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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:
Janus · 30/07/2024 21:44

Having had 2 flights last year cancelled at the very last minute and serious disruption with the eurotunnel meaning getting in 5 hours late this year, no! One of mine being in middle of GCSEs this year I refused to go away in May at all. Our first cancelled flight in Venice took us an extra 3 days to get home from, the next one 2 extra days. I would not ever go abroad the weekend of GCSEs for this reason. You think it’s not going to happen but it does and when it does it’s chaos trying to get an alternative route home.

Waterboatlass · 30/07/2024 21:55

I know this is very naughty and not a great lesson but did you say he's 15y and 11 m? If you honestly can't make Nov work then would a fake ID be permissable this once for 16 (he can't buy booze and you can remove it again after the gig). Just for the purposes of the gig. Is that a terrible suggestion? I actually can't decide!

I feel like he won't switch from concentrate on Fri, gig weekend, back on it Monday.

RampantIvy · 30/07/2024 22:02

More and more places have sophisticated scanners that can spot fake ID these days. DD never used fake ID because no-one she knew looked anything like her.

At 24 she still has to carry ID with her because she looks about 15.

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Waterboatlass · 30/07/2024 22:19

Ah fair enough, I didn't know whether fakes had improved too

Umbrella15 · 30/07/2024 22:48

The simple answer is no, I wouldnt

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 30/07/2024 22:55

Other than passport or maybe Oyster card there isn’t much other I’d a 16 year old would have, is there?

Decorhate · 30/07/2024 22:56

For the event you have described, absolutely no way. Too much can go wrong but in any case I personally don’t arrange family holidays for Easter or May half term in exam years. It would never occur to me or mine that going away during exams is on the cards.

capermum · 30/07/2024 23:50

Fake id for the london gig?

capermum · 30/07/2024 23:52

capermum · 30/07/2024 23:50

Fake id for the london gig?

Sorry didn’t see lots have posted about this - my cousin got his daughter fake if it works fine and if he’s with her no problem

clary · 31/07/2024 00:16

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 30/07/2024 22:55

Other than passport or maybe Oyster card there isn’t much other I’d a 16 year old would have, is there?

Provisional driving licence is the usual one - cheaper than a passport.

Dany0909 · 31/07/2024 00:38

Just let them do it ffs. They'll be fine. GCSEs barely matter now anyway. I got all A* and As and, other than getting into sixth form, have only ever been asked for proof of having a minimum of a C in maths and English. I'm glad my mum let me have the experiences I did as a teenager.

clary · 31/07/2024 00:44

other than getting into sixth form

That's the point tho surely @Dany0909 - GCSE grades are needed for sixth form. More and more I read on here of sixth forms that require a certain points score or a specific number of 6s, or 6s in certain subjects even to study other subjects.

I agree, beyond that I have never been asked for my grades beyond maths and English. But their purpose is as a gateway. Incidentally now that very few schools sit ASs, they are also the only actual set of exam grades when applying to uni - I don't think many unis have high requirements here but some do.

Notthatcatagain · 31/07/2024 01:11

It would never enter my head to say no. What they don't know by that stage is already beyond them. Looking back at how stressful a time it was for my DC anything that offers a respite is a good idea. In any case, once they start A levels then gcses are rapidly forgotten. I have no idea now what either of mine took and I'm pretty sure they don't remember either. I took none at all, left school at 15 and learned as I went on. I did pretty well really overall. Retired from a fairly senior job

Mummamap · 31/07/2024 04:38

Yes! My DD went away for a weekend during her GCSE’s - obviously we don’t have results yet but if they have worked hard and done their revision it should make little difference

Sandyankles · 31/07/2024 04:57

Very odd last two responses. It’s not that the kids need to be swotting (although it sounds like OPs ds might be the last minute sort) but that they need to be resting. A trip to a concert over a weekend will be exhausting and distracting- there will be no time to catch up till the following weekend, and the previous week will be affected by packing, excitement too.
And obviously the risk of actually missing the exams.

I have had to put my gcse grades down many times over the years, and wouldn’t have got into the uni I wanted without them. They do matter.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 31/07/2024 06:13

I agree his reaction to being told November with mum or not at all would be telling about just how important this is to him.

if it’s truly important, he’ll take that. In the meantime your dh asks his employer if they would accept a day off for him.

Piggywaspushed · 31/07/2024 06:43

I took none at all, left school at 15 and learned as I went on. I did pretty well really overall. Retired from a fairly senior job

Times have changed a lot you know...

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 31/07/2024 06:46

Lots of kids do leave straight after GCSEs still and go into apprenticeships- most of which only need 4s or 5s at gcse, but if this was the route the OPs ds was planning on taking, it’s unlikely this would even be a conversation.

There’s a lot to be said for having options.

RampantIvy · 31/07/2024 07:12

Just let them do it ffs. They'll be fine. GCSEs barely matter now anyway.

Oh yes, they do these days @Dany0909, especially at 16. They are are a stepping stone to the next education step. Poor grades mean you may not get into the post 16 of your choice or take the A levels you want to take. Since A levels were reformed a few years ago the step up to them is greater, and unless there were extenuating circumstances, if you get poor grades at GCSE you will struggle with the subject at A level. They matter less once you have achieved A levels/degree/post grad, but employers still want GCSE maths and English.

Having good GCSE results gives young people far more options. DD's university places was dependent on having a high result in GCSE maths as well as achieving her A levels (STEM degree).

It would never enter my head to say no

The gig is in France @Notthatcatagain and @Mummamap. The risks of something preventing them from getting back to the UK in time for Monday's exams are too high to leave to chance.

Why do posters who left education decades ago not realise that times have changed? The "in my day" posts are unhelpful and irrelevant.

@Notthatcatagain most employers require young people to have at least maths and English GCSE these days. You are behind the times.

Waterboatlass · 31/07/2024 07:14

He's not on for amazing grades and he point is it's a really tight turnaround plus not really once in a lifetime. Tere are several other chances to go. I'm usually really relaxed but I just think wants to be given clear guidance here.

Plus the last two replies don't make much sense in this instance. GCSEs didnt affect me but a) I got all As and A*s and b) I left school decades ago.

I went for a big carer change at 34 I couldn't have foreseen at 15 and had to show my GCSEs so they aren't left behind at 6th form.

If he was breezing it and it was a true one off that may be different but OP, get his dad onside to make a later date work.

Rottweilermummy · 31/07/2024 07:22

I think let him go, he's with parent. All day Sunday to get back and at least you are in South East, if they book an earliesh train there is leeway to get back if that is cancelled , he can also revise on the journey

LadyPenelope68 · 31/07/2024 07:27

Absolutely not. It’s a band, not a once in a lifetime thing. GCSE’s are way more important than seeing a band, they can affect the next stage in their academic/work career that has an impact on the rest of their life.

Thatcatdrivesmenuts · 31/07/2024 10:55

RampantIvy · 31/07/2024 07:12

Just let them do it ffs. They'll be fine. GCSEs barely matter now anyway.

Oh yes, they do these days @Dany0909, especially at 16. They are are a stepping stone to the next education step. Poor grades mean you may not get into the post 16 of your choice or take the A levels you want to take. Since A levels were reformed a few years ago the step up to them is greater, and unless there were extenuating circumstances, if you get poor grades at GCSE you will struggle with the subject at A level. They matter less once you have achieved A levels/degree/post grad, but employers still want GCSE maths and English.

Having good GCSE results gives young people far more options. DD's university places was dependent on having a high result in GCSE maths as well as achieving her A levels (STEM degree).

It would never enter my head to say no

The gig is in France @Notthatcatagain and @Mummamap. The risks of something preventing them from getting back to the UK in time for Monday's exams are too high to leave to chance.

Why do posters who left education decades ago not realise that times have changed? The "in my day" posts are unhelpful and irrelevant.

@Notthatcatagain most employers require young people to have at least maths and English GCSE these days. You are behind the times.

Yes Im old but Im pretty sure that any young person who cant get maths and English has bigger problems than the risk of a delayed flight

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 31/07/2024 11:08

But the OPs son can get good grades - if he manages to be in the exam hall on time and not completely knackered.

not getting good grades because you just aren’t bright enough is sad. Not getting good grades because you missed the exam (because of a stuck flight/rail strike/farmers blocking the port ) is tragic. Not getting on the course you want for A levels meaning you can’t get on the degree you want at uni all because you wanted to go to a gig with dad not mum and dad couldn’t get a day off work in November (and refuses to even ask) is going to have longer lasting effects than being a fan of this band.

Wishihadanalgorithm · 31/07/2024 11:14

Only if retaking GCSEs isn’t going to be a problem.

This Would be a hard no from me.

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