Should I not book a family holiday in GCSE year?

[eekwhatnow]

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?

Hmm be careful of booking. My friend booked a few nights at Easter before her dds gcses and ended up cancelling last minute and losing her money as the trip was stressing out her already anxious Dd.

Lovely article from the Times on this subject- I think a change of scenery can be good for everyone. Year 11 is such a slog. https://www.thetimes.com/article/30287562-2abd-4cb0-9c23-8e817f026efe?shareToken=bbcba4436b3d2403c216cceed3ea903c

One thing we’ve learned from this year (child in Year 11) is that May half-term, when they’re smack bang in the middle of the exams and you think it’s great that they’ll have a full week to revise ready for the second round, they’re actually exhausted and need a break. With hindsight, we’d have gone away just for a couple of days the week before last just to get a break and a change of scenery. It’s been one long slog since January and the end is in sight, but a break would have done us all good. Easter of Year 11? Absolutely no way. Half-term or Christmas - potentially, depending on when mocks are.

I should add that I’m my child’s secondary Headteacher as well as Mum. These year 11s are exhausted. A break from the relentless revision slog is much-needed - for them as well as us parents.

Mine too, during the gcse years and 6th form.
we had great hols in the summer. and something in the oct and feb half terms. Perhaps a few days in the U.K. at Easter but certainly not a big foreign holiday, and not the May half term.

Depends on the individual though. Maybe some are better at pacing themselves?

It's tricky because they put on revision classes during holidayd and they are really helpful. Book it for after

My DD said no to holidays all year, and most certainly not at Easter. Depends when mocks are for the October half term if you are determined to go. My DS would not have minded, but that’s the difference between someone who got 3/4/5s and someone who got 8/9s.

Dd went on an amazing trip with another family Oct half term. There were mocks after the half term so she probably shouldnt have gone but she had a fabulous time and got away with it. . Christmas would have been fine to go away not that we did.

But Feb half term both mine had “locked in” and genuinely would not have wanted fo go away as not in that head space. They had the odd day off but they mainly worked and saw pals as downtime.

Well deserved holiday booked shortly after prom early July.

Agree Monday. Unless your child is a rare genius the grades reflect efffort. Dd1 got all 8s and 9s her holidaying friends did not. Dd2 has 4 gcses this week so still right in middle of it!

They finish GCSE mid June so could you go early after they're done? Mine finish 17th. My DC had exams just before Oct half term and then just before Feb half term so actually those wouldn't have been too bad but it depends on the school.

The Easter half terms are often full of additional classes and taking your kid away in the May holiday, wedged between GCSEs on either side, is far too risky - beyond the fuss and disruption - you are only one plane delay from fucking up your kids education.

We went away at Oct half term (we get 2 weeks, so it used up 1 of those 2), and Feb half term skiing. Mocks were in January. Going away at Easter apart from a long weekend (maybe) is unfair to your child imho.

Spring half term - we just had a full week away. Mocks had just finished and a restful week was the best use of that time.

Easter break - fine to use up to half of the break for your holiday - having ensured your teen is onboard with the rest of the break being for revision. Factor in jet-lag recovery time as part of the non-revision time if travelling far.

Summer half term - it will depend on which subject options your Teen is taking. Some students are nearly finished by then and could have a short break.

The GCSE exams are normally completely over by the end of June so you can get away with a cheap holiday before the official end of term in July.

Don't plan a big holiday between September of year 11 and GCSE exams. Yes they need breaks from work/revision, and a week away might be just the ticket, but you need to be happy doing what you daughter needs at the time.

Long weekend is ok but not the full Easter holidays. October is better probably but weather wherever you are going will be different in October to April

We went away on 20th June the year dd2 took GCSE’s because dd1 finished a levels by chance the same day

We had a few days away in Feb half term, but decided Easter or May half term weren’t a good idea in Y11.

We have younger kids too, so I took the younger ones away on holiday at Easter and left the Y11 at home with DH to get some peace and quiet and concentrate on revision.

Then DH took Y11 away at the beginning of July for a holiday just the two of them.

It actually worked brilliantly, they really appreciated having their own holiday where they could choose the destination (within reason) and didn’t have to compromise on what their siblings wanted to do.

We plan to do the same again with the younger ones when they are in Y11/Y13

We haven’t done anything in year 11 apart from a weekend away in the October half term. DS wouldn’t have wanted to and it would have increased his levels of stress.

teachers have put in extra lessons in holidays since the end of the Christmas holidays so he’s had a couple of days in school for each holiday. We are just saving it for after.

We've already been. Flew out at 6am on the Saturday morning and landed back at 1pm on the following Saturday afternoon. My DD didn't have any exams then until the Wednesday so had Sunday, Monday and Tuesday full days at home to prepare. I see your point though. This is why I wouldn't fly on the Sunday.

That was my dd's choice to do that with no pressure from us. A quick 15 minutes every few hours around the pool while sunbathing isn't exactly spoiling the holiday. It's just the same as reading a book around the pool.

Don’t know anyone that went away in May half term. Dd still has 9 GCSEs after half term. Definitely a punchy decision. Seems odd to me when they then have 2 months off after the exams but you do you I guess!

We often go long haul at Easter but planning on doing a summer one instead next year to accommodate GCSEs. I've got a younger child too so can't do the late June/early July trip - will have to wait till the GCSE/A level year.

We were also thinking of short Europe trip at Christmas but think eldest may have mocks in January which would mean that's out.

My DTs have mocks in January 2026. One of them has a 5 day school trip in October half term but they get 2 weeks.

The other has silver DofE at Easter 2026 and that's it. We won't be planning any other trips during year 11.

Really depends on when mocks are, what your DC would prefer and whether they are doing any coursework subjects (as PP have said, Easter can be quite a crucial time for those).

I can't think of anything less relaxing (for everyone) than bringing revision on a proper week+ holiday. Taking a couple of very short but complete breaks over the course of the year has worked for us.