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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

Post GCSE plans for the long Summer

15 replies

memenotea · 12/06/2023 21:01

My DD is just coming to the end of her GCSEs and I think she had visions of a summer full of lazy days with friends, picnics in parks, parties, festivals etc. (basically an instagram life)
In reality, things are looking rather different. Lots of people seem to be heading off on long family holidays and not many plans are being made. She is going to a festival and doing her Gold D of E expedition and residential.
I have tried to tell her this is fairly normal for post GCSE summer and that life is not an instagram reel but I’m not sure she believes me. I have suggested she get a job.
What are your DCs planning for the long summer holidays?

OP posts:

eish · 12/06/2023 21:06

2 week holiday with dad to visit his home country (win win as I don’t have to see in laws)
a festival
a week residential doing a hobby
2 week family holiday

it means she can’t look for a job until we get back (results day) as she’s too busy

I’ve told her she has to learn to cook ten meals over the holiday (she can but she’s rubbish so that’s my aim, they can be very basic!)

i am also going to purchase the driving theory app to try and get through that whilst she destiny have any work to do

Original poster

memenotea · 12/06/2023 21:16

Ooh good call on the driving theory prep.

OP posts:

NancyJoan · 12/06/2023 21:18

Last year my DD did a festival, we had a week away as a family, and the rest of the time she seemed to be in the park/down by the river etc with friends. We had a couple of London trips to concerts and the theatre too.

Starlightstarbright1 · 12/06/2023 22:30

noth . I think he is worn out but no plans to do anything as far as I am aware

reluctantbrit · 12/06/2023 22:40

DD only turns 16 in July and it's impossible to get a job here.

She has 2 weeks "off", we expect her to start sorting out her room, sort out old school papers. She has some plans for it, meeting with friends.
I then have a week off and will do some things with her.
Another week "off"
One week drama workshop
A week "off"
2 weeks family holiday
6th form preparation week.

Before the school holiday actually start, she still has her hobbies to do/go to classes.

We told her she will be in charge of laundry, will have to cook some simple dinners 2-3x a week and I hope she will do some online study days linked to her hobby.

AnnaCmass · 12/06/2023 22:56

DD has a month between exams finishing and going away with guides for 2 weeks. During that month she will still be going in to school for music lessons and rehearsals and taking part in numerous out of school music events. And 2 nights of guide camp. I’m expecting her room to be tidied and her to take an active role in household jobs
She has 2 weeks away with guides then home for 2 nights and away with family for a week. After that it’s not long til results come out and she can start planning college.

julesover40 · 13/06/2023 06:16

Dd finiishes exams this Friday. Has a 3 day 6th form induction/sample lessons next week and I understand they set assignments to be completed for Sept. She has a Saturday job and will hopefully pick up a few extra shifts. A 3 day trip to Prague in early July and a week away here on family holiday at end of August. Other than that lots of days out with friends and relaxing mainly.
Great idea about driving theory, I shall look into that x

mumonthehill · 13/06/2023 06:23

Ds has a week family holiday, a week sports training, weekend at sports competition and then 4 nights in cornwall. Most of august is not too busy and he has a job so will work as well.

Letskeepgoing · 13/06/2023 06:27

Nothing planned really but my son really wants to get a job. Going to do a letter and go and take them around different shops and businesses at the weekend.
Me and dh have some annual leave planned for August and would love to go away but will have to see if we can.

Windowcleaning · 13/06/2023 06:28

I totally relate to a DD with an Instagram life fantasy... Mine is in the tricky position of having no hobbies or interests outside of school (not for want of opportunity or my trying!) and a group of friends at school who will either be heading back to their home country pretty much as soon as exams finish or who, for religious and cultural reasons, aren't allowed out much.

She had been planning a trip with a friend but that fell through. Have a family holiday for a week and a few weekends away planned and my main objective for the summer is to get her out of her bedroom tbh.

PhotoDad · 13/06/2023 06:28

Three weeks "off" (sporting and musical commitments continue), family weekend in London, week at a music camp, 9 days abroad with his sport, couple of weeks "off", week in Wales with his sport... it all adds up!

lalalalalalaleeee · 13/06/2023 06:30

Absolutely nothing

Get his room sorted, and generally just have some down time
Can't afford a holiday but some days out may be on the cards

CeeceeBloomingdale · 13/06/2023 06:32

No major plans. We have two weeks abroad, a long weekend in Scotland, sorting out her wardrobe etc planned but the rest will be lazing no doubt and catching up with friends.

3sthemagicnumber · 13/06/2023 17:03

DD is going to be pretty busy.

Away for 5 weeks of the summer (3 on family holiday, 1 NCS with group of friends, 1 visiting French relatives in Paris).

Having some work done on the house which will probably mean redecorating her bedroom and we need to get the house shipshape because we have guests/housesitters all summer - joys of living in Cornwall!

Has an after-school job and is hoping to pick up some extra shifts there, but that will mostly be evenings, so she's hoping for some lazy days at the beach with friends (when they're not working - there are lots of rubbish things about Cornish teenage-hood, but it's easy to find holiday jobs!).

Not sure yet if there will be any holiday work to do - she's leaving current school, so I don't know if that makes it less likely...

WombatChocolate · 13/06/2023 17:12

My DS did GCSEs last year. We went on 2 family holidays and he went on 2 activity camps, one which counted as his residential for Gold D of E. There was lots of getting together with mates and a lot of lying in and relaxing. He also did an NPLQ lifeguard qualification which took a week and interviewed for some lifeguard jobs, getting one that started in September. Because he is an autumn baby,he downloaded the Driving Test theory and started learning that so he could do the theory test as soon as he was 17. And he probably spent 5-6 days doing pre-A Level work that was set ahead of starting 6th Form. I think he had a lovely summer - having some things planned made it all the better to be honest.

I like the idea of learning to cook 10 meals. As he finishes yr12 I think I might ask him to do that over the summer, as well as doing the families online shopping to a budget - useful skills.

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