Going away during GCSE exams

[changedmyname24]

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.

I would cancel/rearrange plans on the other dates the event is taking place rather than go in the middle of GCSEs.
If it’s that important then other plans can wait

We would say no.
What is the so important thing?

DD went to an all day music festival in the middle of her GCSEs. However, it was in the next city and it was on the first weekend of half term.

The break from the constant grind of revision and exams did her good, but there is no way she would have even wanted the stress of doing what your DC wants to do @changedmyname24 with going back to two exams on the Monday.

Unfortunately other times it's on a Sunday evening also in France, so he would have to miss school & parent miss work. This is in November.

😂

I’d take the day off work and allow one day of missed school for a once in a lifetime event. That’s better than going in the middle of exams tbh

I would rather do this than go mid-GCSEs. Missing a day in November is no big deal.

Do the November one then. If it's so important miss a day of school in November. Parent takes a day holiday. Ridiculous that there is another option and you are entertaining doing this in GCSEs

They haven't been published yet?

No way. Not if getting back from another country is involved.

Yes the kods need down time....but the weekends before the exams are not ones to go abroad.

This event will probably happen again in child's lifetime - he is only 15/16. It's OK to say no to kids.

Do November.

Work is term time only so doesn't allow term time days off.

The weekend plan is madness, it's obviously something like a concert and it means he'll be shattered come Monday and Tuesday... He'd do poorly in the exams he took as a result.

So the November thing instead.

What are the other things that mean you can’t go on the other dates- you are telling your son that they are more important than his exams. He needs to hear from you that his exams are the most important thing at that time and everything else will be on hold. Personally my dc was excused from all normal household chores etc during this time. They really do need to be ‘in the zone’.

No. I wouldn’t entertain it at all. I’d go as far as to say it’s your job to teach him priorities and a sports event/ pop concert/ similar should be a reward for good effort not a reason he might compromise his future. GCSEs are a once in a lifetime event.

I'm Sure you're allowed sick days 😇

I’d take missing a day of school in November over potentially fucking up 2 GCSEs.

Your family have odd priorities.

I can’t believe what I am reading. You would rather a child do badly in his exam than a parent miss a day of work.
How little you value your child’s life chances.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/Support/Examination-timetables-for-UK-Edexcel-GCSE/gcse-summer-2025-final.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj8uJSIls6HAxVPX0EAHZ4dNL0QFnoECBUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw148EGSD9Xpy0720FgGp1ii

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.ocr.org.uk/Images/711497-june-2025-final-exam-timetable-as-a-level-fsmq-and-level-3-certificate-core-maths.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj21O2ils6HAxWOTkEAHSCUJh8QFnoECAQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3gz8I4g9E6jEMUqegQupaV

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=filestore.aqa.org.uk/admin/t_table_pdf/AQA-TT-GCSE-JUN25-CONFIRMED.PDF&ved=2ahUKEwjUjuycls6HAxXnWUEAHeXiBMMQFnoECAQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0K3Vs4apLLrXpbLMN_D7-T

Exam TTs.

Go in November obviously!

Then I'd say no to this, different if it was in the UK and you could drive. But you could get stuck for any number of reasons and miss the exams on the Monday. It's just not worth the stress if you need to rely on transport home/plain/train/boat and things possibly going wrong.

GCSEs are INTENSE. They cram so many exams into such short times, especially if you are doing 11. We went away in the Easter holidays and daughter wasn't happy about it - said she didn't have time and we would make her fail and all sorts of drama!

Really not comfortable with taking a sick day when not sick!

Sorry just seen you work term time. So that’s that, dc can’t go. Exams are important, above all else.

Of course not. Every time they are ever asked their GCSE results going forward they would have to include the Us, and not to do so is fraud.