Going on holiday at Christmas before GCSEs?

winterrabbit · 2023-04-21T17:22:05+00:00

Silly question really but I am thinking of booking a holiday in the Christmas holidays this week mainly because I always feel horribly depressed over that period and really want to be elsewhere. However, DS1 is due to take his GCSEs next year (2024) so presumably will need to study over the Christmas period. Do people generally not book holidays if GCSEs are looming? He's completely unmotivated either way so not sure it'll make a huge difference anyway.

Original poster

winterrabbit · 21/04/2023 18:22

This "year" not this week!

OP posts:

whathaveyoudonelately · 21/04/2023 18:24

Depends when his mocks are really. DD's started the first day of term in January but they do them in February at the school I work at. ( not that she did a huge amount of revision over the holidays....).

Itsanotherhreatday · 21/04/2023 18:25

DDs school do them November.

Ask about nicks and book your holiday.

TeenDivided · 21/04/2023 18:26

DD1's mocks were straight back in Jan so she was revising all but 5 days over the actual xmas period.
If going I'd make it the first week not the second.

Iminthemoneylife · 21/04/2023 18:28

I agree with check when the mocks are.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 21/04/2023 18:29

I wouldn’t as my son was a hard enough sell anyway. Giving him the impression he’s didn’t need to bother would have been too much

Runningonempty01 · 21/04/2023 18:41

If there is decent WiFi, they can study anywhere?

TeenDivided · 21/04/2023 18:44

Runningonempty01 · 21/04/2023 18:41

If there is decent WiFi, they can study anywhere?

Well in theory.
In practice they are away on holiday and won't want to miss out.
Plus they may need their revision guides, a printer etc.

Wewereonabreak88 · 21/04/2023 18:49

Go on holiday. And that's coming from a teacher. There are 6 months after Christmas before exams where they can revise. Even with mocks in January, they are only mocks. He needs a break too, he can revise either side of the holiday or even take a revision guide with him to read on the plane etc. It's about balance.

Mimosa08 · 21/04/2023 18:53

Depends on mocks...
Before Xmas? Yes
After? Nope

redskylight · 21/04/2023 19:16

As well as mocks check submission dates for NEAs.

DD had mocks in November. Christmas was basically a total break for her.

LlamasUnited · 21/04/2023 21:04

Yes to Christmas (unless mocks in jan), absolute no to anything after that until they’re over (around 21 June) But bear in mind proms (June) and results day when booking anything

CatsGinAndTwiglets · 21/04/2023 21:08

TeenDivided · 21/04/2023 18:44

Well in theory.
In practice they are away on holiday and won't want to miss out.
Plus they may need their revision guides, a printer etc.

Show quote history

This. My nephew is being taken on holiday at May half term mid gcses because his parents are selfish twats who put their holiday before his exams. He can study anywhere but would you find it easier at home or when everyone else is sat on the beach?

Can2022getanyworse · 21/04/2023 21:14

CatsGinAndTwiglets · 21/04/2023 21:08

This. My nephew is being taken on holiday at May half term mid gcses because his parents are selfish twats who put their holiday before his exams. He can study anywhere but would you find it easier at home or when everyone else is sat on the beach?

Show quote history

Holy fuck that's insane! God forbid the flight is delayed, he loses his passport, has an injury that prevents him flying....

Go at Xmas op (I've taught gcse for years) but no later. Most schools have Easter revision sessions and May HT is just madness.

LlamasUnited · 22/04/2023 01:48

@CatsGinAndTwiglets that’s unbelievably selfish and twattish patenting . Poor nephew

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 22/04/2023 07:54

Ask him. My DC has GCSEs looming and didn't want to go away during the holidays this year, not even for a short break. But annoying really as I would have liked a few days away in the Feb half term, and she didn't end up working then anyway. But to be fair she put in the hours over Easter.

SnowfallSnowball · 22/04/2023 08:04

I took my daughter away last Christmas and had her mocks in January. It was fine, to be fair in Year 11 all they focus on is GCSE’s so there’s lots of studying time. Once the mocks are completed though it’s full steam ahead and constant revision. I’d go ahead and book.

Dinofantastic · 22/04/2023 08:32

Depends when mocks are. Ours started 4 January and DC studied all holiday, apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Agree with others that if you go away do it at soon as school breaks up in December.

reluctantbrit · 22/04/2023 18:19

DD's school did mocks around October half-term and then around February half-term. We made her to take the Christmas holidays "off" apart from some the homework the school sat.

Other schools in our area do mocks straight after Christmas, so it really depends on each individual schools.

skilikeagirl · 22/04/2023 21:51

It really depends on the student. We were away over Christmas, Feb half term and the first week of Easter hols and it didn't affect my daughter's GCSE results. They have loads of study leave after that and if anything it helped her focus and get ahead so she had a good set of notes to bring with her for revision. I think a good break and some fresh air does a lot of good.

reluctantbrit · 23/04/2023 10:24

skilikeagirl · 22/04/2023 21:51

It really depends on the student. We were away over Christmas, Feb half term and the first week of Easter hols and it didn't affect my daughter's GCSE results. They have loads of study leave after that and if anything it helped her focus and get ahead so she had a good set of notes to bring with her for revision. I think a good break and some fresh air does a lot of good.

DD's school doesn't do study leave, in fact she still gets homework a lot. Instead of revising she had to do a sociology project yesterday.

I think it really depends on how the school works. DD will get a revised timetable for in-school revision for the first 2 weeks and only after May half term will only go in for the actual exams.