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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Away for GCSE results day

19 replies

EmmalinaC · 21/02/2022 11:13

Just want a quick steer on this...

Family holiday to Greek island cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid - villa owner v kindly carried over rental to 2022 and we were able to change flights so all set to go last two weeks of August.

But DD is now in Y11 and the new booking so we've just realised she'll be away for GCSE results day which I think is 26th Aug.

What should we do?

YANBU - family holiday is more important - she can get results via a proxy (I don't mean one of her mates I mean a family friend) or by post/email.

YABU - results day is a rite of passage and she should be here for it!

And if IABU WWYD? Cancel holiday? (Can't change dates) or fly her back for one day?! Or something else...?

At the moment she doesn't know what she want but I'm aware she might feel
More strongly one way or another nearer the time.

Thanks 😊

OP posts:

Whatsonmymindgrapes · 21/02/2022 11:16

Yanbu it’s just results day

Comefromaway · 21/02/2022 11:17

It's more important to be around on college enrolment day which for us was about a week or so after GCSE results came out.

CMOTDibbler · 21/02/2022 11:18

We're away too, and ds is quite happy to just get his results by email

Morechocmorechoc · 21/02/2022 11:20

If its a levels then that's different. Gcse I'd stick with the holiday!

PurpleNebula84 · 21/02/2022 11:20

Go for the holiday and don't worry - yes your DD will miss opening her results with her friends, but it is GCSE'S and not like she will have to start going through clearing process for uni or anything - being out of the country or being physically there will not change the results. Maybe ask if Head of Year can email them to you? So at least she gets them on the same day and can chatter with her friends on text/Snapchat/WhatsApp about it.

balzamico · 21/02/2022 11:22

It really depends on the child, my dd would have been devastated not to be home and she had the best day; happy with her results, celebrated with friends, and generally just had a wonderful day that she wouldn't have missed for the all the world.

A friends dd was away and really not that bothered - doesn't have a big social circle, other friends also away etc

I didn't realise what a big deal it would be (was away for mine) but for her it was.

tanktopsruleok · 21/02/2022 11:24

This was me many years ago and I did not want to miss out on getting my results and I was annoyed my parents had booked a holiday over that week. I ended up coming home early on my own half way through the holiday so I wouldn't miss it. Stayed with a family friend until my parents got home.

To me it was really important, I guess to my parents it didn't seem so! Kids are geared up for and pressured ( by school and family) to revise and work hard and then not bother showing up for the results you've spent the last 5 years working for?

It's drummed in to kids how important these exams are and then not to show the same importance for the 'big reveal' feels a bit sad for them and contradictory if you've encouraged them to work hard for it.

Toffeechoc · 21/02/2022 11:26

As other posters have pointed out you need to be around for any enrolment days. However, I was glad we were not away for the last lot of GCSE results in my family as the outcome was not as expected and needed face to face meetings the day and day after results to reconsider my child's destination for education post 16. Good luck with whatever you decide

Badhairday101 · 21/02/2022 11:28

I’ve just realised we’re also away for my sons GCSE results day! I don’t think he’ll be bothered to be honest, he’d rather be on holiday especially as it’s been postponed for 2 years now.

thetwofridas · 21/02/2022 11:29

YANBU - from my memory plenty of people were away during results day when I was at school. This won't be uncommon and her school may have a policy in place where she can call/email for her results etc. on the day.

Only thing I'd say is to plan for the possibility of her being disappointed with her results whilst on holiday - although any disappointment may be mitigated by a.) not having friends around to immediately compare with and b.) having a lovely Greek beach to swan off too!

BluebellsGreenbells · 21/02/2022 11:31

My kids had them via a login to the exam board.

They haven’t collected a single on from school.

It’s not how it used to be.

FrugralMcDougal · 21/02/2022 11:32

Ds had to register in person that day for sixth form, collected his results and walked over to the table staffed by the sixth form to confirm his grades and accept his place. Technically it is a feeder school for the sixth form.

I missed my GCSE results day and hated it, Ds is glad he did his. It is also a last time to see teachers who you may never cross paths with again. And Ds went in with his mates as a group although they all opened their results separately but came back together.

One friend didn't get the grade they needed to carry on to A level so had to make a decision there and then about what he wanted to change it to. He could talk to both his teachers and sixth form staff about the best option for him.

Like most kids they all went for a meal together immediately afterwards. There are usually deals with restaurants for free starters or whatever if you show your results.

Kids are geared up for and pressured ( by school and family) to revise and work hard and then not bother showing up for the results you've spent the last 5 years working for? completely agree.

nancy75 · 21/02/2022 11:32

Dd did gcse last year, she had to enrol for 6th form in person in the afternoon - you might want to check that before you decide

LIZS · 21/02/2022 11:32

What are her plans for year12? If there any possibility she may need to revert to plan B she may need to be available in person. Could she and a parent return earlier?

MintMocha · 21/02/2022 11:38

Yes be very clear what her plans are for next year, and what the likelihood of her achieving them is. If she is almost certain to carry on at the same school sixth form, and her results will almost certainly guarantee her entry into that, even if she drops a grade or two, and she's very confident that she will get her predictions, and she doesn't mind not celebrating with her friends or seeing her teachers on the day, then fine, holiday sounds great.

if any of those are not certain, then might not be ideal. Could she come home a bit early with a parent? Or go later? Or I was going to say come home and go back, but can't see how that would be very practical or affordable really.

check how much enrolment and rearranging of courses/schools could be done on the phone, how solid her Plan B is, what she thinks about celebrating with others, whether she minds not saying goodbye to teachers - if she's done really well or was close to teachers, not seeing them again after doing well in their class might be disappointing for her (I would have minded not getting their reaction/praise to good results, presuming they will be good!).

MaizeAmaze · 21/02/2022 11:52

The results will be published Thursday 25th.
How likely is DD not to get the grades she needs to go onto her first choice for next year?
If she is pretty certain to get the required grades, I'd get the results from Greece. I you think there is a reasonable chance of her missing the required grades, id consider if a parent could come home early to get the results and plan the next steps.

When is the scheduled return flight?

Comefromaway · 21/02/2022 11:59

@Toffeechoc

For us it woud not have made any difference if results had not gone as planned. No-one would have been around to discuss until the following week.

RuthW · 21/02/2022 12:08

Leave child at home. Not fair to miss results day. You may need to rethink thier future plans for a levels etc.

Original poster

EmmalinaC · 21/02/2022 12:25

Thanks for all the responses - I think we'll stick with holiday plan BUT be prepared to let her fly home to stay with grandparents if she changes her mind.

She's planing to stay on for 6th form at her current school (there is no plan B!) But the induction day happens in The summer term. The induction day is a prerequisite if joining sixth form.

There is a requirement that she notifies the school of her intention to accept sixth form place on results day but only new students are required to enrol in person.

Thanks again

OP posts:

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