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Original poster

Holiday before GCSE reserve date?

23 replies

Batinhernightdress · 25/03/2023 22:49

Has anyone gone on holiday before the reserve date?

Gcses end by 26th, we want to go away 27th, but reserve date is 28th June.

Would we be crazy to book 27th?

OP posts:
Original poster
Batinhernightdress · 26/03/2023 09:23

Bump

OP posts:
LividNC · 26/03/2023 09:25

I’m a teacher but don’t know about the reserve date. Is it for a specific subject?

Generally I’d say YABU unless you’re willing to cancel if the date gets needed.

BooksAndHooks · 26/03/2023 09:28

I’m not sure if risk it.

Has your school confirmed they are not needed in that week? Often the sixth form preparation days are that week or college days as they know people are available that week. Ours had to be available until their Prom night.

NotDonna · 26/03/2023 09:29

You may get more response moving this to Secondary Education. I personally wouldn’t risk it unless you can cancel the holiday if needed. Can you squeeze a break in between last exam and 28th? I did that with my GCSE DD1 a few years ago (last exam was June 14th) and doing this year with DD2 and A levels (last exam 13th). Gives 2 weeks to get back for 28th if needed.

NotDonna · 26/03/2023 09:31

If the last exam is 26th then no you should wait and travel on 29th. But check exam dates.

CornishGem1975 · 26/03/2023 09:33

They should consider the contingency day of Wednesday 28 June 2023 when making their plans for the summer. Candidates should be encouraged to remain available until Wednesday 28 June 2023 should examinations need to be rescheduled.

I wouldn't, in case there is an exam. Unlikely but who knows. It's also "leavers day" and prom later that week for us and the following week is 6th form and college taster/transition days so there's still a fair bit going on.

feelingthankful · 26/03/2023 09:35

We're booked to go away on the 29th. I'm not sure I'd sleep well at night if I'd booked it for a day or so earlier, knowing there was a possibility of having to cancel if that contingency day was needed.

As it turned out the 6th form DD has an offer for is having their induction day on the 28th. As soon as she gets home we'll be heading straight back out the door to the airport hotel. It almost feels a little too close for comfort, but I'm sure a gin once the plane takes off will make it all feel better!

HereSheComesInTheFall · 26/03/2023 09:36

The 28th June is exam contingency date. It would have been used if the late Queen had died last summer & there had been exams scheduled on the date of her funeral.
It's only national events that would cause it be to used, so it's highly unlikely.
But if any exams are rescheduled for the 28th and a child misses them due to being on holiday, they will be awarded zero marks for that paper.

ArdeteiMasazxu · 26/03/2023 09:36

the point of the reserve date being published now is so that you don't have a leg to stand on if some kind of unforseeable event means and exam gets rescheduled to that date. it might not happen, but if it does then you will have no claim on insurance and no grounds for objection of any kind.

I wouldn't.

SheilaFentiman · 26/03/2023 09:36

DH is looking at this for DS1 and he will book something cancellable if he books.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 26/03/2023 09:42

It’s a small but very significant risk.

insurance certainly wouldn’t cover the holiday if an exam was rescheduled for that date so before you book you need to be sure that you’d be happy to lose the cost.

Choconut · 26/03/2023 09:43

Are exams ever really rescheduled? I've worked in exams for years and never known it (apart from pandemic when everything was completely different). If something really major happened to disrupt all the exams ie major terrorist attack then a couple of extra days at the end probably wouldn't be much help/make much difference anyway. It's not like your child might miss an exam and so do it later as that wouldn't be possible. I'd go for it OP.

Choconut · 26/03/2023 09:45

Oh and we missed dc's induction days for 6th form even though we went on hols a week or two after exams, it really didn't matter.

WimbleOfWombledon · 26/03/2023 09:56

I know that the reserve date has never had to be used but I'm a bit of a worrier so I booked our flights for the day after! Just for my own peace of mind plus it's a long haul v expensive (to me) holiday and I couldn't afford to lose the money and book new flights if the reserve date did get used.

Autienotnautie · 26/03/2023 09:58

We did this, dds prom was day before so total nightmare and she missed leavers day where they all go in and say goodbye she was gutted.

Original poster
Batinhernightdress · 26/03/2023 10:32

Thanks all. It is bloody "prom" that is causing the issue, we need to be back for prom and can't go after prom due to DH job (runs summer camp)

Good idea @NotDonna to go before contingency date (need to find out when last exam is now)

OP posts:
AldiorLidl · 26/03/2023 11:38

Choconut · 26/03/2023 09:43

Are exams ever really rescheduled? I've worked in exams for years and never known it (apart from pandemic when everything was completely different). If something really major happened to disrupt all the exams ie major terrorist attack then a couple of extra days at the end probably wouldn't be much help/make much difference anyway. It's not like your child might miss an exam and so do it later as that wouldn't be possible. I'd go for it OP.

The very point of the reserve date is that they can be. Obviously unlikely but possible.

NotDonna · 26/03/2023 12:08

Choconut · 26/03/2023 09:43

Are exams ever really rescheduled? I've worked in exams for years and never known it (apart from pandemic when everything was completely different). If something really major happened to disrupt all the exams ie major terrorist attack then a couple of extra days at the end probably wouldn't be much help/make much difference anyway. It's not like your child might miss an exam and so do it later as that wouldn't be possible. I'd go for it OP.

It can be used for local issues though. Like strikes. So whilst it’s highly unlikely it’s still a risk.

Original poster
Batinhernightdress · 26/03/2023 19:57

@NotDonna

Well I can book one for the evening of the last exam which will get me back the morning of back up day, obviously will be tight but seems a bit better. Now to find out if there is anything else I've forgotten to factor in.

OP posts:
Hersetta427 · 25/10/2023 19:42

Immediately after exams Dd had prom and 6form inductions in that next week - are you happy to miss those as well?

Thethingswedoforlove · 25/10/2023 19:47

My advice would be to just book it over the reserve date if you are willing to lose the hol in the unlikely event the reserve date is needed. If it is needed for whatever reason, are you really going to want your dc to have been away and landing back in the morning of the date? I suspect not. So book it over the date but be willing to not go at all if the date ends up being needed (very very unlikely).

SheilaFentiman · 25/10/2023 19:56

This thread is from March - OP either did the holiday or
didnt.

Thethingswedoforlove · 25/10/2023 21:52

@SheilaFentiman ooops! Thank you. Strange it was in active and that I didn’t notice 🤐

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