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?

@soreenqueen21

Isn't that the norm for secondary? Thats how long our holidays are every year in Ireland. It's no big deal.

Schools break up around the end of July normally and go back beginning of September. 6 weeks ish off depending on how INSET is used.

Year 11 usually finish the last Friday in June so they get 2 months off normally.

This year they get 3 months off as most schools had finished before half term.

My son has got himself two jobs.

I do have to say though that in our area it isn't easy to get student jobs. Ds's girlfriend is lucky her dad works at the place she will be.

Dd finished last Wednesday & to be honest I’m glad she has - the last few weeks of constant assessments have been pretty full in & she’s shattered.
She’s been really proactive with booking stuff to do with her friends. We live in London & this summer is going to be the best chance of doing everything without so many tourists. They’ve booked tickets to all the museums & art galleries that would usually be heaving & have loads of touristy days out planned (the kind of things you never actually do when you live in London & it’s all on the doorstep!)
We have discussed her getting a job but I don’t want her to at the moment. - they’ve missed out on such a lot of the normal stuff kids do over the last year, I just want her to have a really nice relaxing summer - job hunting can wait until Christmas.

Ds finished Y11 in March last year, 24 weeks before sixth form started due to Covid, 13 weeks will fly by especially if the weather is good.

Ah! I'm jealous!

DS finished last Friday and has already done 2 full day shifts in a restaurant and hopes to do 2 or 3 days a week. He's lined up a week's work experience in June in a field he's interested in, is is going away for 3 weeks on a residential project and then has an intensive week of rehearsals for a show just before he starts college. I didn't help him sort out much of this except proof-reading application emails. He's also going to continue with his term-time extra-curricular activities - a sport, a music class, a volunteering commitment and a drama group. I expect he will also do a fair bit of playing FIFA, playing football in the park, lying around doing not much, jumping in rivers, bike rides, and a normal for 16 but hopefully not excessive amount of getting drunk with his mates! I don't think he will get too bored.

It was a long time ago..my DD got a weekend job and spent most of that summer out with friends or sleeping. We lived in London though so no need for me to take her places
My DS l think was in in army cadets when he finished school. So he had a few weeks away at camp..then probably on PlayStation all night and sleeping all day.
As others have said uni is worse. it's so sad when they leave home for uni but before you know it they are back for very long holidays, telling you how tired they are😂

I got a job.

My son’s year finished first week of May. To be honest I felt it was too early. He had missed so much school as we are in the south east that had the Kent variant so he had endless weeks off. They could have done some sport (what happened to sports day), finance lessons, relationships, trips etc. What are the teachers doing now?

I'm in Italy so we have 3 months holiday every year for all ages. Tbh I love it for teenagers as they amuse themselves, not so good when the kids were younger though.

Ermmm...marking all the assessments and teaching all of the other year groups! That's massively insensitive tbh feeling since we are doing the unpaid work of examiners this year.

After GCSEs Ds did an online summer course for his chosen degree subject, learned a new language using Memrise, learned to play more songs on both guitar and piano, cooked more, watched films with me and tv shows and went for a daily walk with me. I also read a few books to him.

He still got up before his brother went to school so by 7.30am so he could see him off, they are very close. He is very motivated though and has never lounged in bed past 8.30 latest.

He has finished sixth form last week and won't move out to uni until the last weekend in September, now that is a long summer.

@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?

My ds was yr 11 last year!

They had March until sept (although also locked down until June)

I think tbh they really need it just to hang out with each other. Possibly some waitressing jobs etc around but harder to find jobs atm for them.

I honestly think having some set daily chores at home and being able to enjoy just hanging out in nice weather won't be boring for them this year like last.

I think previous year groups it's been different because circumstances have been different.

One of the most fondly remembered times of my life.

@mathanxiety

This is what Irish children and children in the US and probably more places have every year.

Don't most US kids go to summer camp? Or have I watched too many films

In Ireland we get holidays at the end of May... every year

I think it's brilliant. Dd will get to kick back and enjoy herself without responsibilities for what will probably be the first and last time in years.
She will learn to find ways to fill her time and prevent boredom and prepare herself for the challenges of sixth form.
She already has some plans in place including a few days away with friends to a theme park with hotel stay.
I hope she makes the most of being able to do nothing unless she chooses to do it, of having no expectations or demands on her.

I don’t understand how it is difficult for parents as they are 15/16 so can catch a bus/walk/ride a bike get a job etc

I'll be driving DD to her part time job - too far to walk. And sports training. It's just what you have to do if you live someone with poor public transport.

I think it’s brilliant too. They are only children once so should enjoy being commitment free and make the most of it.

Don't most US kids go to summer camp? Or have I watched too many films

Not when they're 16, no.

My 16yo has got himself a job working 40 hours a week for the next 3 months. It's going to be a shock to his system

We, as a school, are really worried about. Were going to carry on with safeguarding checks until end of June and longer for some children. Were also offering drop in "life skills" sessions and support with transition to college, apprenticeships etc

For most children it's an opportunity to laze around or start their summer job early, but for some it's going to be really tough.

I swear I used apostrophes

Just to be aware (because if anything were to happen they wouldn’t be insured) that it’s still illegal for them to work without a licence from the council until after the last Friday in June.