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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

When is a good time for holiday in Yr 11?

38 replies

whoamitojudge · 09/06/2019 14:58

As the title suggests, My DD will be going into yr 11 next year and we are hoping to get a family holiday booked.
I know that Easter and May half terms will be out but would October half term be ok?
Unsure as don’t know when the mock exams will be.

OP posts:

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 09/06/2019 17:12

I’ve got one current y11 and one y10. Mocks were just after October half term last year (as they are again this year) but we have two weeks off so we went away first week and are going to do that again this year. Most of DD1s peers went away in February but dd1 did both art and textiles GCSEs so had to use that holiday to get on top of her course pages for submission. First week of Easter holidays was popular too.

mysteryfairy · 09/06/2019 17:14

Bear in mind that they have left well before the start of standard school summer holidays even if there is work experience and prom tagged on the end so another option is to go away in early July and avoid school holiday price hikes. Obviously not feasible if you have younger DC.

My youngest of 3 DC is in y12 and we basically avoided going away except in the school summer holidays for 7 years (3 lots of GCSEs, 2 lots of AS and 2 of A). It was honestly pretty dire being under that constraint and with the pressure of exams for so many years. So glad DD hasn’t done AS levels this year, although she won’t holiday with us anyway!

Original poster

whoamitojudge · 09/06/2019 17:19

MitziK
She isn't doing Art or anything like that so I think I will contact the school tomorrow and see what they say.
This is my first time dealing with this so I want to make sure that I'm giving her the best chance to do well and I don't want to mess it up

OP posts:

pointythings · 09/06/2019 17:25

It never seems to be the kids who are well on track or above and submitting everything on the first deadline whose parents take them on holiday - it's the ones who are at best borderline for good grades or those for whom a pass in Maths and English and nothing else would be a fantastic outcome.

at that rather sweeping generalisation, Mitzi. FIY both my DDs were on track for some very high grades when we took them on holiday - and have stayed on track with revision. We are not an exception at our school. You've got a bit of brass nerve coming out with this tripe.

I will agree that if there are coursework deadlines that can be a problem - but that can be managed by had working motivated kids.

PostNotInHaste · 09/06/2019 18:46

Watching with interest as have this next year and hadn’t thought of it. Think we might do the Easter weekend reading this, break things up a bit.

MitziK · 09/06/2019 18:54

I think the phrase you were looking for was 'brass neck'. Or 'nerve'.

But I can only go on my experience. Which is dealing with kids who still haven't got their work ready now and are making excuses for it not being there when the moderators are due in less than ten days - but they've had nice holidays, rather than coming in. It shouldn't have been a surprise to their parents, as they had letters and timetables for holiday revision, coursework and intervention sessions from this time last year.

I suppose I could just shrug my shoulders and say 'oh, well, fail then'. But nobody wants to do that - they want the kids to pass and get good grades.

It still feels crap when you know that their parents prioritised having a nice family holiday, though, as the kids could hardly refuse.

pointythings · 09/06/2019 20:51

I don't think it's legitimate to extrapolate your experience to the entire Yr 11 population of the United Kingdom, but hey, fill your boots...

Correcting minor flaws in idiom online isn't big or clever.

Comefromaway · 09/06/2019 20:56

I would prioritise having a nice family holiday any day. Kids need a break. They are put under enough stress as it is.

Original poster

whoamitojudge · 09/06/2019 21:58

MitziK Correct me if I am wrong but from your message earlier it sounds as if you are a teacher?

OP posts:

avocadochocolate · 09/06/2019 22:02

October half term or end of June (after the last exam).

I personally wouldn't book a holiday at Easter in y11, but make sure your DC is sensible with taking breaks throughout the year.

sansou · 09/06/2019 22:53

No plans to go away abroad as such but certainly long weekends off at Oct half term and Easter. Only one set of mocks straight after Christmas so Christmas hols would be revision focus.I’m surprised that some have 2 sets of mocks, let alone 3. I’m aware that DS doesn’t finish some subjects like English Lit until Easter!

NationalAnthem · 12/06/2019 09:45

Our kids requested that we did not holiday all year! And we complied with their request - they finish GCSEs tomorrow and we’re about to start making up for it!

Comefromaway · 12/06/2019 10:11

Not quite sure how that works when you have multiple children all taking GCSE's and A levels in different years. As a family we needed holidays both for us adults to negate the stress of work (dh is a teacher) and for the kids to give some relaxation time, especially as SEN is involved. Going away at Febryary half term and Easter (dd's request) didn't stop dd from getting mostly 8's & 9's plus a 7 in her GCSE's and actually probably helped.

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