holiday in termtime year 11

[Lisajane2810]

its my husbands 40th next october. his history of ill health is in my previous threads. we would really like to go on a cruise and want to book it soon and pay it off monthly. however just told daughter who has just started year 10 and she has just burst into tears saying its an important school year etc not the reaction i was expecting! i feel he deserves this and would really like him to be away on his actual birthday the 18th. would it be awful to be off school for a week? she will see some amazing places that could come under history!

Year 11? I really wouldn't. Gcse syllabus can be massive and in a whole week she could miss an entire topic that may then come up in an exam. Can you not go at half term? It may not be quite his actual birthday but can't be far off!

Don't be a dick. Either go in the holidays or straight after gcse exams are finished but before schools break up.

Not in year 11 - they may not repeat anything covered.

As for places that could 'come under history', that's only any good if it's directly linked to her syllabus.

No way! Year 11 is far too important. Go in half term.

I don’t think it’s a good idea, and I say that as someone who usually takes my dc on term time holidays (mainly due to ds aged 6 having autism which means he doesn’t cope when it’s busy). My dd is in year 11 and it’s a really important year. They don’t re-do any of the gcse work either, so there’s no chance to catch up.

We are planning to go at the end of the GCSEs - end of June time, when all the other year groups are still at school. Is that a possibility?

No way. Not year 11.

Your daughter is very sensible. There is so much content in the new syllabuses that she will likely still be learning new material in October of Y11.

No way. Nope. No.

Have something locally for his actual birthday and go away in the school holidays.

No brainer.

No way

I'd go at October half term if I was you, year 11 is so important

Why can't you go away during the Oct half term instead of the week before. It's only a week difference and she shouldn't miss out on school during a critical school year.

No way, it's refreshing to see that your daughter is so sensible. You should be proud of her.

Why would you even consider it? Surely there are plenty other times to have a holiday

That’s a big ask of your DD October of year 11 they are usually finishing off most of the syllabus and planning for mocks which are usually either November or January.

The chances of the school allowing it are slim to none.

If she’s doing either art or dt they often have practical projects underway that count towards the final grade. Oh and PE for that matter.

I understand that you are wanting to do something nice for DH but this would be detrimental to your DDs study and seeing a couple of historical sites will not really help her. So YABVU.

As I understand it, it’s hard enough for schools to fit the syllabus into the teaching time available, so going back over things is not always possible. I think you’d be doing your daughter a disservice by going during term time. Could you and DH go for a break and your DD stay with (local) family/friends for a few days?

As a GCSE teacher my response would be hell no!

They will cover things in that week that they will not cover in depth again. All it takes is for that to come up in the exam and grades are down. You would jeopardise eleven years of schooling and two years of work for a CRUISE?

What sort of parent prioritises a grown up's birthday over their child's education?

Go the week after - it will be half term, and you won't be a selfish dick.

Either go in half term or take advantage of the cheaper prices and go in June after her final exam to make it a double celebration.

it depends on what your priorities are.
If you think Education is important - make her revise, work hard etc- then don’t book it.
If you think she will do fine in life regardless of GCSE results then go.
It sounds like school (or someone!) is putting the pressure on her that next year is important, so you may need to move schools if you go option b.

No way in year 11!! Speaking as a teacher, the new GCSEs are so content heavy. She can't afford to miss a week so close to exams. Any other year, just about fine but no way in year 11!!!

After having DD1 & DS just leave Yr 11 and experiencing how full on the year is, I really wouldn't. Its such a full packed year she really will miss a lot. Go in half term or after GCSEs

I wouldn't even go in any of the holidays in year 11. DD had coursework to do, the school ran revision sessions, she was revising, etc.

it would come under History only if the cruise teaches her how to structure an essay and approach source material.

i suppose because of his health history which my threads dont go as far back to read i was wanting him to have a special time. my birthday is in the half term and i didnt want to overshadow it. i know it sounds ridiculous as im typing but he did nearly die and he has worked hard despite being ill etc etc.
its a clear reaction so thanks and thanks for the compliments i am very proud of my daughter.

I can't believe you would even consider this.
Absolutely no way.
Your husband needs to figure out another time to go away and celebrate his birthday.

Not in year 11. It's the most important year! If it was primary school I would but not year 11, I'm sure she will be stressed enough without worrying about falling behind. I'm sure your DH will understand? If it were me I wouldn't care about being away on my actual birthday when my child is doing GCSE year!