Holiday in the middle of GCSEs?

[Username123343]

Hi there,

Did any of you go on a sightseeing holiday with your mid-exams 16 year old in the half term break in June?

I’ve got the opportunity to go with my 3 children and it’ll be fine for them and I think they’ll enjoy it, but for the 16 year old I’m worried it’ll affect his performance in the next set of exams after the holidays. Then again, maybe it’ll help him keep a level head/good for mental health by having a break away?

Should we stay or go? Any experiences to share that might help make a decision? At the moment I’m thinking best not to go. This opportunity is only for that particular week though.

I wouldn’t. But your family dynamic may be different.

Wouldn't dream of it.

No, I wouldn't do this either.

No. Don't.

No, absolutely terrible idea

It’s a no from me. They need to be at home revising that week. I don’t even do holidays at Easter in exam years.

No, of course not. Why are you even considering it?!

No, they need to focus on revision. Plus what if something goes wrong and you’re delayed coming back or something?

My 16yo was shattered by May half term in GCSE year. She didn't revise all week, but did rest and recover. Travel would have been the last thing she wanted to do.

They will feel much more ‘level headed’ if they feel prepared because they’ve spent a week revising, rather than panicked / regretful / tired because they haven’t!

My DDs were expected to be in school quite a lot of May half term for revision sessions.

Going to come at this from someone whose parents did this to me when I was a kid.

We ended up on a delayed flight back home causing me to miss my Maths GCSE and my Physics GCSE. The rest of the exams I had that week I got lower than my predicted grades because I was so exhausted and I hadn't had enough chances to revise. I also didn't enjoy the whole holiday because I was worried about my exams.

Just don't do it it's not worth it

If the other two are younger I’d pull them out of school in mid June for a cheap break.

Heck, no. What a terrible thing to do to your 16 yo.

If the trip is UK and you can shorten for whole week to say 3-4 days then yes, I’d do that (with the 16 yr old’s buy in)

DC2 is in Y12. There is no way I would have five this last year. They need a break, at home to relax and revise.

Geez, no!

Surely you want to give them the message that you are supporting them to be able to do their best in their exams? That means being at home with the option to revise every day. They may not but you have not taken it away but trotting off on holiday.

OK - unanimous answer there. I had decided it was a no for eldest’s sake, but for various reasons I was finding it hard to know this would pan out to be the best decision.

Thank you for your speedy answers everyone.

@Username123343 , have you googled the exam boards and looked at the exam timetable? The first week of June is always so full on, it would be very unfair on your ds to take him away from home during that week.

This is heartbreaking. How did your parents react afterwards? I’m so sorry. That must have been so stressful.

@Panic71 they didn't care too much they said my GCSEs weren't that important yet. At my school we took some GCSEs in year 10 and then the rest in year 11. So they said missing my maths GCSE wasn't a big deal because I'd get the opportunity to take it again in year 11. My physics GCSE however caused issues because I was supposed to take physics and biology in year 10 and chemistry in year 11 and because I missed that one the only option I had was to drop my science GCSE's completely and take core and additional science instead in year 11 ( as I didn't make the passing grade on biology despite being predicted a B grade )

Thankfully i was predicted A* in the two English GCSEs and my history GCSE I was predicted a B so because I had studied so much before I managed to pass those ( just ) with a C in all. It wasn't the end of the world when it came to the rest of my studies throughout the years in college etc but for a 15 year old it was devastating that I didn't get my predicted grades and I was heartbroken that I didn't get triple science GCSEs. My school was very excluding when it came to core and additional science and I couldn't reuse any of my coursework from my triple science so I had to redo so much stuff it was so much extra work.

All so my parents could get married in Florida 🙃

Really really really don’t.

Recall a story last year about a 16yo “woe is me, I’m going to miss maths GCSE” bc of holiday delays or strikes - I just thought why would you go away that week?

Total NO- it would be totally unfair to scupper his chances- he might have to retake the year to get his grades, and re-takes are taken into consideration by Uni selection too.

Having been through it I really wouldn't. They have a ton of exams and lots of content.