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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu holiday GCSEs help!

122 replies

Sjgmumma · 02/02/2022 03:32

Okay. So next year ds will be doing his GCSEs. My mil has booked us all a holiday as a treat due to me being very unwell recently and will be for the foreseeable. The holiday is first week of may to turkey 2nd-9th
Ds will start exams around the 16th.
Am I crazy to even contemplate it?
Ds isn’t very academic at all.

OP posts:

Pumpkintopf · 02/02/2022 04:02

Isn't this during school term time?

GreenWheat · 02/02/2022 04:03

She has already booked a holiday for May 2023? Assuming this thread is not a wind up, then yeah, taking a Y11 on holiday a week before the start of their GCSEs is a stupid thing to do.

sofakingcool · 02/02/2022 04:37

I definitely wouldn't be taking my son on a holiday straight before exams. You could go straight after they finish?

How do you already know exam timetables if it's next academic year? This years haven't long been released.

GiantSpider · 02/02/2022 04:41

There's no way I'd do this.

MrsEricBana · 02/02/2022 04:44

Sorry you have been unwell but definitely don't do this, it wouldn't be fair on him.

SuPerDoPer · 02/02/2022 04:48

You would be putting your DS at a disadvantage for sure and if he isn't very academic he'll need the extra time.

Clymene · 02/02/2022 05:39

Given it's over a year away I'm sure she can change the dates. Go after his exams

NumberTheory · 02/02/2022 05:45

Yes. You are crazy to contemplate it.

amylou8 · 02/02/2022 05:59

You're crazy to even contemplate this. I used to take my kids out most years in term time and pay the fine, it still worked out cheaper. But year 11 the week before exams??!!!!

NameGoesHere · 02/02/2022 05:59

I usually agree with taking kids out of school for a holiday but not in gcse year, no way! Really unfair to your kid and so what if not academic, he still needs GCSEs. Nope, not on

Pippa12 · 02/02/2022 06:02

Definitely possible to book holidays for 2023, I’ve just done this myself as I had to change a holiday from this year and already paid a good chunk,

I really wouldn’t take my child out the week before his GCSE’s. FWIW I’ve taken mine out a fair few times for holidays, so no judgment from me in that point, it’s just the timing!!!

Changing holidays is fairly easy, we didn’t have to pay any extra to change it the holiday was more expensive.

They have a half term towards the end of May, I’d change it for then. Unfortunately the cost will be considerably higher, but if you’ve had majority of the holiday already paid for, I’d just offer to pay the difference.

Hercisback · 02/02/2022 06:11

This is insane. The week before his GCSEs you're taking him on holiday? That's a really stupid idea.
Revision will be at its peak. His teachers will be tearing their hair out at your stupidity.

SuperSange · 02/02/2022 06:13

Jesus Christ. You need to ask?

maddy68 · 02/02/2022 06:14

You will also find that some dates for exams are yet to be set eg orals , and practical exams they may well be that week it's bit fair to expect him to be studying while people are having fun either. Get her to change the dates he will be missing the school revision sessions which are vital

Cattitudes · 02/02/2022 06:22

I would avoid the whole of the time from April to June. Even the half term they will want to rest and revise. Why not either go for after the exams or much earlier- Feb/March time. Or this October.

RoastedTurnip · 02/02/2022 06:23

Change it!
And find out the contingency date too, which is usually late June!

DoctorSnortles · 02/02/2022 06:25

It’s ridiculous that you would even contemplate it.

Unescorted · 02/02/2022 06:25

Yes you would be insane for contemplating going away a week before his exams. My DD was constantly revising in the run up to her exams and the school were running non optional revision sessions.

Kbyodjs · 02/02/2022 06:27

Yes crazy to contemplate it; how bizarre she would do it without checking dates

Lulu1919 · 02/02/2022 06:47

No don't go then
Re book for after exams

HumbugWhale · 02/02/2022 06:49

A lot of exams are before the main exams session e.g. language speaking exams, drama, food and nutrition, PE practical and art. Even if he doesn't do any of those subjects.he will miss all the extra revision sessions at school. Some subjects will be teaching pre-released material for exams then too.

I once had a student miss a GCSE because she went away at half term and her flight back was delayed. No special consideration was given, she just failed it. Please ask to rearrange the holiday, your son won't enjoy it as much if he is stressed about exams.

BooksAndHooks · 02/02/2022 06:51

Of course you can’t go. Practical exams and coursework based subjects start from January so even if the more formal subjects haven’t started the exams others will have. It will be unauthorised absence which will affect their college / sixth form application. Most courses expect a certain attendance level, if applying for a popular course this could affect their chances. Especially if they get unlucky and have a bad year for illness absence.

Fuuuuuckit · 02/02/2022 06:51

Many, if not most exam boards will have something going on before the official written exam series begins. Speaking language exams and art are just two that immediately spring to mind.

The school will also be putting an insane amount of work into revision at that point.

You say your dc isn't terribly academic. Please, please don't disadvantage them any further by taking them out of school at possibly the most important point of their education.

If my mum did this, and made even the slightest fuss about changing the dates I'd be incandescent that her week in the sun was more important than my dc's exam success and future employment potential.

We're going to America (hopefully) after exams in 2023, a great reward for my dc after all his hard work, still cheap as outside school holiday peak, and gives my dc something to work towards.

You really are giving your dc such a big impression that their education is worthless to you.

SavoyCabbage · 02/02/2022 06:52

Yes, you are crazy to contemplate it. It's going to put a worry on a child who shouldn't have to be considering that he won't be at school at the very time he needs to be.

AuntieMarys · 02/02/2022 06:54

Surely she had to have your passports to book the holiday?

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