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Original poster

Would you go on holiday the week your child gets their A level results?

126 replies

NoNameisGoodEnough · 11/08/2025 08:34

I'm curious what people's opinions are about this.

DD gets her A level results this week. I have had the date in the calendar for months and ensured that the day was clear. I know DD might disappear off to the pub or whatever and probably won't need us but I wanted to ensure I'd be around to celebrate / support / whatever is necessary.

Someone I know is going on holiday this week, without their 18 year old, leaving them to get their results by themselves.

To me, this seems really awful. However, DD is our only. We both work in education so can be around. It might well be that I am the weird one for being so involved! When I got mine, my mum was at work, fair enough, so I called her to tell her my results and then we went out for a meal that evening.

I just wondered if anyone else would book a holiday for the week their child gets results.

OP posts:
HelloHattie · 11/08/2025 08:35

No

Starlight40 · 11/08/2025 08:35

No

incognitomouse · 11/08/2025 08:37

No, we planned our holidays around it.

Mumdiva99 · 11/08/2025 08:38

Doesn't it depend on what they next step is for the child? If your child has a job lined up, then no big deal. If your child is hoping to go to Uni and there is some query on whether they will get the required grades for their first choice then maybe you would want to be around. (The child may have an unconditional offer....so doesn't need a parent around).
It also depends on family circumstances. Are the 2 parents going - or is one parent still around.

We went away over gcse results - because I hadn't thought to stay home. My son got his results sent to him by a friend.

Pepperama · 11/08/2025 08:39

I’d want to be there for their big life events, and for me, this is one.

TeenLifeMum · 11/08/2025 08:39

No but I have an unpredictable dc who may need support/clearing. Every family is different.

RosieBurdock · 11/08/2025 08:40

I wouldn't but a friend has gone abroad with her dd. They've arranged for a friend to pick up the results. She will definitely get into her uni regardless of results so don't have to worry about that, whereas there's a chance my dd won't get in due to the grades needed

TeenLifeMum · 11/08/2025 08:40

Mumdiva99 · 11/08/2025 08:38

Doesn't it depend on what they next step is for the child? If your child has a job lined up, then no big deal. If your child is hoping to go to Uni and there is some query on whether they will get the required grades for their first choice then maybe you would want to be around. (The child may have an unconditional offer....so doesn't need a parent around).
It also depends on family circumstances. Are the 2 parents going - or is one parent still around.

We went away over gcse results - because I hadn't thought to stay home. My son got his results sent to him by a friend.

It didn’t occur to you that most dc collect their gcse results?

Temporalagency · 11/08/2025 08:42

DD had a friend who was on holiday with their parents. That was unusual in this area because most parents we know wanted to be there for good or bad results but I can't imagine going away and leaving the child by themselves for it. It might be ok for some but DD 3 had disastrous results and I (and she) would have struggled not being there for her for that.

Original poster
NoNameisGoodEnough · 11/08/2025 08:43

Mumdiva99 · 11/08/2025 08:38

Doesn't it depend on what they next step is for the child? If your child has a job lined up, then no big deal. If your child is hoping to go to Uni and there is some query on whether they will get the required grades for their first choice then maybe you would want to be around. (The child may have an unconditional offer....so doesn't need a parent around).
It also depends on family circumstances. Are the 2 parents going - or is one parent still around.

We went away over gcse results - because I hadn't thought to stay home. My son got his results sent to him by a friend.

Next step for this person is uni and place is not guaranteed so might need support to consider options.

The rest of the family is going on holiday.

OP posts:
Twoshoesnewshoes · 11/08/2025 08:43

I accidentally did this. It was all fine andDD partied on without incident but it’s not a great idea.

TombsofAtuan · 11/08/2025 08:43

It would depend entirely on circumstances.

taxidriver · 11/08/2025 08:43

if uni application was involved then no

itsgettingweird · 11/08/2025 08:46

Would depend on what child felt tbh.

I was away when I got my gcse results - back int he day they were posted and my neighbour went in and read them over the phone to me.

If the child has an unconditional offer to uni or an apprenticeship already secured and plans to be with friends it’s entirely different to if you’re likely to need to support them through clearing or a conditional offer.

My ds was gcse covid year and they collected results but he wanted me around because it was all so up in the air exactly what results would look like and his college place depended on them.

He also wanted me to go with him for his T level results but both times I waited in the car as he wanted me present and that was it.

WimpoleHat · 11/08/2025 08:47

No. If there’s a conditional university place involved, you may need to discuss (and pay for!) remarks with the school. You may need to navigate applying for different university accommodation/ the clearing system etc. Not really fair to leave an 18 year old to sort all that out on their own, especially as those decisions could have long term repercussions.

crumblingschools · 11/08/2025 08:49

Did the 18yo ask to stay home because of results day?

ChipKing · 11/08/2025 08:49

No. I'm relatively confident but I've kept Thursday and Friday free on the off chance.

I'm also a bit scarred by my parents though. They insisted on going away over my brother's O level results and I remember his face coming back and opening the envelope at 3am and finding out he'd failed two weeks beforehand and was two weeks behind finding somewhere to do retakes, and all his mates were sorted because it was long ago. I got one of my A level results by phoning my teacher at home because we were on holiday, again I failed that one and would have preferred to be in school.

Glassesforclasses · 11/08/2025 08:50

No I wouldn't because my family left me home to collect my gcse results while they went on holiday. It wasn't just the collecting it was not having someone around in the build up for reassurance, then all my friends going out to celebrate with families and I was on my own.
I wouldn't necessarily expect to be needed/included but I'd want them to know I'm their physically and emotionally.

Thaawtsom · 11/08/2025 08:53

No. I have A' level results and GCSE results this year and have made sure that I am here and not travelling for work. A'levels b/c not sure DC will have got grades needed for uni choice(s) and there could well be things he needs support with; GCSEs because, although place at 6th form fairly safe, DC has said that it would be better if I were here rather than overseas.

BeMellowAquaSquid · 11/08/2025 08:55

Absolutely not. I’m so super excited for Thursday’s results hell or high water wouldn’t get me missing it. I’ve also been invited to celebrate at the local Spoons with all DD’s friends so have a half day booked really going to enjoy it whatever the result.

Original poster
NoNameisGoodEnough · 11/08/2025 08:58

BeMellowAquaSquid · 11/08/2025 08:55

Absolutely not. I’m so super excited for Thursday’s results hell or high water wouldn’t get me missing it. I’ve also been invited to celebrate at the local Spoons with all DD’s friends so have a half day booked really going to enjoy it whatever the result.

I love this!

OP posts:
Waitingfordoggo · 11/08/2025 08:59

Oh I must be a terrible mother. Last year, DH, DS and I were away camping while DD got her A Level results (no Uni plans). And then the week after that, DH, DD and I were away while DS got his GCSE results (we were in Europe at the wedding of a very old friend which we couldn’t miss). In both cases, both DC had declined the offer to come away with us in favour of staying to collect their results (they could have come with us and had a friend collect their results). Everyone was happy with this, but I feel like an awful parent now I’ve read all these responses. 😂

FrenchandSaunders · 11/08/2025 09:15

No I wouldn't and didn't, unless it was unavoidable like a family wedding or similar. Even then I wouldn't be happy. These are milestones that parents should be there for, whether that's celebrating or commiserating and forming another plan.

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 11/08/2025 09:19

It's a really crap thing to do to your child, especially if they are at risk of having to run the clearing gauntlet.

Not sure why you think you are seeing this through some odd lens because you have an only child? I have three and I wouldn't do this to any of my children, I'm just not a selfish arsehole.

MrsAvocet · 11/08/2025 09:21

No, not if their next plans are conditional on results. Yes, technically they're adults, (probably, though as few will still be 17 ) but it's a stressful time and if there are any issues I wouldn't have wanted to be away. Fortunately all my DC's results days were straightforward but they had a few friends who needed to go through clearing or suddenly make different plans and it was a very stressful day for them. I can't imagine leaving my children to deal with that alone.