When are DC 'released' from school post GCSE exams? And post 'A' level exams?

[ampere]

Obviously the answer might be 'when they have completed the last exam', or it might be a 'common' date for a given school- but can anyone with experience enlighten me?

Although it's a few years ahead now and educationally, once again, everything may well have changed (again!), we are thinking we might take the DSs away on a Big Trip between GCSE's and 'A' levels (or college) for DS2; and between 'A' levels and uni for DS1 as this time coincides.

Any idea when, realistically, both DS s would be 'allowed' to go?

TIA.

At dh's school they're not. Maybe after A2, but after GCSEs and AS they go straight into their next course.

Officially the last day of school is the last Friday in June of the academic year you turn 16.

I don't suppose there's an official day for a-level students as it's not compulsory so would depend on the exam timetable/college.

Beginning of July would be a safe bet.

I am there this year with one dc doing A levels and the other doing GCSEs, but plans to take an extra early holiday have been scuppered by the need for dd to attend a sixth form induction day on 4 July. We will go after that, but their last exams are 2 weeks earlier.

Depends massively on what subjects they are taking, and whether they are going into sixth form, and the schools own policy re attendance at moving on days .
look at the exam boards websites to get a flavour, ime german tends to be the last/one of the last GCSEs - around 23/26 June generally.
A2's tend to finish around the same time, and i know of no schools where those students are required (or wanted) after exams finish.
You would be very safe with the start of July, but bear in mind it is basically essential to be back for A level results day in case your DS1 needs to go through clearing, or has dropped a grade from his preferred choice.

For DCs school, they go on study leave about end of May, they are then "free" except revision sessions and exams. They have a sixth form induction at the end of June, for one day.

I find the idea of starting A'levels straight away odd, as some go to college instead, a few go to work or apprenticeships instead. Also if you don't get the grades for your course and have to swap, you would have work to catch up.
There is no gap after AS. But once A'levels are finished you are free.

However 16 or 18 year olds might not want to go on a trip with you.

Officially the 'school leaving date' for GCSEs is the last friday of June - that's the 29th this year. For GCSE that means last exams could be any time up until then. Many schools ask for them in after that, even if it is just to do fun, leaver related things like prom.

I'm not sure what happens with A levels but DN is doing his this year and all of the leavers assemblies and prom etc are after exams so early July.

My DD1 has GCSEs right up until the end of June (German so not something unusual). She also has a compulsory 6th form induction course at the end of June. I think that after that she is free.

DH has just reminded me that this is the last year that students can leave school after GCSEs. From next year education continues which may well affect leaving dates.

Kids can still leave school after GCSE next year, just not stop education. So I can't see why our kids won't be finishing about the same time as this, but then we have a lot of movement for sixth form (both leaving and joining).

Fair point MummyTime. Whether it has an impact will probably depend on the school/sixth form options in the area. Where there is a disconnect between year 11 & year 12 then I can see that continuing. In other situations I can see sixth form starting straight after GCSEs.

The thing is that we just dont know right now.

At DS's school around 90% of year 11s go on to the school sixth form and they don't start any teaching after GCSEs have finished. They're so full on the kids are knackered when they finish their GCSEs and I think teachers have realised you won't get any good work out of them until after they've had a break! For that reason I think it'll stay as it is with the kids leaving school straight after exams have finished.