Going on holiday over Easter, year 12 - is it a terrible idea?

[LucyAnnTrent]

DD16 is in Year 12, doing three A-levels. She isn't particularly academic (for GCSEs, her grades were evenly spread between 5, 6 & 7) but she works reasonably hard.

We are thinking of going on holiday for two weeks over the Easter holidays next year, returning about five weeks before the end-of-year-12 exams. For various reasons, it's not possible to do this trip during the summer holidays. We've discussed this with her and explained that she will have to keep on top of her revision beforehand, make flashcards and revision notes as she goes along during Year 12, and do some studying in the evening while we're away. She is keen to do this and feels it will be fine and she'll still perform well in the end-of-year exams.

I'm having second thoughts though. Is this a terrible idea? Presumably the end-of-year-12 exam grades will influence what universities she can apply to, and the offers she gets. Should we postpone this trip until the Easter holidays of her first year at uni instead, or will it be ok to go at Easter after all?

Please help!

We went on holiday at Easter and ds1 dud very well. So if it suits you, then no
Problem.

It depends how important the year 12 exams are. DD’s school used them for predicted grades, but other schools have exams in September of year 13 for predicted grades. I think five weeks after the Easter break is enough time to ensure your dd is prepared for the exams, but it’s what she thinks/feels that’s important.

It’s fine.

<teacher>

not next year but this year it’s fine.

Unless I'm mistaken, real exams are year 11 and year 13.
So, yes, it's fine.

I’d be asking the school how they derive the predicted grades, i.e. how much are they based on the end of y12 exams.
You could argue that they are equally as, if not more, important than the Y13 exams.
Was 5 weeks plus a bit extra enough for their GCSE exams?

I couldnt access sparx maths from abroad, so worth bearing in mind some websites may not work

Some time off would be absolutely fine

It won't be much of a holiday for your DD if she has to work in the evenings.

Year 12 is fine not year 13! Dd1 pretty studious and conscientious and we went on a city break for 5 days at Easter year 12.

I took my DS away in Easter of Year 12 for 10 days so he could study. At home he would have been distracted by his friends and going out. On holiday he got up early at 7 and studied solidly for 2 1/2 -3 hours every morning. Then had time off swimming in pool or we went out somewhere then once we got back around 4 he studied for another 2 hours. So he got about 4 1/2 hours or even 5 hours each day. I think he did this all the days but 1. We had printed off several past Maths papers and Physics papers and mark schemes which he did one paper each morning and DH marked them for him and in the evenings he went through with DS any questions he had got wrong. DS said he thinks he learned a lot from DH because it was 1-1 so he learned at his own pace. He also did Psychology essays and I marked those as I was a Psychology teacher and examiner. He got better grades than expected. He was expecting C's but got an A and 2 x B so it worked for him. I know he wouldn't have worked as hard at home with distractions.

Thank you everyone, these responses are quite encouraging.

As others have mentioned, the problem is the predicted grades which may be based largely on the end of year 12 exams. Could you go for just one week, not two?

Is this ^^ an option?
How does your DD feel about a holiday at Easter?

My DD would have just not enjoyed the holiday and panicked about not getting enough revision done. And given that the OP's DD achieved 5, 5 and 7 at GCSE it sounds like she has to really apply herself to her A level studies.

Could you go for just one week, not two?
It's quite far. In terms of expense and jet lag, it's not really worth going for only one week.
How does your DD feel about a holiday at Easter?
She wants to go. There is a possibility of incorporating activities that would support her A-level subjects (think museums etc specialising in topics that aren't covered as much in the UK)

For Y12, I think it's fine. Although the Y12 exams will influence predicted grades, they won't be the only factor, and even if you don't go, it's unlikely your DD will sit at home revising all Easter in Y12.

In Y13, it's more likely the school will put on Easter revision, and your DD is more likely to be at home and really want to focus on revision, so I'd avoid it then, but I think this year it's fine?

What did you decide to do OP? Are you away now?

We are thinking of going away for a week next Easter when dd1 will be in Y11. Not sure it's such a good idea now 🤔

My DDs wouldn’t have wanted to - they would rather have had days off in the UK in line with revision breaks, but everyone is different.

i wouldn’t recommend it in Y11 or Y13, @Meredusoleil , I think you just have to (disappointingly, I know) shelve Easter holidays for those two years.

Year 12 is fine. We had a wonderful 5 days in Paris last Easter with year 9 and year 12z This year grounded by A
levels. No way would go away on holiday in year 11 or 13 seems crazy to me. Dd would hate it as conscientious

I know this is an old thread, but giving yourself "permission" to have time off for a short period is healthy.

DD took two days off just before her degree finals and went to a long postponed gig (due to covid) involving a night's stay, and Alton Towers.

She came back refreshed and smashed her degree with a good first.

Hi there, yes we are away at the moment! DD is doing some studying each day, although not quite as much as I'd hoped. She is thoroughly enjoying her holiday though, so I'm hoping that the break (and the ice cream!) will empower her to surge forward with her revision once we're back home. Also, it's quite an educational holiday (which she loves ), so hopefully she's picking up some useful facts informally too.

In year 12?? Was he doing his A levels a year early? It seems a lot of study.

At his school you sat AS exams in Year 12 and unless you passed all 4 AS exams you couldn't go on to Year 13 for A2 exams. My ds was bright but got easily distracted.