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Original poster

GCSE results day - should we avoid going on holiday around this date?

17 replies

Tallace · 03/07/2020 15:05

Hi, we are rearranging our August holiday abroad for August 2021 but it occurred to me that we may be away for ds's GCSE results.
Does it matter? Is it a big rite of passage for teenagers or do they just get their results online?
Also he is planning to take A levels at a neighbouring school sixth form. We are 95% sure he will get the results needed but if he doesn't would it be a problem sorting this out over the phone or can it wait until the following week?

OP posts:
Justgivemesomepeace · 03/07/2020 15:14

We were away last year on DD's results day. In hindsight it wasn't the best idea. She was horrible for about 3 days before they came out. So snappy and obnoxious, obviously stressed about it. Luckily she did well. If she hadn't got what she needed I dread to think what it would've been like.
I'd avoid it if you can because it is quite stressful and is hanging over you relaxing. If you cant its not the end of the world.
Definitely do not be away on enrollment days for college. That threw up a couple of surprises and would have been a disaster if we had been away.

BogRollBOGOF · 03/07/2020 15:15

Many years ago, I was away when mine came out and came home to an envelope of truth...
It wasn't an issue as I was a safe bet for the courses I wanted in my school's sixth form. More problematic if the grades are likely to be borderline or transferring to another college/ setting.

noblegiraffe · 03/07/2020 15:16

Don’t plan to be away if you can avoid it, it’s a bit of a rite of passage and they may need friends around them.

Some schools also use the same day for sixth form subject registration.

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julie81 · 03/07/2020 15:16

We are Wales but got an email yesterday saying if we wanted results posted we need to let them know as soon as possible. They do like to go and get them as they see their mates. Plus this time obviously with no exams they will be apprehensive to the results. I have a year 11 and year 13. Strange times

Nat6999 · 03/07/2020 15:18

Ds school is sending results out at 8.00am via email, school is closed but have supplied phone numbers for sixth form centre, year head etc

Pipandmum · 03/07/2020 15:21

It was quite a thing for all the kids to go in and collect them when my son took the last year. Most of the teachers were there too. Not everyone goes in of course - they will post the results. It is nerve wracking and crushing if you didn't do as well as expected as it's so public!
If you are changing schools I know some require you go in person with your results on the same day.

Haskell · 03/07/2020 15:22

You need to check the 6th form he wants to attend. Our school is first-come, first-served for external applicants- we enrol on results day, and if you're not in the first 30 or so you won't get a place, even if you have10 grade 9s, because we'll be full.

gotothecooler · 03/07/2020 15:22

Do they not sign up for text/email anyway?

I'm in Scotland but the D.C. sign up and get the results through email/text at 8am. Then the certificate comes through the post about 4 hours later! I wouldn't miss a holiday for a piece of paper.

gotothecooler · 03/07/2020 15:23

Oh sorry I cross posted with a couple of people. I didn't realise the D.C. had to go into school for their results. Ours don't do that. Ignore me.

LindowMan · 03/07/2020 15:28

I can only speak for my dc but for them it was a huge rite of passage and they'd have hated to have missed it. They just wanted to be with their friends.

IwishIhadaMargarita · 03/07/2020 16:31

In Scotland we never collected ours, they came by post. My friend who lived two streets away called because she had hers so I knew mine were on the way.

SquirmOfEels · 03/07/2020 16:34

I think I've read somewhere that results will all be by email this year.

But I think they will want to be with friends. Especially as no Reading Festival this year.

So keep an eye on how reckless the plans sound. But expect gatherings in parks.

Rhubardandcustard · 03/07/2020 16:35

Depends on the results and the sixth form enrolment days. If you are there you can get help and support from teachers if you haven’t quite got the grades you need for the exams you want to sit at sixth form.
Also the sixth form my dd wants to go to there is a whole week of enrolment last week of August and we will only know nearer the time what day her appointment will be for enrolling.

fuckweasel · 03/07/2020 16:43

If next year's GCSEs are later than usual (as has been proposed) then results day may also be later.

From the Ofqual consultation:
We have asked the exam boards to consider whether GCSE exams could start after half term –which would mean the exams would not start until 7 June 2021–andwhether it would still be feasible to issue GCSE results on the planned date of 26 August 2021. We recognise that to allow time for marking, GCSE results might also have to be delayed.

Original poster
Tallace · 03/07/2020 16:48

Thanks all some good points that I hadn't thought of. My ds is normally quite laid back but i can imagine that he would be stressed in the few days before, and if the results don't go well he could be in a bad mood! I hadn't even heard of enrolment days.
I think we will book for early august.

OP posts:
Kez200 · 03/07/2020 18:38

We went away but were closeish and went home for her results in the end. Its really not nice hearing all your mates results and having to wait.

You can sign for them to be collected by someone else though. A friend did that and they scanned them, so the student received them at the same time.

BalloonSlayer · 03/07/2020 18:51

Glad you have decided not to go, OP. I just deleted a long rant post! Grin

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