How will you be celebrating the end of GCSEs?

[Namefortodayandtomorrow]

A bit early I know but was just wondering how to celebrate the end of GCSEs with DD when they’re over. Lots of sleep I’m sure but looking for ideas of something special to do with her. Going on holiday but not until August.

A Chinese takeaway and we have bought her the Lego sanctum sanctorum. Which she has been wanting for ages.
She has lots of health problems and really struggled but she has worked so hard.
Really proud of her.

Oh. I hadn't thought to do anything other than a pat on the back and a 'well done mate, I bet you're glad that's over'. I expect he'll have plans with his friends.

I have just booked tickets to see Matilda the musical. I was hoping to book a spa day but the ones near me won't take under 18s.

I’ll be going all out with my dd, whatever I can think of. She’s a high achiever and has been predicted all 8 and 9’s. She studies for 2-3 hours a night, all self motivated, she know she needs good grades for what she wants to achieve. There’ll be lots of pamper nights and activities that she likes on the weekends during the exams. She’s got a cash incentive for every 8 and 9 she gets. And there will definitely be a short break or something when she’s done them. Perhaps I’d have done better with mine if my parents acted like they gave a shite rather than thinking ‘I dunno, might give them a pat on the back if I’m in a good mood’ 🙄

Sleep 😴 Ds predicted a lot of 8 and 9s and has worked so hard for every single one. Barely seen his friends out or watched any movies. If he can just keep it together it should be good.

But some days out sort of planned after the prom. London mostly for food and chilling out and let him make his own plans with his friends, and go to the cinema. Do normal things again. We had a big holiday last year and not going away this year due to renovating a house. Wouldn’t mind a mini break in England somewhere. Norfolk maybe.

I’m going to ask DD what she wants to do with her friends and then something with us as a family. I’m definitely taking her out for lunch and shopping.

Loving the grade prediction irrelevance creeping into this thread. Despite her not being predicted 8 and 9 grades - she has worked incredibly hard - her constant struggle with dyslexia makes me so proud of her. But seeing as she isn’t predicted 8/9 I might just get her a meal deal.

Takeaway here.

Like the PP we have done lego - I got her a lego set pre first exam for working hard - luckily that's given her a bit of downtime although unfortunately it's not going to last the whole 4 weeks.

Oh and she can get her nose and helix piercing done although that's more an end of school than exam specific.

Agree! Dd working her socks off but due to a fucking shite time at school - sui*e attempt, a grooming issue with a predatory pupil who focused on a number of girls in the year group who all had similar personalities (outsiders, anxious, low self esteem etc) she has been working through every weekend and holiday following a study schedule she planned with me and sits down to revise every night after school.

She's bored to death and really doing her best to be positive, her mocks went from 3 to 6 and she got one 9 which she was very suprised by and she doesn't think she'll get it again🤔

Consequently she has very few friends to go out and celebrate as I'd live her to, so we'll be going out for a meal, she will be doing some epic sleeping and then we'll plan whatever she would like to do ( including getti g her tongue pierced which I'm fine with as at least she can remove it when she changes her mind).

Her grades might not be all shining top grades but she is bloody working hard and I'm proud of her for that and how mature and positive she is being.

Phew, glad it's not just me!

I mean we have a mini break booked to Blackpool 1st week on July, but that's just cos that's when my annual leave is!

I'm only here for the irrelevant smug grade predictions 😂. No doubt these people shoehorn GCSE grades into every single conversation.

Anyway, I'm celebrating by posting my child's results all over social media as people LOVE that and making a banner for the church hall. Nothing else matters. Nothing. And if my child doesn't get 9's across the board I'll be tearing the banner down and deleting all social media. The shame.

Mine will be getting a couple of piercings, tongue and nose I think. And a massive massive cuddle.
Must point out though, just because some kids are predicted 8's and 9's does not mean that the kids predicted less than that have not worked just as hard!

Lunch at either the local cafe/McDonald's probably.
No idea what his predicted grades are. I suspected he'll fail some (only taking English, Maths and Science)
BUT he's been suffering with massive anxiety for a few years. Did 2 days in school in September and hasn't been back. He was officially signed off by the Dr. Yet went in 3 days last week to sit exams.

I don't care if he fails them all. This is a massive step. He's amazing.

I'm with you @CrochetBug DD2 has made it to her first exam, if she makes it to the other 2 we'll be celebrating (unless we are collapsed in a gibbering wreck).

I think end of GCSEs is a good thing to celebrate - it is the end of the hard work, the results are out of their hands.

When DD1 did her exams we gave her a little present after each one costing on average £2, and DD2 got one too for being a helpful little sister (6 year age gap) not disturbing revision. Not so many exams in those days though!

This is what amazing looks like - well done to your son.

We've paid for DD to do some fun things - time at a music festival abroad with a friend and parents, NCS (£95 for five days and she's going with a friend), and I'm sure we'll take her out for a meal as well. But all well before we know the results - I want to make sure she knows I'm rewarding her effort and focus, not the grades she's awarded.

Thanks @greencardigangirl and @TeenDivided . I'm prouder of him now than I've ever been. ( and I easily could have been that smug "he's been predicted all 9s parent - his favourite book aged 6 was A-level human biology)

@TeenDivided and @greencardigangirl Well done to your teens. Let's hope this turns into a positive for them and shows them how strong they are!

Lots of great ideas. Think we'll plan for a nice meal out, then we do have a nice holiday planned. Other than that, sleep and spending time with mates and being able to go back to doing more sports.

We're supportive but I'm not sure providing money incentives is a good idea if a child is self motivated already. There's lots of studies that have shown it can cause motivation to become extrinsic rather than intrinsic (which is what you want). I guess if nothing else worked, money might be a motivator for those who really don't want to revise.

Also believe it's important that life moves on don't stop everything because one person in the family is doing exams. Puts too much pressure on them, not sure that's healthy.

So, yes mainly a big hug and lots of praise for all the hard work they've done!

No one’s being smug with the predicted grades. I didn’t see any smugness and I know I didn’t mean it. Passing is all that’s needed. Perhaps you’re taking it the wrong way? It means they’ve been studying like they’re obsessed and parents on here are allowed to say their grades as much as anyone getting a 4 or a 6 or a 9. And we can’t wait for things to get back to normal.

Lol every parent is proud and will be celebrating. No one’s about to chop up their kids and sell their organs because they got bad grades so please chill.

The teachers are doing an amazing job in my sons school. Not even me lol 😂

@greencardigangirl I think I've found my tribe! Well said.

Oh,it's smug. Of course it is.

I am going to prepare a goody bag for my son, nothing too fancy or expensive, but a few bits for him to relax with on his first evening after his exams have finished. Things like a can of his favourite fizzy drink, a tub of Pringles and a big slab of chocolate. It will all get consumed on the first day away from revision whilst he’s on his Xbox. I think that’s what he is looking forward to really, just gaming with his mates without worrying about revision timetables.

I couldn’t ask any more of him, he’s tried his very best and the goody bag is more of a ‘congratulations, you’ve finished your time at secondary school and got through the exams’ rather than ‘you’ve got x amount of score grades’.

For me, I think it’s more important to celebrate him finishing his exams and the fact that he has tried his very best rather than make the main focus the day the GCSE results are announced.

Mine's getting a small present and a weekend off, and then a daily list of chores to fill some of that vast expanse of free time 😁. Can't wait to come back to a clean and tidy house.