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 do this either. Could you go in July when schools break up and GCSEs are finished?

Definitely don’t, my dd did her GCSEs last year and she attended extra revision sessions during the holidays.

Definitely not. There are still three weeks of exams to follow.

You’ve made the right decision, OP. Maths paper 2 is on the morning of Monday 3 June - imagine if your flight was cancelled and you were delayed getting back? Then Eng language p2 on Wednesday and biology on Thursday, plus history, Spanish and business if he does any of those for his options. It’s one of the heaviest weeks in the whole exam series.

Thanks everyone. Just to reiterate what I said this morning, I won’t be booking anything for that week.

@ThanksItHasPockets - where did you find the exam timetable? I knew about maths paper 2 as I found it on the BBC Bitesize website but I don’t know about any other dates.

Good grief no. Not at Easter either or only for a couple of days.

@Username123343 all the exam boards have their timetables online now. I've just this minute been writing my DS's A level dates in my diary in fact!
Re your original question, I think you are right not to travel in that week but I don't think there's any harm in a bit of down time like a local day trip or two. It's a stressful period and I don't think revising all day every day is necessary or productive for most DC.

Are you mad?

@MrsAvocet Thanks for that, I’ll have a look this week. I’ve just ordered a guide to ‘how to revise’, more for my own benefit really. 😅

@Username123343

Here is AQA: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/admin/t_table_pdf/AQA-TT-GCSE-JUN24-CONFIRMED.PDF

Most core subjects will be in the same session across the exam boards but to be sure you should check the timetable for each board your DS is taking. He should have been given (or will shortly be given) a statement of entry with details of the subjects, tiers (where relevant) and boards he has been entered for. You can then Google ‘Eduqas / Edexcel / OCR GCSE exam timetable 2024’.

@ThanksItHasPockets - that’s amazing, thank you

I don't expect anyone will take my word as gospel but just in case it causes confusion I am putting some dates in my diary and realised that I misread these dates when reading a doc on my phone! English Language p2 is on Thursday 4 June and Biology is on Friday 5.

I was in two minds if it was ok in the Feb half term. Absolutely no way I'd do this.

My parents did take me away at a similar time under the guise I could relax and study there. I did anything but and I'm sure it impacted my results.