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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let DD go on camp mid GCSE exams?

60 replies

Onlygoingforward · 13/05/2019 09:04

Help! I genuinely don't know what to do.
Have NC.

To avoid drip feeding I have put as much info as possible.

DD starts her exams this week. She is not academic at all and is not predicted to pass most subjects at a 4.
She MAY scrape a couple.

She attends an activity which she intends to persue related jobs when she leaves school as a career.

However she has been invited on camp related to this activity on the weekend before the last week of her exams.
This is a training camp which is for those who will be promoted. As far as I know they need to attend to be tick off part of the section towards promotion. She COULD wait but it is likely to be over 6 months possibly longer.

The camp would be Friday after school travelling and away Saturday and Sunday and would be quite intense.
She IS in school Monday as they don't have study leave but she does not have an exam that day.

Over to Mumsnet!

OP posts:
Seeline · 13/05/2019 09:06

How many exams that last week, when and are any of them the ones she has a chance of passing?

Houseonahill · 13/05/2019 09:10

I would let her personally I'm of the (minority) opinion that if you don't know at 3pm on Friday you aren't going to magically learn it all by 9am on Monday, not enough to make any real difference to your grade anyway.

Oysterbabe · 13/05/2019 09:12

I'd let her go. The bulk of her learning and revision should have been done before then. I doubt a couple of days will make much difference.

Oysterbabe · 13/05/2019 09:12

Maybe say she can go if she studies for X number of hours a day until then?

MariaNovella · 13/05/2019 09:12

No. Your DD needs to respect the resources that have been invested in her education and do her best.

recededpronunciation · 13/05/2019 09:13

Yep, I’d let mine go. A good night’s sleep on the Sunday night and she can look over revision notes on the Monday. Presumably she has half term before then as well. GCSEs are intense and the break and change of scene will probably do her the world of good.

BishopofBathandWells · 13/05/2019 09:14

I'd let her go, especially if as you say there's a chance this could support a career for her after her GCSEs. As a PP has said, if she doesn't know it now a weekend of cramming is just going to stress her out. Good luck to your DD!

Thatsnotmyotter · 13/05/2019 09:15

I’d say that if she puts in the revision hours prior to then, she can go. I’d imagine if it’s an activity like cadets they’d probably be fairly understanding if she feels she needs to put an hour or two aside for studying whilst she’s on camp (it was always fine and encouraged when we were scouts/explorers anyway).

ChoccieEClaire · 13/05/2019 09:15

I would say let her go, it is something that she enjoys and from the sounds of it it is quite important to her progression in this hobby.
Maybe do a bit of a deal with her and say that she can go but she needs to put the work in beforehand.
I'm not convinced revision does a great deal, if it's not in your head to begin with then revision will not make it stick anyway.

Original poster
Onlygoingforward · 13/05/2019 09:15

Seeline I've just checked.
She has none Monday.
Five spread across the other days.
Two of those are Science.
She got a 3 in her mocks.
I presume so. I don't actually know when half term is!

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 13/05/2019 09:17

If that last week of exams contains English/Maths and she has a shot at a 4, then she needs to give them her best possible effort.

If not, then as the camp isn’t just a jolly, but working towards her future, then go on the camp.

wellballstoyou · 13/05/2019 09:17

Id let her go. Be good to get away from exams/ stress for a few days and its looking to her future careerwise as well. As another poster said, cramming all weekend wont help her! Coming back to school fresh Monday will be good.

ChippyMinton · 13/05/2019 09:19

Let her go.
Gaining promotion will be a massive confidence boost, and may spur her into a bit more revision beforehand.

TapasForTwo · 13/05/2019 09:19

You have a child in year 11, so has been in education for 12 years, and you still don't know when the May spring bank holiday (which is always the last Monday in May) half term is? Hmm

Seeline · 13/05/2019 09:19

I think my biggest concern would be the lack of sleep, and how tired she might be on her return. THat wouldn't help any further revision, or concentration in the remaining exams. But obviously that will depend on the set up of the camp and how it is run.

I disagree that revision in the immediate run-up to an exam is pointless - OK you might not learn anything new, but it can cement previous knowledge and help enormously with confidence.

That said, if the exams are ones she is unlikely to get hte grades in anyway, and not ones she needs for the next step (presumably maths and English are required), then I would let her go if it really is a stepping stone to her future career.

Original poster
Onlygoingforward · 13/05/2019 09:20

'especially if as you say there's a chance this could support a career for her after her GCSEs'

Yes she can actually do a BTEC with them while she is there.

In regards to revision she is also in lessons around exams full time if that makes a difference. No study leave.

I've just looked and half term is 27th to 31st May but I would imagine year 11 will be in still.

OP posts:
ChippyMinton · 13/05/2019 09:21

If it’s GCSE, She may have maths on the Tuesday which should be her priority for revision.

time4chocolate · 13/05/2019 09:23

Yes, I would definitely send her. Assuming she really wants to go could she accommodate some extra revision in the half term? It sounds like the camp could be really beneficial to her and it’s not as if she is going to be away for any of the exams (that would be a whole other issue). GCSEs are important obviously but not the be all and end all.

BringOnTheScience · 13/05/2019 09:27

Let her go on the camp. She hasn't got an exam on the Monday. She'll be miserable if you don't let her go and delighted if you do. I wish her well! Smile

Original poster
Onlygoingforward · 13/05/2019 09:27

TapasForTwo Blush Blush

In fairness DD has been in a mixture of private school and state for her education which has had widely different holidays and term times so it's not hard to lose track. Although looking at the dates I'm sure that's the week which is the same usually Blush

In my defence I've also spent much of the last 12 years having operations and medical care and didn't realise the last half term until DD said she finished at one the next day ...

OP posts:
Mishappening · 13/05/2019 09:30

If the camp is career-related then she should go.

TeenTimesTwo · 13/05/2019 09:31

They don't attend school over half term, unless school is providing revision sessions.

I'd maybe let her go to camp as no exams on the Monday.
But I would say it is conditional on a good amount of studying done over the half term.

Depending on the agenda of the camp, could she take some stuff to do in the 'down time'?

Original poster
Onlygoingforward · 13/05/2019 09:31

Bugger yes ChippyMinton I've just rechecked and missed that.
Tuesday at 9.30pm.
She ISN'T likely to pass Maths above a two to be quite frank but I'd like her to have a crack at it..

It's English Language and combined science which she is close to passing.

OP posts:
TapasForTwo · 13/05/2019 09:32

Sorry I came across as rude. I hope you are OK now, and good luck to your DD.

Original poster
Onlygoingforward · 13/05/2019 09:33

'They don't attend school over half term, unless school is providing revision sessions.'

Yes sorry I meant revision sessions Teen.

OP posts: