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Secondary education

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Original poster

Holidays in GCSE Year

42 replies

jennylamb1 · 20/12/2024 11:56

Our DS will be in Y11 next year. We have family who live abroad so I'm having a look at holidays, when would be good to go and when would be a big no no in GCSE year? He has mocks end of November, start of December and then proper ones May/June.

OP posts:
SometimesCalmPerson · 20/12/2024 11:58

All of GCSE year is a big no no. Wait for the holidays.

Mysteryfemale · 20/12/2024 11:58

Christmas, February, summer.

Mysteryfemale · 20/12/2024 11:59

Obviously in school holidays which I assumed is what you meant. Easter and May half term should be avoided.

Original poster
jennylamb1 · 20/12/2024 12:03

Yes, thinking school holidays.

OP posts:
thatsmymug · 20/12/2024 12:06

I would go at Christmas. After both sets of mocks so time for a break and lots of time until the actual exams

HPandthelastwish · 20/12/2024 12:08

Not until after exams, and make sure you don't book over contingency day. Short city breaks would be fine Center parks etc but not 2 weeks overseas. Write off most of this year for holidays

There will be revision sessions run in the school holidays and coursework catch-up if he is doing a BTEC.

sunshineandshowers40 · 20/12/2024 12:10

We are not going away during May Half term and only going away for a weekend at Easter as eldest is in Y11. They finish early for summer but we have younger DC so will go away the end of July as usual.

MabelMaybe · 20/12/2024 12:12

Our school has a 2nd set of Mocks in Feb, just after half term. Watch out for the results day too (I forgot and booked us to be away on results day and had to swap the week)

MabelMaybe · 20/12/2024 12:13

Also watch out for any subjects which have course work, because you'll need to factor in completion dates for that too.

MiraculousLadybug · 20/12/2024 12:13

Just don't do what a mum of one of my Year 11 pupils did, which was to book a 2 week trip to Egypt right over the GCSE exams then ask the school to reschedule the exams. Obviously this wasn't possible.

SneddlingIntoSpace · 20/12/2024 12:14

I would say Christmas is the only one I would consider. Mocks mean revision in usually October half term and February half term as February mocks are helpful for teachers in working out if someone should be entered for either a foundation or higher paper and more practise for students at exams.

There are usually some Easter revision sessions your child might be invited to. Dates to pay attention to, exam contingency day, prom and sixth form taster days. The taster day was compulsory attendance for admittance. Also results day because a lot of people forget that one too.

Also as they are year 10, consider their year 10 summer as an opportunity to look back on their end of year exams and brush up on year 10 content before adding year 11 content into that.

Even though you may all feel like you need a break some students do not want one because they worry they should be revising and so are not relaxing.

MyBigFatGreekSalad · 20/12/2024 12:32

Honestly, I wouldn't.

Comefromaway · 20/12/2024 12:33

Dd went away at Easter during her GCSE year. Ds was 2020 so obviously didn't. We were also away in this country during half term.

redskydarknight · 20/12/2024 12:36

Christmas and Feb half term would be ok as mocks are before Christmas.

I'd avoid Easter (too close to exams; there may be coursework deadlines or school revision sessions) and October half term (too close to mocks).

Or go straight after GCSEs finish.

TeenToTwenties · 20/12/2024 12:37

Christmas holidays given when mocks are.
Maybe up to a week over Easter, but only if teen is happy. School may provide revision sessions then which could be useful.
Nothing long haul or tiring.

Tiswa · 20/12/2024 12:38

If it is to visit family can he revise when there - if so I would avoid anything in May but April seems fine

SnowyIcySnow · 20/12/2024 12:50

Are you sure there isn't a second set of mocks in Jan / Feb time?

Personally, I'd go summer between Y10 and Y11, and then after the GCSE's are finished.
DS is also hoping to go away for a week at Easter - but we don't choose that date, it is a camp he has gone to for years. I've said we will pay, but pull him out if things are looking ropey in terms of results - its £40 tho, and we can afford to loose that.

MrsHamlet · 20/12/2024 16:28

Mocks in my school are in January.

LimeYellow · 20/12/2024 16:30

Definitely not Easter, but Christmas should be ok if the mocks are definitely in Nov/Dec rather than Jan.

User820825 · 20/12/2024 21:15

I agree that Christmas or more ideally, after contingency day.

bouncingblob · 21/12/2024 13:56

I'm a teacher and I'm going to disagree with the majority here.

As a child, during my GCSE years, my parents took me away during the Easter holidays for sun holidays in Spain.

But the deal was that I would do some studying while I was there.

And you know what? I did. And it was fantastic. I'd be sitting on the sun lounger making notes or reading over materials, then I'd take a break and hop in the pool or go for a walk etc. And in the evening, after dinner, I was free to relax and enjoy the entertainment in the hotel.

This worked for me because I was a hard worker and my parents knew it would benefit me. Every child is unique though.

All I'm saying is a blanket "no" is not necessarily the answer. For me, holidays were a fantastic motivation and made studying so much more pleasant. And yes, I achieved very highly in all subjects.

TooManyCupsAndMugs · 21/12/2024 14:03

All GCSEs are finished late June/early July. (Exam timetable can be checked online). You would have a few weeks at the start of July, before the school holidays start for all, to go away and it should be a bit cheaper!

User820825 · 21/12/2024 14:17

*I'm a teacher and I'm going to disagree with the majority here.

As a child, during my GCSE years, my parents took me away during the Easter holidays for sun holidays in Spain.

But the deal was that I would do some studying while I was there.*

Unless you are a whippersnapper I don't think you can compare the GCSEs of now with what they once were.

bouncingblob · 21/12/2024 18:10

User820825 · 21/12/2024 14:17

*I'm a teacher and I'm going to disagree with the majority here.

As a child, during my GCSE years, my parents took me away during the Easter holidays for sun holidays in Spain.

But the deal was that I would do some studying while I was there.*

Unless you are a whippersnapper I don't think you can compare the GCSEs of now with what they once were.

As I say, I'm a teacher and I do not think the GCSEs are now any harder than what they were when I was a child. I've taught through several curriculum revisions too, and again, they all have their quirks, but none are remarkably harder than the others.

Bringing your child on a relaxing sun holiday over Easter is a really healthy approach to revision, as long as they have the maturity to follow the rules. Insisting they stay locked in their rooms is not any more beneficial for the end outcome, especially considering in their downtime they won't be doing anything they don't normally get to do anyway.

JusteanBiscuits · 22/12/2024 20:17

GCSE's were very easy when I did them. I only sat 3 exams!

Son is in GCSE and we're going away for February half term. He has mocks straight after, so the deal is 2 hours of revision a day (he will be doing a sports camp during the day). I plan for me and him to go away for a week at Easter for revision purposes. Away from normal distractions, peace and quiet. I'll be working while he studies.