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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:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/08/2025 11:05

Heavens no!

Talking of which, I still remember a talk by the brilliant head of DDs’ senior school, telling the girls themselves NOT to be on holiday when the results come out, because if they hadn’t got the results they needed, ‘…no university will be remotely impressed by your parents speaking to Clearing on your behalf, because you’re up a banana tree in Africa.’ 😂

Newmeagain · 11/08/2025 11:10

I was away last year but together with DD. Her results were being sent to by email so it made no difference.

SJM1988 · 11/08/2025 11:12

My parents did when I got my A Levels. It didn't bother me. They were on the end of a phone if I needed them. I had a conditional offer somewhere we were 99% sure I would get the grades for.
They celebrated with my when they got back. And I spent the day and that night at a friends house so I wasn't alone.

MostArdently · 11/08/2025 11:15

My mum and dad this. Took my siblings and I stayed. We had an ill relative living with us at the time too but another family member also moved in for the two weeks they were away to do his care so I didn’t have to do that. I luckily got the results I needed. I wouldn’t do that to my kids.

HarperStern · 11/08/2025 11:16

Friend was away for her dc's gcse results and there was a nightmare with a missing paper in a core subject, which she had to try to manage from a distance - very difficult and the poor dc ended up having to resit. She would never go on holiday during an exam period again.

Years ago when my O-level results came out (that many years ago!) a friend who lived a long way away was staying at my house for the week. She had to get her mum to open the results envelope and read them down the phone! I could not have coped with that. (The results were all good fortunately!)

EssentiallyDecluttering · 11/08/2025 11:23

Also, if you've got an only you can go away from late June as soon as the exams/contingency day is over. It's just this one week and maybe the start of next week to avoid, I know there can be other factors such as getting time off work, issues with the other parent if not together etc but there are plenty of other weeks to choose from.

BeaLola · 11/08/2025 11:29

No I wouldn't go - I biked the day off work last year for GCSE results and will be doing the sane for next years results

That said we only have an only . In non exam years I prefer to take the last 2 weeks of the summer holidays off as annual leave for our family holiday

We had friends who went away for 2weeks last year with their 2 children - exam results came in the middle - their DS is the Golden Child predicted straight 9s as well - they were very blasé about it all - sadly he did not do as well as expected and did not take it well at all - first time in his life he has not achieved what he expected - he's also very sporty and good at sport - I think from the snippets mentioned the holiday was awful post results

Denim4ever · 11/08/2025 11:29

TeenLifeMum · 11/08/2025 08:40

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

Show quote history

I think collecting results stopped being a thing years ago where we live. They get sent by email and everything happens via email inc sixth form. Same process with A Levels.

However, I would not be on holiday for results days. Sorting things out from a base at home is easier. Accepting offers etc., plus they will want to go out with their mates not be away.

betsy99 · 11/08/2025 11:30

We were at one of my relative's wedding abroad for DS2 A Levels results but he already had an apprentiship lined up so we went to the wedding as DS A Levels were just a formality. If he changed his mind about University, DH would have stayed behind. We had to navigate clearing with DS1, and there is no way I could leave an 18yo to do that on his own with us at the other end of the phone in blooming Ireland.

growinguptobreakingdown · 11/08/2025 11:32

No.She has worked her butt off for 2 years .I want to be there to show I am proud of her whatever the results.In our case she will need support if she does or doesn't get the grades!

mrsfeatherbottom · 11/08/2025 11:39

No. My parents were away when I got my A level results and I did much worse than predicted and had to deal with it on my own. It was very stressful.

Safxxx · 11/08/2025 11:41

It's such a important time, can be nerve wracking and exciting ...I would always be there for my kids...mine will get his GCSE results soon 🙏

handslikecowstits · 11/08/2025 11:41

My parents did in the 90s. On the day I got them (grades were what I wanted) my grandmother died so I had to tell my father that his mother had passed away when they phoned me to ask about my results. That was 'fun' as you can imagine.

I wouldn't go away when my child was awaiting results. I'd want to be there to congratulate/commiserate in person.

Original poster
NoNameisGoodEnough · 11/08/2025 11:56

I think it's different if the 'child' is away with their family (although still not great as nerves/stress have the potential to overshadow the holiday) as they are supported. I'm not sure about going away and leaving them to deal with it all themselves. Even if it is all good news, and no stress to deal with, surely you would want to celebrate with them.

OP posts:
Delphigirl · 11/08/2025 11:57

Why judge? Each person makes decisions based on what is best for their child. If child is not intending to go to uni at all/until after gap year, then why do parents need to be there? If there is a very safe insurance choice, then why do parents need to be there? If child is adamant that she doesn’t want parents around, why do parents need to be there when they can advise at the end of a phone if necessary?

Delphigirl · 11/08/2025 11:58

My nephew is interrailing and will be in Bratislava or somewhere on results day. He has decided if he doesn’t get into firm or insurance he will take a gap year and not make any quick decisions. Reapply. He didn’t need to be in the same country as his parents on results day.

PinkCherryPie · 11/08/2025 12:06

I was on holiday for both GCSE and A-Level results, but we were away as a whole family. We always had the same two weeks away as it was when the factory my dad worked at shut down.

I'm not sure I would have minded if my parents were there or not, but it was a long time ago now (25 years 😭).

The results were posted to my house by the school so when we got home I remember locking myself in the toilet to open them.

SatsumaDog · 11/08/2025 12:09

Probably not no. We happened to be on holiday with DS when he got his (Scotland) so we were all together. But I wouldn’t go off and leave them on their own.

BadActingParsley · 11/08/2025 12:09

I was away with a friend in Ireland when I got mine - had to ring up from a phone booth.

GCSEs fairly sure I was away for that too and had to ring home....

TeenLifeMum · 11/08/2025 12:17

Denim4ever · 11/08/2025 11:29

I think collecting results stopped being a thing years ago where we live. They get sent by email and everything happens via email inc sixth form. Same process with A Levels.

However, I would not be on holiday for results days. Sorting things out from a base at home is easier. Accepting offers etc., plus they will want to go out with their mates not be away.

Show quote history

Interesting, where do you live? You definitely pick up round here - Somerset and Dorset (on the border I have dc at secondary schools in each county)

ShallIstart · 11/08/2025 12:23

Yes, I would. I was independant by that age. I told my mum my gcse results then that was it, I dont even think she knows what A level subject I took. The results are the results, they can tell you them on facetime. I don't personally sre what the big deal is to be there. Either you get the grades you want or you dont. The result won't change because you are physically there.

NaughtyTortieOwner00 · 11/08/2025 12:23

For us just no.

However I image it varies - if there's another parent around who can support, or a gap year is being had before uni or a job where the grades are less important than for uni applications.

If everything goes well with uni applictaions - it's all fine but if it doesn't then that when you need to able to move fast and teens will likely need support to make decisions.

I was working - Dmum went and got mine from the school and I she came and told me in my break - not what I wanted but enough to get me into second choice - had to finish my shift got home and ring first choice uni to be told they'd accepted me.

MrsAvocet · 11/08/2025 12:29

TeenLifeMum · 11/08/2025 12:17

Interesting, where do you live? You definitely pick up round here - Somerset and Dorset (on the border I have dc at secondary schools in each county)

Show quote history

Same here. My DC's former school specifically made it clear that they do not send results by email. You have to go in or phone, and the window for phoning starts later in the day than pick up time. Which is fine if you log on to your UCAS account and see that you have been accepted on your course of course - last year my DS rolled over and went back to sleep after he had seen that and wasn't in a big hurry to collect his actual results. But if you haven't got the place you want and are going to have to go through clearing then you'd want to be doing that as soon as possible with your results in hand. My DC's school say that they want to have contact with every pupil on results day, preferably in person but on the phone if unavoidable, so that they can check that everything is ok and provide support if it's needed.

gingercat02 · 11/08/2025 12:32

Nope, DS has a levels next year and definitely wants to be at home. They all go in together (without parents). One of my friends is away with her 18yo and won't be home until Sunday. They are the only people I know to ever have done that.
You.need to be at home with your mates and be available for offers discussions and clearing if needed.

NOHotel · 11/08/2025 12:33

No but most years I see hoards of kids going to collect their results on their own.

I’ll be there for gcse results next week. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.