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Original poster

Should I not book a family holiday in GCSE year?

69 replies

eekwhatnow · 08/06/2025 09:42

Those who have gone through GCSE’s already, can I ask a question? Did you go on holidays during Year 11 - half terms etc?
We were supposed to be going on trip of a lifetime next Easter but for reasons I can’t control we can no longer go at that time.
We have an opportunity to go in either the Easter the following year or the Oct/nov 2-week holiday that school year. However my DS will be in Year 11.
Would we regret planning that?

OP posts:
LarkspurLane · 08/06/2025 09:47

Find out when the mocks are. If they are after Christmas, then two weeks in Oct/Nov would not be the end of the world. If they are in November (many schools are) I wouldn't risk going then.
I think it's important to get a break, but I am not sure that a trip of a lifetime for two weeks at Easter is a good use of time near the exams. A week by a pool fine but two weeks with no revision time, not so much.
Many schools have revision sessions in school at Easter, it's an important time.

Sooo, from me ... holiday yes, trip of a lifetime no.

BastardesEverywhere · 08/06/2025 09:47

Both of my elder dc sat/will sit (this year for ds2) their Maths GCSE in November of Y11 - so the October half term was key revision time.

We went away in Y11 Feb half term as that was far enough away from exams - all the rest, ds1 was revising though.

Michele09 · 08/06/2025 09:48

eekwhatnow · 08/06/2025 09:42

Those who have gone through GCSE’s already, can I ask a question? Did you go on holidays during Year 11 - half terms etc?
We were supposed to be going on trip of a lifetime next Easter but for reasons I can’t control we can no longer go at that time.
We have an opportunity to go in either the Easter the following year or the Oct/nov 2-week holiday that school year. However my DS will be in Year 11.
Would we regret planning that?

I would do Easter the following year. Mock exams likely Nov, Dec. Also holidays are a chance to catch up on coursework if studying a subject like art. We did 2 nights away as a break at Easter but I wouldn't have done more than that.

NotGalinda · 08/06/2025 09:54

I wouldn’t. We’ve done holidays, but nothing much at Easter. DD liked having to down time to be able to focus on revision, she would have just found having a big holiday in either October or Easter difficult and wouldn’t have enjoyed the holiday and felt stressed about revision. The other thing I underestimated is how tired she would get during the year, and needed time just to sleep and do nothing

Original poster
eekwhatnow · 08/06/2025 09:56

Thanks all, that’s really helpful.

OP posts:
sunshineandshowers40 · 08/06/2025 10:00

School put on revision sessions over Easter. There were also quite a few Saturday sessions. We didn't go away Feb half term, Easter or May half term, wanted them to be able to study.

abnerbrownsdressinggown · 08/06/2025 10:02

I wouldn’t - we pushed a trip of a lifetime type holiday forward to the Easter of Y10 and it definitely affected DD’s grades and she is the sort who works hard all the year and wouldn’t leave everything to the last minute.

clary · 08/06/2025 10:05

Do you mean Easter of year 11 (sorry it’s not totally clear) or Easter of Year 10? If the latter no worries, if year 11 at Easter definitely not.

October half term – again, two weeks away might be tough if mocks are in November as others say (ad they often are).

Could you make it Oct of year 12 or Easter of year 12?

sunshineandshowers40 · 08/06/2025 10:08

Just reread. We are going away for a week Oct half term as it is now two weeks. DC2 will be in Y11.

ChaiLarious · 08/06/2025 15:02

We've just been away on holiday in the May half term. DD is Year 11 and it was in the middle of her exams. She took revison notes, past papers and iPad with her to revise on holiday round the pool. She even did maths past papers on the plane. They do need some form of break from studying.

Glittertwins · 08/06/2025 15:59

I’d save it until after exams and be home for results. Our school did a lot of extra revision classes in the holidays and it was useful.

redskydelight · 08/06/2025 19:05

As others have said it depends so much on your school timetable (and also the subjects your DC is taking).

For my DD, October and February half terms would have been out as they had mocks straight afterwards.
Easter would also have been out as there were revision sessions at school and she relied on it to finish her coursework (Art and Drama).
A holiday over Christmas would have been ok in terms of not impacting GCSE, but it was also needed as a break!

HawaiiWake · 08/06/2025 19:36

The trip of a lifetime sounds fun. Factor in time zone and jet lag, sports if there is a level of injury such as off road biking, mountain climbing, etc not great if writing hand involved. Could it be after GCSEs as a super reward for effort. DC can really relaxed and enjoy themselves.

menopausalmare · 08/06/2025 19:45

Go away at the end of June/start of July once the exams are over and you can get a good pre- summer deal.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 08/06/2025 19:49

menopausalmare · 08/06/2025 19:45

Go away at the end of June/start of July once the exams are over and you can get a good pre- summer deal.

If you do that, remember to factor in contingency days, prom and sixth form transition days!

LoveNRoses · 08/06/2025 19:56

ChaiLarious · 08/06/2025 15:02

We've just been away on holiday in the May half term. DD is Year 11 and it was in the middle of her exams. She took revison notes, past papers and iPad with her to revise on holiday round the pool. She even did maths past papers on the plane. They do need some form of break from studying.

This would not have been an option for us. DS wanted to be here at his desk with every book and set of notes. DH suggested taking notes away but DS wanted to be home and study. He didn’t wants hols at Easter or May but was happy to go away at Feb half term as he felt is was early enough, and we were guided by him and happy to support him in his choices. He also didn’t want to go away Oct half term of Y11 due to mocks.

good luck in what you decide. Yes the need hols but that can be pretty much any other time of the year. Christmas or Feb half term of Y11 are fine if mocks are before Christmas. Easter or October half term of Y10 or Y12 are also fine.

clary · 08/06/2025 22:07

ChaiLarious · 08/06/2025 15:02

We've just been away on holiday in the May half term. DD is Year 11 and it was in the middle of her exams. She took revison notes, past papers and iPad with her to revise on holiday round the pool. She even did maths past papers on the plane. They do need some form of break from studying.

I agree a break cam be good but what I would say about May half term holidays is that if you go abroad, be aware of possibly delayed flights and exams in the first day or so. I recall reading of a family whose DS missed his maths GCSE bc they were flying home the day before and their flight was delayed by several hours. I remember thinking it was really on them. Not saying obvs @ChaiLarious that you cut it fine like that, just that it’s worth being aware.

HeddaGarbled · 08/06/2025 22:15

Not much of a break really if they’re having to do revision round the pool while everyone else gets to have a proper holiday. I’d be resentful if that were me. Holiday when the exams are finished would be the only really relaxing holiday for the exams-sitter.

Hollyhedge · 08/06/2025 23:28

2 weeks at Easter is out I think personally. A week away over one half term would be ok. My DS was away October half term and it wasn’t great but he had a lot to do. Depends a bit on the child. If you have a consistent worker, dilligent, more flexibility. As pp said find out when mocks are

Spirallingdownwards · 08/06/2025 23:32

I wouldn't go away I'm Easter or May half term for y11 or y13.

I might not even go away for those in y12 depending when their exams were because these are the exams which often form the basis upon which predicted grades for UCAS applications are based.

TheaBrandt1 · 08/06/2025 23:35

Sorry but going away May half term during gcses is madness. Wouldn’t go away at Easter either. Why on earth would you?

TheaBrandt1 · 08/06/2025 23:38

Mine would have refused to go away in May half term smack in the middle of exams even if we wanted to. Poor kid revising on plane etc. You can go on holiday anytime why choose then?

angelcake20 · 08/06/2025 23:58

Not Easter of year 11; we usually ski at Easter but went Feb half term instead that year. We’ve done a long weekend for Easter and May BH to give them a bit of a break. October half term and Christmas might be tricky depending on how your school does mocks.

Verite1 · 09/06/2025 00:02

We normally go away in either Easter or May half term but next year (yr 11) we are not going away until summer. I’m toying with a few nights away over Easter itself as a break from revision but haven’t decided yet and it definitely won’t be more than 2/3 nights.

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