To ask how you feel about Yr 11 being cut loose for 3 MONTHS!

[Mavisdoesnotreallyknow]

DD(16) had her last day at school on Friday. Starts Sixth Form college in Sept. That's an unprecedented three months off school!(excluding lockdown of course).

What do you/your DC think about that. What are their plans - will they thrive or get bored?

I wish I'd got a little job, looking back.

Pretty standard when finishing school, isn’t it?

It’s always like that for that year.

This has always been the case hasn't it? I left school in 2006 and we finished in May, we only came back in to sit GCSEs.

I left school like this back in 1996.

1997 was bloody hard because I had to stay in school to July. But then finished in May again for A levels in 1998.

If they go to uni, they'll be off more than they're in!

Fantastic. Remember all that free time and gorgeous weather that felt like it would go on for ever?

I mean, I had a weekend/summer job, and I might feel different if I had kids cluttering up the house myself but it's nice to dream about it.

It's a fabulous summer holiday for year 11s, and it's always been like that. Pre-covid mine went to festivals, beach, parties, sleepovers ... had a great time.

I expect they need it - they’ll have had a hard time!

And yep uni holidays are even longer .... DD coming back this week until end of Sept .

This happens every year. The last exam is usually around the 12th June, so they're a few weeks earlier but even in a normal year they would be on study leave by half term.

It's been this way since the 80s at least. We enjoyed a summer of freedom before further education. They should just enjoy it, it's their last taste of childhood.

We’re running a couple of weeks of activities and enrichment for our Year 11s this year. So, first week we are taking them to a theme park, to an outdoor sports centre, on a hike, doing a BBQ and having an inflatable obstacle course, etc. This is obviously us trying to “make up” for some of the opportunities that they lost spending some of Year 10 and 11 in lockdown.

Then, the following week, some are staying on to do volunteering in the school for work experience.

Loads of them also have jobs already, so are using the summer holidays to work and have fun with mates. Pretty regular, isn’t it? They’d normally be finished by the middle of June anyway, so it’s just a couple of extra weeks this year.

It is about 3-4 weeks longer than usual as they finished before half term rather than exams going on 2-3 weeks after half term.
Plus a lot of the usual post-y11 stuff isn't available due to covid.

I have a y11 but unusual circumstances and I am worried we don't have enough time rather than too much.

@BigSandyBalls2015

And yep uni holidays are even longer .... DD coming back this week until end of Sept .

Not for teacher training it wasn’t. 😒

This happens every year. Except last year when lots (my son included) were cut loose for 5 months. At least they can do things this year and go places.

The only issue I have with it is that they don't reach minimum school leaving age until the final Friday in June so there's a month of them technically not being able to work during school hours.

That is standard practice - not sure why it is a surprise.

Schools often struggle with year 11 behaviour and muck-up pranks can cause operational issues eg stuffing toilet roll down toilets, setting off fire alarms, constant stream of Year 11 outside of lessons for a wide variety of reasons, variable attendance including family holidays

Honestly, I'm not thrilled! My ASD dd will not cope with getting or doing a summer job and has very few plans at all. I will miss my one day a week of having the house to myself!

It is about 3-4 weeks longer than usual as they finished before half term rather than exams going on 2-3 weeks after half term

Yes, that's how it usually goes at DD's school.

So, plans? If any!

We live quite rurally (I know, it's an MN thing!) so not many friends nearby to just hang out with - planning and me providing a taxi service will be required.

She's got an interview for a part time job - fingers crossed

Ah yes then the next slighter longer holiday is at the end of Year 13 and then even longer holidays when at university especially if they go to oxbridge

Last year Ds left year 11 on the 19th March with absolutely no intervention, teaching or support from school until September. That felt like a very long time.

You should have tried last year. I had Y11 and Y13 both more or less cut free in March and not being able to do anything for most of that time.

In reality, it's only a couple of weeks longer than they would normally get. Let them make the most of it. Haven't they been set any work to do in advance of their A levels? Both mine were.

At least its better than last year when they were cut loose in March and couldn’t do anything or see friends.

Despite all that my son managed to have a reasonable summer. He kept his paper round going at the weekends. I set him up a mini gym in the shed which he used most days.
We managed to get away three times to Wales and Cornwall. He helped out quite a lot with the garden and allotment.
He did a two week project with National Citizen Service ( was meant to be 4 weeks).
Yes there was more laying around in bed and PS4 than I would have liked but he was very restricted.

This year he is in college and will finish on 1 July. I hope this summer will be more like last year should have been. We have a couple of holidays planned and he has a three week NCS project, the scouts may still have a camp. He now has a Saturday job.

I hope he has many days to just take off on his bike and hang out with his mates and just feel free.

I don't remember doing much significant in those 3 months back in my day (1991) but really this is probably the only time in a young persons life that they will have this amount of freedom. There are plenty of things she could do. The sensible things -get a summer job or volunteer job. NCS (National Citizens Service) is aimed specifically at that age group. But really....this is the one time in life to just chill, relax, try out new hobbies, read books that aren't boring school recommended ones, learn a skill that school didn't teach. I often think all teens need a 'rumspringa' (Amish 'running around years' - when you try things out and decide what you want with your life) and these 3 months is it.

Would definitely suggest a summer job if possible. I know it can be tricky with transport. I loved that summer! Went to a music festival for the first time.