Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not know when GCSEs happen?

67 replies

AliceMay55 · 01/04/2023 16:47

DS is in Y10. We are looking to book next year’s holidays, but have no clue what the GCSE schedule will be like with mocks etc. (DH and I grew up abroad)
I asked the school 3 weeks ago and they are yet to respond! Can someone help me please?

  1. when are GCSEs usually held?
  2. Do they write exams every day or will there be a gap between two exams?
  3. do they get study holidays?
  4. When do mocks happen ?
1.
OP posts:
Tiredalwaystired · 01/04/2023 17:22

Just to say that results are usually around 24 August or so in case you’re looking to book later in the summer.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 01/04/2023 17:25

Ours have done 2 sets of mocks, one before Christmas and one just recently. They don't get study leave, the school catchment is large with many students traveling in who would struggle to get to and from school if just coming for exams so they run a full school day with booster/revisions sessions gated towards their next exam when not in an exam.

As others said exams are roughly May and June with some arts or language exams early. Then a contingency day at the end of the exam period. Then there will often be leavers events. Plus if your school has a 6th form they may offer bridging work so a lot to take into consideration before booking a holiday during the traditional term time.

DibbleDooDah · 01/04/2023 17:26

Our school emailed to say that all children sitting GCSEs need to be available up to and including 28th June (contingency day) and no summer holidays to be booked before that date.

FourTeaFallOut · 01/04/2023 17:28

It's best to just avoid the run up to exams completely with regards to holidays. My ds is in y11 and the Easter holidays are peppered with additional classes and drop in days to complete projects.

And last years chaos at the airports filled an entire news-cycle with outraged parents handwringing about getting their kid home in time for a very.important.exam. 🙄

Sidge · 01/04/2023 17:33

My DD has hers starting May 15th and she finishes 16th June. Prom is first week of July and results are August 24th. I won’t be booking anything for at least the end of the first week of July, until she’s had her prom.

MarshaMelrose · 01/04/2023 17:33

The exams are between 15 May and 21 June. The individual exam dates have been published. Contact the schools exams office. Or go to the exam boards website.

xyzandabc · 01/04/2023 17:35

when are GCSEs usually held?
Exams mid May until end of June.
Practical and oral exams Feb-April subjects like music, drama, tech, art, languages etc that have some kind of practical or speaking exam

Do they write exams every day or will there be a gap between two exams?
Totally depends on the subjects they take, timetables are usually available on the exam board websites around January time. May have an exam a day, maybe 2 in a day, 3 in a day if unlucky. May have a few days with no exams.

do they get study holidays?
Most schools do, some schools have study leave from the start of exams, some keep them in school until may half term, it's up to the school.

When do mocks happen ?
Totally up to the school, December/January is common but could be anytime. You'd need to ask the school.

Prescottdanni123 · 01/04/2023 17:48

Mocks differ. Some schools have them before the Xmas break. Other schools have them before the Easter holidays. The exam period normally lasts about five weeks. A few weeks before may half term and a couple of weeks after. There may be exams on the same day. There may be the odd day or two in between where there are no exams but I doubt there will be room for a lengthy holiday. It is quite an intense period of time.

TeenDivided · 01/04/2023 17:51

Also don't forget
a) prom
b) 6th form taster days

Foxy1616 · 01/04/2023 17:52

The school likely won’t have set dates for next years mocks yet, some will do it Nov, many will do Feb, some just before Easter …
GCSE exams will be mid May to end June with practical exams like art, drama & language speaking tests just before that.
you really need to understand that this is a very significant year for your child and the holiday must come second on this occasion. I would only look at October half term or mid July … any other time will be problematic.

QueenOfWeeds · 01/04/2023 17:52

OP you might also want to consider results day (I think the 3rd Thursday in August? I may be wrong). Does his school email them or require someone to collect in person/post them out? Is your DS likely to be anxious about them beforehand, or need time to consider what to do next after they are out?

Ellmau · 01/04/2023 17:53

Just don't book anything before the summer holidays.

aussiechick01 · 01/04/2023 18:01

FourTeaFallOut · 01/04/2023 17:28

It's best to just avoid the run up to exams completely with regards to holidays. My ds is in y11 and the Easter holidays are peppered with additional classes and drop in days to complete projects.

And last years chaos at the airports filled an entire news-cycle with outraged parents handwringing about getting their kid home in time for a very.important.exam. 🙄

I agree with avoiding taking holidays in Easter. Our school usually run some sort of exam sessions for those students that want it and I’m sure other schools do similar. Basically anything after Feb half term to end of June wouldn’t be ideal for taking GCSE students away, unless you are prepared to take all their revision materials with them and put up with the inevitable stress of revising away from home.

clary · 01/04/2023 18:02

Hi OP lots of good advice here.

I would suggest in regard to holidays, a good time can be July, as school and exams are done but results day is not for a while. Also you can sometimes get a good deal (assuming no other children in school). But yy, check with your DC's school about prom - the timing will vary and they may not want to miss it. Prom is often in early July (but some schools have it in May).

To answer your questions:
GCSE exams start in early-mid May and run until end of June. Exact dates depend on subjects (but not on the board! all Maths GCSE exams are on the same days). If DC is taking MFL, the speaking exam will be in April-May. If they are taking art, the exam is in the spring term I believe. Both of those will be on a school day tho.

Students sitting 9-10 GCSEs will have a lot of exams so may well have two on one day. Or even three sometimes (less common with GCSE than A level). My DS had 10 exams in his first week.

Study leaves varies - check with the school. Many schools start it at May half term, but my DCs' school encouraged students to come in for relevant lessons after half term as well.

Mocks vary hugely so no one can help you there. School I worked in they were in November and February; my DCs' school, December and March.

In general, I would avoid any holidays in year 11, certainly anything longer than a short break after January tbh.

jamimmi · 01/04/2023 18:09

Dd in year 11 exams this year for her 15th May to 21st June but she has to be available until 28th June for a contingency day and its also prom which you may need to consider. 6th form open /taster days are the following week too. Mock were October/January and March but this is school dependent. If taster days not an issue the last weekend in June onwards should be OK. They have been told no study leave but last year the year 11could go after the last exam

BeeBB · 02/04/2023 10:09

Trying to answer your questions below.

‘I asked the school 3 weeks ago and they are yet to respond! Can someone help me please?’ - Facilitating your holidays may not be top of the schools agenda and they maybe focusing on this years GCSE and A level students.

  1. when are GCSEs usually held? - usually May June time for main subjects but others could be held outside of this i.e maybe language orals.
  2. Do they write exams every day or will there be a gap between two exams? It depends on subjects maybe a day or a few days between but they would also be revising between subject exams.
  3. do they get study holidays? No they usually finish school once exams start to focus on revision.
  4. When do mocks happen ? Several sets of mocks happen throughout the school year, revision sessions happen and DD’s school also put on extra revision sessions at Easter.

Answer: best times to arrange a holiday would be May half term this year, Summer holidays this year or summer holidays next year. Or say after maybe 10th July next year when school proms, leavers assemblies etc are finished.

Original poster
AliceMay55 · 03/04/2023 07:33

Thanks all!

Im looking at booking a holiday for 8th July (our anniversary).

OP posts:
Imnoonesfool · 03/04/2023 07:49

We also then have leavers events and Prom which was 6 July

dizzygirl1 · 03/04/2023 07:55

Mocks here were Jan and since Feb half term it's been heavy revision in/after school.
Art exams are early, 1 school I know had them last week, ours in a week after Easter-2 day practical. French speaking is after Easter too.
Our school ends Fri 12th May, exams start 15th May, finish 16th June for us. But there is contingency days at the end of June.
Prom is early July
6th form taster second week in July.
There is a lot on!

TheaBrandt · 03/04/2023 07:56

Also if your teen is even vaguely sociable don’t book a trip straight after the exams they are likely to want to go away with friends/ there may be a prom. You also need to be there when results are out around 23 Aug as they go and get them together and it’s A Thing. Also you may need to register for 6th form when you get the results.

Honestly planning holidays with teens is a minefield what with festivals/ mates we had one 2 week window this year and that’s not even in exam year…

Notellinganyone · 03/04/2023 07:56

GCSEs start early May and they end around 20th June. It depends on the subject combination as some may finish significantly earlier. In our school study leave is around 5th May but some state schools no longer have it and continue lessons. Mocks can vary - some schools do pre Christmas, others January. I wouldn’t book anything until end of June.

TheaBrandt · 03/04/2023 07:57

Get it wrong at your peril you do NOT want to be on holiday with a sulky teen resenting you and wishing they were with their pals…

TheaBrandt · 03/04/2023 08:00

Hmm 8 th July sounds too early to me. They may miss the prom…can’t imagine having that conversation with a teen - you’re missing the prom but don’t worry you get to celebrate our anniversary with us!

Lottsbiffandsmudge · 03/04/2023 08:03

I'd just stick to school hols tbh. But avoid results day (Thurs of week before Aug BH usually)
We have stopped bothering trying to go away before term ends as there is always social stuff/ DofoE expeditions/ awards days/ final assemblies etc. Awful to miss them....

TheaBrandt · 03/04/2023 08:07

Same. A rookie teen parent thinks “ooh we can get away early” then the dreadful realisation that their teen will miss lots of their own social stuff to sit in an hotel with mum and dad and frankly doesn’t want to go. We have saved you from that op!