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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:
Original poster
changedmyname24 · 30/07/2024 07:32

ViscountDreams · 30/07/2024 07:30

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

You can see by exam boards when they will be.

OP posts:
EasterlyDirections · 30/07/2024 07:32

No as it's in France. Too much risk of transport delays getting back. Only exception would be if they didn't have any exams before about Weds of the following week. Mine was revising steadily between exams and we didn't go away anywhere from Easter on.

Octavia64 · 30/07/2024 07:33

The exam boards publish the gcse timetables significantly in advance.

These are provisional however and it has been known for exams to move which is why schools only release to parents once they are confirmed (usually spring term).

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ThePure · 30/07/2024 07:34

No way would I be entertaining this.

If you somehow got stranded in France and he missed 2 exams you would never forgive yourself. Just needs some French people to go on strike which is not a rare event. Can you imagine the stress of being stuck with him missing an exam?

Is it a once in a lifetime thing? Can he not go the next year?

EasterlyDirections · 30/07/2024 07:34

Just seem you've said exams on the Monday. Unless it was literally once in a lifetime / potentially lifechanging event that'd be a NO. Wouldn't make an exception for a wedding.

Original poster
changedmyname24 · 30/07/2024 07:34

He would not be participating in anything. It's for an event he desperately wants to go & watch. Tickets would need to be bought soon - he will pay.

OP posts:
ForDaringNavyOP · 30/07/2024 07:36

I think planning something nice in between exams is good in theory. However, it should be relatively short and entirely flexible. I would be wary of booking something based on their feelings now, as pressure really steps up in Year 11 and they may well end up more focussed and really wanting to revise that weekend- especially with two exams the Monday.

I would say try and move whatever you have on the other potential dates if you possibly can and that would likely be less of an issue.

clary · 30/07/2024 07:37

GCSE timetable will not be finalised yet but a version is online.

I am puzzled by "three weeks of exams" but maybe you mean the three weeks before half term?

I don't think I would be keen on a trip abroad tbh as so many other factors are involved - and I am not especially risk averse. DS2 wanted to do a sporting activity over a weekend in GCSE exam period and I said no. He actually came to agree with me. It would have been a special thing, but not once in a lifetime in the end.

So overall I would say no. Why can't you make the other dates? Is there any flex there - bc I would say an exam on Monday means you can't make a date that sees you returning from France on the Sunday.

NightBirdy · 30/07/2024 07:38

No, too risky with exams on Monday.

Sandyankles · 30/07/2024 07:38

Absolutely not then!! Like, no way!!

Also you say he’s getting 4s but capable of 9s - that is a huge difference and he will need to work exceptionally hard to make that up. Have the teachers actually said he’s capable of 9s. IME (as a teacher) a child capable of 9s would be getting 6s and probably 7s by this stage.

Tumbleweed101 · 30/07/2024 07:40

Probably not. I say that as a parent of a child going into Y11 in Sept. I think the amount of travel is risky if there is an exam on the Monday or Tuesday.

I do agree that having nice things mixed in is good but for the sake of needing to focus for a month it isn't worth the worry.

Meadowfinch · 30/07/2024 07:40

France - no, definitely not.

It would only take for bad weather or french farmers to blockade ports, or an air traffic controllers' strike for that rapidly to turn into missed exams. Far too much risk, just to watch something.

Plus my ds has just finished his GCSEs and it was very intense. He was very tired. Certainly wouldn't have been helped by travelling abroad at the weekend.

MultiplaLight · 30/07/2024 07:41

I wouldn't want to be stuck in France scoring 0 on two exams.

At least in the UK you haven't got to cross water to be home.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 30/07/2024 07:42

No- strikes happen a lot , no way would I accept overseas trip on the weekend when they had 2 exams on the Monday. It’s too much of a risk.

French strikes to ports /air travel, bad weather, so much could go wrong and you have a tight timeframe to get them home. If next exam was Tuesday so you could aim to travel home Sunday but had Monday to play with, I might go for it.

This is worth a proper conversation about life choices and the limits that poor exam results can cause long term. If your child is capable of 9s, you’ll always blame that that trip if they just scrap through.

Loopytiles · 30/07/2024 07:42

to france, saturday before 2 exams on Monday, to spectate, no way!

Original poster
changedmyname24 · 30/07/2024 07:42

Sandyankles · 30/07/2024 07:38

Absolutely not then!! Like, no way!!

Also you say he’s getting 4s but capable of 9s - that is a huge difference and he will need to work exceptionally hard to make that up. Have the teachers actually said he’s capable of 9s. IME (as a teacher) a child capable of 9s would be getting 6s and probably 7s by this stage.

The subject he got a 4 in is not one he is predicted a 9 for. Although he is having tutoring in this & the other weaker subjects (just started). He got 5 in the other weaker subjects, 7s, 8s & 9s in stronger subjects.

Seems like exams go on for longer than I thought though! Talking about the weekend one week after half term.

OP posts:
llamajohn · 30/07/2024 07:42

I wouldn't call a child bright who got 4s in their GCSEs 🤷‍♀️

MultiplaLight · 30/07/2024 07:42

Why can't you make the other dates? I'd move plans around them tbh!

Fizbosshoes · 30/07/2024 07:43

Dd went to a concert on a Saturday during exam season and got back after 1am.
She wanted to go to another one on a Sunday but I said no, knowing there was a risk of a late night/early morning and exam on Monday.

Flossflower · 30/07/2024 07:43

Definitely not. Nothing can be as precious as his exams. Travel disruption and tiredness very likely. There is also the chance that if he is going to a crowded event he could pick up a virus.

user8800 · 30/07/2024 07:43

No way in another country!
Delays, traffic...we've just had a 15 hour trip that should have taken 4 max to Europe.
It was grim.

Octavia64 · 30/07/2024 07:43

For what it's worth, if he misses the exam for a valid reason, special consideration will be applied.

https://www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/special-requirements/special-consideration

In particular, the guidance for special consideration states that being on holiday at the time of the exams is not a valid reason and as a result if he missed the exam it will
Have a major effect on his gcse grades.

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Guidetoospecconnprocess2023324FINAL.pdf

There have been circumstances in the past where special circumstances have been allowed - the explosion in Iceland that grounded all flights and meant people were significantly delayed would be an example - but a ferry or rail strike in France is completely foreseeable (they go on strike at the drop of a hat) so in this case I'd be very surprised if he got special circumstances.

user8800 · 30/07/2024 07:43

...and it doesn't sound like effort is being made in some subjects?

Sandyankles · 30/07/2024 07:44

You may find that by the time the reality of exams is near and everyone else is working hard he might not want to go anyway. They are knackered by the weekends and really do need some early nights and lie ins to recover for the next week. 11 subjects will mean a packed schedule. My DS has just taken 10 GCSEs and had exams every day apart from 3 or 4 across the exam period, with quite a few days of two exams.

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