Holidays in Year 11 - how much revision and to go away or not?

[friedbeansandcheese]

Dd is in year 11. She’s planning spending 3-4 hours per day revising over Easter. I had thought she’d be ok to take a week off so we can go away but apparently not.

How much revision are your dc planning over Easter?

And will you be going away on holiday?

Thanks.

With revision dd basically did a school day - so 5 hours with regular breaks between. She and I sat down and drew up a revision timetable beforehand - I helped at her request. It really helped.

The expectation of nothing but revision is both far to much and really quite unhealthy!

I don't expect nothing but revision (if DS manages 2 hours a day I will be surprised). It's more that if we go away there will be no revision at all, whereas if we stay at home we might get some.
If you have a workaholic child, then I agree an enforced short break might be a good idea (although equally it might make them more anxious).

I think it depends on the child. If you have a child who feels stressed out at the thought of going on holiday and having their revision schedule broken, don't do it. Let them lead. If you have a child who is generally doing well, working hard, meeting their targets and would like a break to recharge, then do it.

I have two in category two. We took a week out for Easter in their GCSE years and this year was GCSEs for one and A levels for other. We had a whole week with no revision and then they felt ready to hit the revision with renewed energy. It worked for us - they got the grades.

There isn't a one size fits all answer to this question.

Agree with pointy, it really does depend on the child. DD will be going on a week's sports camp overseas as scheduled every Easter hols. I won't be there to police her but do expect her to grab a couple of hours of daily study, as will the coaches.

DD has mocks in Jan, so we are going away Feb half term.

I am expecting her to revise ‘school hours’ during Easter hols - so either 9-12, 1-4 and relax in the evening or 9-12, 6-9 and relax/go out in the afternoon.

We have deliberately booked no holidays as such. DS has mocks after Christmas so 3/4 days off visiting family. Normally go away for a week at Easter but not this year. He has a practice DoE expedition one weekend and we’ll visit GP’s on another. Same with Feb HT - no skiing for us but hosting visiting family at the weekend. DS plans to follow school hours as his revision plan over the holidays too.

We went away in Feb half term and DD1 went away at Easter too. We didn’t when DD2 was the same age due to early submission of art work. DD1 certainly wasn’t affected adversely and achieved very highly. I think they need a break and one week doesn’t do any harm. I am also aware DD1 was able to breeze exams and the exams are different now. Each child is different.

Thanks, all! Lots of helpful advice. I think the consensus is not to go away for a week.

Think we will compromise by going away in the uk to a house where dd can come out with us for part of the day and have her own space to work too.

I do think she will need a break and change of scenery between Xmas and exams!

Good choice OP.. A lot of pressure on kids these days not helped by parents expectations that they will revise solidly for weeks on end with no fun in between. If they really do need to do this then either parental expectations are too high or the dc have wound themselves into a frenzy. Either way , all work and no let up is not good... and the fastest way to put kids off study.

I wouldn’t go on holiday at Easter. If she’s contentious, she may feel stressed and not enjoy the holiday.

DD1 is only in Y10 but I can't imagine her spending the entire fortnight of the Easter holiday revising productively. She usually goes away for four days on a music course (one of her GCSE subjects) and I'm expecting she'll want to do that next year but there's next to no down time. She's hoping to use a likely solo performance towards one of her music assessments (this is possible because teachers and examiners will be there, as will recording equipment) too. Maybe we'll all feel differently when she's in Y11 but if she continues to work as she does, I'll be encouraging her to go on the Easter course.

There's a difference between a few days away somewhere localish and 8 days away a 6 hour flight with a very busy schedule when away.

Also some kids are happy to be holed up elsewhere working for 3 hours while the family wanders off, others wouldn't be able to settle and concentrate elsewhere.

The main thing in my view is it needs to be driven by the y11, and built into any revision schedule, not forced by the parents or worse of all, sprung on the y11 as a 'surprise' at the last minute.

They can't work the whole time, but some might prefer their break to be at home, others might like to get away.

There's also a middle ground between "going away" and "revising for long periods of time every single day during the holiday".

DC should obviously been encouraged to take breaks and do things outside of studying - this doesn't necessarily mean that they have to go away!

Thing us, dd wants to go to Italy - our initial thought re holiday - but then wants to work when there, which will not work as well as her working in a holiday cottage here a few hours’ drive from home.

Think we will have to save Italy for Easter year 12!

A few of her peers’ parents have said ‘if you get a 9 in your mocks we will give you £££’ - this seems bonkers to me. We’d rather reward effort.

A thing to consider if going away is how your DC revises. DS relies heavily on the internet (online revision plus access to sample papers/questions).

If you DC also relies on the internet you need to be very sure you are going somewhere with good provision. At home we have fast unlimited broadband. We've stayed in holiday cottages where it took an age to upload a simple web page.

P.S agree with you that I don't understand the money for results thing. Particularly if it's about getting grade 9s, which the DC might never get despite putting every single ounce of possible effort.

My daughter's school suggests working 2/3 of the day, on 2/3 of the days. She was on a school sports camp last Easter and those who were in exam years had time for revision and support to do so. So I would say, how long is the holiday, how long would you go away for, would some revision be possible - the down time may be appropriate, if balanced realistically.

We're looking at a long weekend away at the beginning of Easter. I think DD needs a break. Endless work isn't a great idea. I wouldn't do a week, because I think she'd get stressed. But a long weekend, then into two solid weeks of revision should work okay.

I wouldn't go away as it'll just increase the amount of work they need to do during the rest of the holiday. Better to have regular one day breaks or half day breaks during the holiday.

DS has approx 8 hrs of extra curricular activities/commitments per week which he's continuing - music lesson/practice, sports & DoE.

Going away normally involves 2 days' travel - a day getting there & a day getting back so that's 3 days' used up as a minimum for however short a break. We're doing this at Christmas, Feb HT & Easter visiting the GP's. I suspect DS will still be able to carve some time for a social life and go out to the cinema once or twice. (Have prebooked Star Wars!)

For us, the thought of not going away for an entire week helps to reduce my stress levels let alone his.