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Original poster

Going away during GCSE exams

263 replies

changedmyname24 · 30/07/2024 07:11

Would you allow your DC to go away for the weekend during GCSE exams, for something they desperately want to do & may not get the chance to do again. Would be on weekend 2 of 3 weeks of exams.

Said child is very bright & got nothing below a 4 in Year 10 exams, also got 2 8s & 2 9s (taking 11 subjects). Is capable of 9s in most subjects (except about 4 of them). School report indicated areas of concern in 2 subjects re independent learning (teacher feels lack of effort).

One parent is ok with this, the other is not.

OP posts:
Greydogs123 · 30/07/2024 07:13

The fact there are areas of concern and teachers feel there is a lack of effort would make me say no to going away. If they could prove between now and then a clear improvement in effort and results, then I might change my mind.

Kawaii50 · 30/07/2024 07:14

I would consider the transport, if flights are involved, definitely not as delays could mean missed exams

storminabuttercup · 30/07/2024 07:15

Is it something that is only happening those weekends? Never to be repeated kind of thing or will it be on the following year?
I think if they were committed to revise evenings and for a longer time in the run up and that it wasn't likely to leave them shattered for exams I would.

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Iasonnas · 30/07/2024 07:17

Hard to say without knowing what the thing is

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 30/07/2024 07:18

Where do those week subjects fit in the exam timetable (should be online now), do they have an exam the Monday after they come back.

What time do they come back on the Sunday. Agree with PP there needs to be a backup plan for getting home - flying would be a no no and if it's train not relying on a late one.

Is the event itself both days or just for example a Saturday evening gig and the rest of the time is travelling to the town.

LlynTegid · 30/07/2024 07:18

Family wedding perhaps, if someone was to die and a funeral. Not otherwise.

MumChp · 30/07/2024 07:19

It would depend on what the arrangement is.

TheBlackCatWithTheWhiteSpot · 30/07/2024 07:19

I personally think by the time exams have started you should be mainly resting in between, not revising, so I wouldn’t worry about a weekend out, I think it’s good for your mental health, resilience and stamina.

But if there was any chance of being delayed getting back, then I would be reluctant to allow it.

MultiplaLight · 30/07/2024 07:19

Weekend 2 of 3 weeks must be before half term? Exams are longer than 3 weeks.

Personally I wouldn't unless it was Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. Any longer and they wouldn't be going.

TenThousandSpoons · 30/07/2024 07:19

Depends what it is.
Sounds like they need to put a lot of work in to get to their potential best grades so would have to be something incredible.

llamajohn · 30/07/2024 07:22

Really depends on what it is and how far away I suppose. Would they be going with you?

Izzynohopanda · 30/07/2024 07:23

Not for gcse exams. The timetable is quite fierce and they have exams most days, so there wouldn’t be much gap between them. Plus they would come back tired.

If you knew the to timetable now, and knew they wouldn’t gave an exam until several days later, possibly. However, the chances are they’d have an exam the day after returning.

You also say he’s capable of 9s, but only showing 4s at the moment. That’s a big leap from 4 to 9 in a year.

Octavia64 · 30/07/2024 07:24

Your child will be exhausted just by the exams.

If the weekend away is to relax I'd think about it, although with the risks of delayed flights and trains I'd be very worried about missing exams.

If it's to compete or train or perform then your child will not enjoy it and not do well.

Ellmau · 30/07/2024 07:27

No. The exams are vital for their future.

But what is the event and why will it not recur?

RampantIvy · 30/07/2024 07:27

If weekend 2 is the first weekend of half term then a break might be a good idea. Otherwise I would say not.

I personally think by the time exams have started you should be mainly resting in between, not revising

Hmm, I'm not sure I agree with you @TheBlackCatWithTheWhiteSpot. DD continued revising between exams for GCSEs, AS and A levels, and did extremely well. She did have breaks as well between revision sessions.

Original poster
changedmyname24 · 30/07/2024 07:27

Interesting mix of answers so far!

I can't give exact details as very outing, but it is an event on the Saturday evening, but in France- we are SE England. He has 2 exams on the Monday. Event has other dates we can't make. Would be travelling with 1 parent.

OP posts:
CherryBlossomFestival · 30/07/2024 07:28

I did, in a similar situation. But it was a big family event over a Bank Holiday weekend, and everyone was understanding about her needing to duck out for a few hours every afternoon to revise, and to spend the whole journey both ways revising.

We also had a two day buffer (in case of travel delays) before the next exam. And she was predicted 8/9 across the board based on her mocks, and is very conscientious.

ViscountDreams · 30/07/2024 07:29

This year my ds's GCSEs were over six weeks, not 3.

The timetable is quite fierce and they have exams most days, so there wouldn’t be much gap between them

Not in our experience. Ds's were fairly spread out. It depends on your subjects and how many exams (and for some, resits) you have to do.

RampantIvy · 30/07/2024 07:30

changedmyname24 · 30/07/2024 07:27

Interesting mix of answers so far!

I can't give exact details as very outing, but it is an event on the Saturday evening, but in France- we are SE England. He has 2 exams on the Monday. Event has other dates we can't make. Would be travelling with 1 parent.

I would say no in this case. Delays, strikes, exceptional weather could all mean they might not be back in time.

You can tell I'm quite risk averse.

ViscountDreams · 30/07/2024 07:30

How do you have your dc's specific GCSE timetable nearly a year in advance op?

WhereAreWeNow · 30/07/2024 07:30

Having just been through DD's GCSEs, I'd say no. The timetable was so intense and she was so stressed, she would have popped if we'd tried to fit in a trip away in the middle of it all.

User364837 · 30/07/2024 07:31

France?
no way
too high a risk of travel disruption
also tiredness impacting on exams after

WhereAreWeNow · 30/07/2024 07:31

ViscountDreams · 30/07/2024 07:30

How do you have your dc's specific GCSE timetable nearly a year in advance op?

I was wondering same thing. We didn't find out the timetable until some time in spring.

Cheeesus · 30/07/2024 07:31

Depends on how tiring the weekend would be.

With 11 GSCEs they can afford to miss a couple completely can’t they?

Octavia64 · 30/07/2024 07:31

It's a question of the importance of the event.

So if for example it was an audition for a music course that he needed to pass to get into his dream course then yes I'd probably make it happen (although most music and dance places don't do auditions in the middle of gcses for obvious reasons).

Family funeral or wedding also falls into that category although I'd be cutting my attendance as short as possible.

The fact it is in France is concerning as ferries/trains etc can have problems. Are the exams on the Monday maths or English or subjects he is planning to take further?

The admin for dealing with a a missed gcse exam is really not fun.

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