Holidays in GCSE Year

[jennylamb1]

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.

My DS did his this year and we didn't go away from the October half term including missing our annual Easter trip to my homeland. In hindsight we should have just gone. He only really got stuck in when he went on study leave two weeks after Easter. We will not be doing the same for his A levels, we will go and he will study away. Weirdly there are less distractions away from home (No playstation for one!)

We have GCSEs for DS1 this year and DS2 next year (then A levels for 2 years). I can’t not go on holiday for 4 years!

We have mocks at end of Jan so thinking a short ski trip in Feb half term. Then nothing until after.

However DS2 next year has mocks in Nov so we’ll go away for a week hopefully after Christmas.

I think a break does them good and they can always take revision if they like.

Eldest sat GCSEs last year. We went away for October half term, then for one week of Easter holidays. She took work away at Easter but mostly chilled and worked the other week.

This year middle one is doing GCSEs and we went away for one week of his 2-weeks October half term, and will be away for a week of easter hols too. He is will take a bit of work but also prioritise working in the rest of the holiday.

We have GCSEs or A levels 6 out of 7 years in a row with one child or another - it needs to be a balance I think and Easter has the advantage of having plenty of holiday left to work even if you go away for a week

We will probably just do a UK weekend at Easter and then do a big holiday at the end of June.

Exactly this

We went away in the October hols, then for a long weekend away at Easter, Ds took books and did some revision while away. Then end of June after exams we went for 2 weeks.

Only in school holidays.

Only in school holidays.
Only in school holidays.

After GCSEs, end of June, all of July and most of August but avoiding the date they pick up results.

Our DS is in year 11 now with mocks in November and February. Friends of ours went to Thailand for Christmas and I wish we’d done something similar - school even said take a break over Christmas (bearing in mind our kids are self motivated). We’re looking at booking a villa bh the beach in a quiet part of the canaries or greek islands in April. DS can revise and chill in the sunshine and we can take small excursions

our family went to Jamaica the Christmas before my A Levels. If they did a full day excursion I stayed behind but would join on half days and did a few hours of revision each day in the sunshine without distractions

Yes, tempted to do something, though DS and DH aren't bothered by holidays, I do love to get away. We do stick to school holidays PP. DS is predicted 7s and 8s, however obviously I do want to support his revision and know that the graft will come in from now on.

My DS is Y11 now and in addition to all the other advice on this thread I'd note that he's really shattered at the moment so I'm glad we didn't make any big Christmas travel plans. His school had mocks just before Oct half term and has another set Feb/March, but the workload is heavy all year and he's really tired.

He's doing some school work this holiday (regular language practice, some maths, etc) but I've suggested he prioritise catching up on sleep which he really needs.

He's away for three days in Feb half term on a music residential, and we are going to visit family over Easter for a few days (he'll take some revision with him), but other than that we aren't having a holiday until he's finished in June.

We've had the odd weekend away here and there, but it's a tough year and really hard for them to get enough sleep alongside everything else.

I would go away at Xmas after mocks.

DS1 struggled to revise for mocks when away (his were Jan) so I wouldn’t assume this is an option but the timing works well for you at Xmas.

DS is Y11, he's had mocks in November/December and will have another set in March. Actual exams run mid-May to end of June (practicals and orals mostly in May).

DS's school, and my DBro (retired secondary science teacher and Head of Year) both recommend to do holidays on October half term Christmas of Y11, and to be home for require day and the following week.

Depending on if there a younger child who doesn't school until the end of July!

He will finish his exams before the end of term so there will be an opportunity to go in school time but when he has finished. You need to avoid the contingency day at the end of the exam period.

Like a PP, my DS has been shattered this Christmas hols, and also ill. I had suggested going away somewhere exciting but he didn't want to and I'm so relieved we didn't book anything! He has needed a complete rest.

My year 11 DD has her Art portfolio (worth 60% of her grade) due in next week so she's been spending a lot of time on that these holidays, I'm glad we are at home so she can work on it. Also agree with others that she has needed some time to rest as last term felt very long. She had mocks in November and has another set in March so not sure the half terms would have been good. Basically we're looking forward to her finishing in June!