh, mainly due to logistics and rules and regulations etc, so would be interested to know what your kids have done previously!

OP posts:
Redcherries · 06/02/2020 07:18

Mine didn’t go straight after GCSEs but at 18 and 16 both are exploring options for the summer this year.

Travel is such a good learning curve I encourage them even though I just want to wrap them in bubble wrap and keep them with me. I did send them to Disney for a long weekend, paid for two friends too and booked them into business on the plane so I knew they’d not be wondering the airport and miss the flight but also as the crew would have less people to keep an eye on so if anything was wrong they’d have attention quickly. Onsite hotels and the meal package kept them in one place 😁. They had a great time, realised the responsibility of watching for flights and sorting transfers. This was just before the GCSEs for the youngest started when she’d just turned 16, for her birthday.

It was a very gentle introduction to independent travel whilst also being structured.

Ginfordinner · 06/02/2020 07:22

twirlypoos surely the drivers weren't 16?

I took DD to Orlando. She went to Lanzarote with friends post A levels.

Ragwort · 06/02/2020 07:33

NCS .... can't even remember if we had a family holiday that year. There was some vague talk about going to a festival or doing 'something' with friends but (thankfully) it came to nothing.

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Kenworthington · 06/02/2020 07:37

We had a family holiday to south of France then a festival , we all went but kind of separately, so he went with his gang of mates and dd went with her mates. But we were also there.
Yr 10 dd wants to go to Paris next year after hers with a friend but we are taking them.

Notthebloodygym · 06/02/2020 08:27

Coming in the UK. I'd never have let my kids go abroad under 18 without an adult.

okiedokieme · 06/02/2020 08:38

We went as a family to France, too young to go solo. Post a levels did reading festival and a trip with boyfriend (funded by working that summer)

EmmaGrundyForPM · 06/02/2020 10:06

I'd never have let my kids go abroad under 18 without an adult

Ds1 wouldn't have been capable of travelling abroad without an adult at 16. Ds2 went to France aged 16 to go skiing with 2 friends and I was a bit worried but he and they were all very sensible. I was more worried about them getting lost on a mountain somewhere. They had to promise not to ski off piste.

cologne4711 · 06/02/2020 21:25

Don't they all do NCS

About 25% do NCS - so no, definitely not all! My son opted out of it but did a lifeguard training course and worked a few shifts here and there. We had a few days away and he had two trips away with his sport. We didn't do anything with a wow factor though - might rectify that after A levels.

BackforGood · 06/02/2020 21:50

Mine all did NCS.
What's not to like about all that for £50 (or £35 we paid, for paying early) ? Grin
Ours then also had Explorer Camps - it doesn't have to be either /or.

Some dossing about.
Some paid work
Family holiday too.

The 'holiday away with friends' more normally comes after A-levels when most of them are 18 and have had the chance to earn some money and save up for it.

Ginfordinner · 06/02/2020 22:10

What's not to like? DD hated the idea of NCS, so she didn't do it.

Mumof1andacat · 06/02/2020 22:15

I dont know anyone who went of a particular holiday. Lots of us got summer job or took on more hours from our Saturday jobs

ChippyMinton · 06/02/2020 22:21

Variously:
Reading festival on results day
Work
World Scout Jamboree
Cadet camp
Extended family holiday
Visiting friends
Camping

The post A level plan is apparently a lads trip to Malia Shock

Sunshine1239 · 06/02/2020 22:37

I’ve never heard of NCD but can’t imagine that many do it as it certainly doesn’t look ‘cool’

Ginfordinner · 06/02/2020 22:39

Our Florida holiday was also a 16th birthday present as she has a July birthday.

champagneandfromage50 · 06/02/2020 22:40

Post GCSE where I am is reading festival....full weekend of nonsense. My DS also went to Amsterdam with three friends. It was after A levels that they usually do inter railing

Pipandmum · 06/02/2020 22:48

Most of my sons friends worked the summer, taking advantage of the extra weeks to earn more (private school kids). One was taken for a long weekend to NY and another went on a cruise in the fall, but these were probably on the cards as the annual family holiday anyway. I don't think any kids went away on their own (my son was still 15 at the time).

Etinox · 06/02/2020 22:54

@Sunshine1239
Slow hand clap.

eyemask · 06/02/2020 22:58

My friends did same as @RachelTension . My mum didn't let me go, I'm still a bit bitter about her being so restrictive if I'm honest so try to open about him joining his friends.

Ginfordinner · 07/02/2020 05:54

What has them being private school kids got to do with it Pipandmum?
No-one at state school goes back to school after GCSEs until 6th form either.

Original poster
Toobuktim · 07/02/2020 07:01

DS will probably do what he’s currently thinking - couple of nights camping and walking in the Lakes with friends. He’s not keen on the idea of a music festival, though there are a few smaller ones around here throughout the summer. He’ll more than likely have a cadet camp, maybe volunteer for RIAT and spend a couple of weeks doing that. I was quite surprised that some of the kids were thinking of going to Europe after gcse’s, but if they do I’m sure they won’t be fully independent. Maybe travelling to family etc.

OP posts:
SW16 · 07/02/2020 07:37

Toobuktim it can be very hard for U18s to find a campsite that allows them unaccompanied.

Suggest he books early to get the few YHA places.

My Dc was still 17 when they started their post-A level inter-railing. Some of the accommodation had to be booked by the 18 yos.

Ginfordinner · 07/02/2020 07:43

DD went camping at 16 to Bridlington with three 17 year olds. They struggled to find a campsite that would accept them.

rhowton · 07/02/2020 07:49

I went to London for a week with friends to watch shows and concerts and then on a two week family holiday. After A Levels we went on 3 girls holidays and I got two jobs and had a gap year.

ZaZathecat · 07/02/2020 07:57

Reading Festival is the most common around here.

Fivetillmidnight · 07/02/2020 08:04

I hired an Airbnb for my child's post gcse celebration, with her two friends mothers It had a pool and sunshine -just perfect place to unwind.

Came home, she went to work and earned money for a weekend in Paris with her boyfriend. Then off to Reading.

This year post A's she has already booked Thailand, Hungary and Crete. She has itchy feet and spends most of her earnings on travel.

I did the same as did my older two so have always encouraged them to see the world.. as long as they are working and paying for it !

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