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Higher education

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Original poster

A Levels - Emergency Exam Day

25 replies

atalost · 09/01/2026 21:08

Planning a holiday, but the school have sent out a newsletter saying the Government advises students to be available until the end of 24th June in case an A Level exam needs to be re-arranged. This is annoying as the cost of our anticipated holiday increases.

Does such “re-arrangement” ever happen? I wouldn’t want to book a long haul holiday and an exam actually gets moved but equally, my holiday quote is £800 more per person to go on 25th June.

Thankd

OP posts:
Peoplemakemedespair · 09/01/2026 21:10

Well it’s possible, that’s why they have this in place. It’s your own risk really

Peoplemakemedespair · 09/01/2026 21:12

A quick google shows exams being rearranged fairly frequently for all sorts of reasons. I think it’s unlikely to happen but it can happen

SheilaFentiman · 09/01/2026 21:14

It’s a contingency day. If the king dies, say, and we have a bank holiday for his funeral, any exams on that day would move to the contingency day.

Also be aware that things like proms often happen after the contingency day, so your DC may miss these if you go away early doors,

Rozendantz · 09/01/2026 21:15

My DS and his friend took a chance and booked to go interrailling that day, and it was fine. They talked to several teachers 1st, and all of them said they'd never experienced that day being needed (which obviously didn't mean it has never been needed prior to them being teachers though).

IceIceSlippyIce · 09/01/2026 21:22

I don't think the contingency day had been used other than maybe 2019 (covid).
BUT it was a thing for GCSEs - and you clearly weren't bothered about it then.
Id side say the biggest risk would be King Charles dying during the exam period, resulting in exams needing rescheduling.

How much would you loose if you had to sit an exam turn and postpone your holiday? I'm fairly sure holiday insurance wouldnt cover this.

PurpleCyclamen · 09/01/2026 21:24

Yes, it happens for emergencies.
Hence the name.

Tiswa · 09/01/2026 21:26

Yes I would say the biggest current risk is King Charles and his funeral which certainly could happen

the chances of it happening and then it being an exam your child is taking is slim (far less than gcse) but certainly not zero

it is improbable not impossible

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 09/01/2026 21:27

Book a back up flight so they can join you later if necessary? All their flights would have to be one way though

Nickyknackered · 09/01/2026 21:28

IceIceSlippyIce · 09/01/2026 21:22

I don't think the contingency day had been used other than maybe 2019 (covid).
BUT it was a thing for GCSEs - and you clearly weren't bothered about it then.
Id side say the biggest risk would be King Charles dying during the exam period, resulting in exams needing rescheduling.

How much would you loose if you had to sit an exam turn and postpone your holiday? I'm fairly sure holiday insurance wouldnt cover this.

Covid wasnt in 2019. It was 2020 and no pupils took any exams, we had the whole predicted grades fiasco.

Doidontimmm · 09/01/2026 21:28

In Scotland last year exams were rescheduled in February from their original dates (after complaints re scheduling) & the contingency day was used.

Mylobsterteapot · 09/01/2026 21:43

I'd be fuming if the exams I'd prepared for were posponed becuase some old bloke died.
But yes, it's really not worth risking. a you student fly out on his/her own?

tennissquare · 09/01/2026 21:50

Contingency day was bought in in 2019 after grenfell and the Manchester arena attacks. It’s a gamble whether you adhere and book afterwards or book before. Yes it impacts the cost of holidays for everyone travelling in late June.

labradorservant · 09/01/2026 22:01

Last year both my kids schools (gcse and a-levels) sent many reminders about the day. We booked a uk holiday that week. Some people risked further away trips. Obviously as you do each exam the risk gets smaller. Another use for it would be if an exam gets leaked on the day etc. I think there is also an afternoon slot free along the way that can be used. Book your flight for evening 24th June to be safe.

thinkofsomethingdifferent · 09/01/2026 22:56

We risked it…but my child isn’t academic so it was a risk I was willing to take. I also googled the likelihood back then and I think it has been used recently due to issues with an exam board. The thought of the king dying never crossed my mind. Would I risk it for my current 14yo who is highly academic - no.

clary · 10/01/2026 00:27

The contingency day IIRC dates the Grenfell fire as a student who was in the fire had to sit GCSE exams the next day – it wasn't used in 2019 (which is pre-Covid btw) bc I would remember as that was my double bubble year (A levels and GCSEs).

I have not known it be used in the last few years for sure (obvs no exams anyway in 2020 and 2021). But ofc that doesn't mean it won't be used. There is no way of knowing @atalost so you are taking a risk. But maybe you calculate that it is worth it. It’s relatively unlikely the day will be needed, but it may be. I would rebook the holiday myself. Obvs the price goes up after the contingency day. Same as it goes up after the last day of term.

YY btw have you checked re prom, sixth form induction day etc.

Edamummybean · 10/01/2026 00:39

SheilaFentiman · 09/01/2026 21:14

It’s a contingency day. If the king dies, say, and we have a bank holiday for his funeral, any exams on that day would move to the contingency day.

Also be aware that things like proms often happen after the contingency day, so your DC may miss these if you go away early doors,

The prom shouldn’t be overlooked. My DS really wants to go to his so we can’t fly until the following week. It sucks but he won’t get another leavers’ prom. 🤷‍♀️

AGlessandahalf · 10/01/2026 00:47

Another reason could be if there was a national power failure and all schools were shut for an exam, the contingency day would then be used.

For peace of mind I wouldn’t book anything until after 4pm on contingency day!

ultracynic · 10/01/2026 00:57

If it’s an easy destination to get to I would book the family holiday now, then if push comes to shove your son can book a last minute flight.

Original poster
atalost · 10/01/2026 09:47

Thanks for your replies.
I will play safe!
I was looking forward to benefiting from going out of school holidays when prices are lower as I’ve never taken my son out of school to do so, it’s been crippling in comparison for 12 years now

OP posts:
TommyAtkins · 10/01/2026 10:04

I will have this dilemma next year as youngest DS is sitting GCSEs.

Given the age of our monarch, I don’t think I am brave enough to book a holiday before the contingency day, even if saves any money.

Also, bear in mind that college/sixth forms also have their taster/induction days around then.

A couple of years ago I had booked to fly the day or two after the contingency day after my older DC finished their GCSEs, unfortunately this clashed with one of their taster days. We ended up having to park outside the sixth form with the luggage in the car and head straight to the airport as soon as it had finished.

I am glad that they didn’t miss this though, as it gave them second thoughts about which course they should be doing, and therefore shaped which uni they are now studying at etc, so I’m glad they didn’t miss the day in order for me to book a cheap holiday.

Treylime · 10/01/2026 10:23

Is the contingency day just for national events? If it was just something affecting a particular school e.g a flood, would a contingency day be used then?

tennissquare · 10/01/2026 17:55

Treylime · 10/01/2026 10:23

Is the contingency day just for national events? If it was just something affecting a particular school e.g a flood, would a contingency day be used then?

No, it’s for a national event when the exam
paper is withdrawn from being circulated and no one sits it on that day.
If a school
has a power outage etc they will have a policy in place for another school to be contacted and their facilities to be used. For example in surbiton pre pandemic an unexploded WW2 bomb was found in the area and the near by school had to be evacuated and A levels moved to another school.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 10/01/2026 18:12

DS and his mates have booked a trip over contingency day! They know the risks. Fingers crossed…..

SilverBlue56 · 10/01/2026 18:32

I'd book the cheap holiday but make plans for my child to be at home and join us later IF the contingency day ended up being used. The last exams are a few days before contingency so you would know in advance if it was going to happen ..

BrieAndChilli · 14/01/2026 13:04

Also have you looked at the gap between the last scheduled exam and the contingency date? I think DD has nearly 2 weeks between - which may be a safer option so that you are back for the contingency day? Prom normally happens at the end of June too, leavers assemblies etc along with other parties too that your child may like to attend.

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