Holiday during Easter in A Levels year?

[BarefootHippieChick]

Currently debating on a possible holiday next year to visit family abroad during Easter. However, dd is in year 13 and I'm concerned how it might affect revision or in school study sessions during that time? (If this is even a thing). I know May half term is impossible but wondered if one of the Easter weeks might be more doable. I'm not even sure when A Level exams even start? Any advice from anyone who's been through A Level years?

I would love to go away straight after exams but other dc still in school unfortunately!

It's much better if your younger children miss a week or two of school rather than your A level dd going abroad just before her exams.

Depending on the subject, some A level (oral) exams actually begin in April.

And I would certainly not go to Canada given the 5 hour time difference!

We have been going away in Feb mid terms as our school do their mocks straight after Xmas

oh, and reading week in last 3 weeks not been same weeks as school midterms for ours. and neither would have wanted to miss a week of uni outside holidays

No to Easter hols. Some schools run revisions sessions over Easter. Easter is when the hard revision should be starting.

I'm not sure a longhaul trip is a good idea but a week off during the Easter holidays will not harm the exam results of a conscientious student and a planned proper break would do them good rather than months on end of constant revision. Planning in breaks during busy periods is teaching them how to maintain good mental health.

Conversely taking them away from University in October is a terrible idea, they will be only just settling into university life and they get long holidays that overlap with their younger siblings' holidays for Christmas and Easter if you want to go away as a family.

I would have said fine, but the exams start earlier than they used to. First week might be ok, or a long weekend? It's doubtful unless you have very diligent children that they will revise solidly for two weeks anyway, so a few days off might be a good thing.

Oh I see it's Canada so you'd have jetlag to contend with. Go after the exams in that case.

My DDs spent that Easter holiday at school for most of it.

Thanks everyone who replied, having spoken to family over there Easter really wouldn't be good for us weather wise anyway (hate the cold!) so we will probably consider a few days in the summer holidays. If younger child was primary I'd have no problem pulling out of school for a week, but not in year 9!

Definitely better yr 9 than an exam year!!

Hope you have a fab time in Summer.

Yes year 9 is far less of an issue than a y11 or y13 at Easter.

If you can do summer that’d undoubtedly be the best time. Our yr7-yr10 have end of year exams in mid/end June (week after A levels and GCSEs finish). They then do more fun stuff so taking a Yr9 out of school at this time wouldn’t be a big deal - you could chat with school.
We have a very similar issue in trying to get over to Australia to visit ageing g’parents. We’d plan yr12 Easter but blooming covid.

Please don't do it. At our info evening in Sept year 13 HoY said please don't.

No I definitely wouldn’t

I wouldn't. Easter holidays onwards is full on revision until exams finished. Also who knows what will happen with exams next year.

My DD had another set of formal mocks straight after the Easter holidays and these results went towards her final grade for A levels.