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Secondary education

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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:
ChaiLarious · 09/06/2025 08:13

TheaBrandt1 · 09/06/2025 07:55

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!

I'd say at least 50% of my dd's year went away this May half term so it's not that unusual.

TheaBrandt1 · 09/06/2025 08:17

Not in my circles they don’t. I would have hated that as a teen. How can you enjoy yourself with 9 GCSEs hanging over you?

OpenDoorMuriel · 09/06/2025 08:30

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.

@abnerbrownsdressinggown do you mean that moving the holiday to the Easter of year 10 was a good idea or a bad idea? Thanks

ChaiLarious · 09/06/2025 08:30

TheaBrandt1 · 09/06/2025 08:17

Not in my circles they don’t. I would have hated that as a teen. How can you enjoy yourself with 9 GCSEs hanging over you?

If you don't know the content by May half term, then spending a full week locked in your room with your mum going all Mumsnet and project managing your revision will make zero difference. If you see it as having them hanging over you then you are clearly putting too much pressure on your child. Even if we had stayed at home she wouldn't have revised constantly as she would have been out with friends or boyfriend, working shifts or just sleeping. Oh and my daughter loved having the break for your information, she came back relaxed and refreshed with a lovely tan.

TheaBrandt1 · 09/06/2025 08:49

Oh she has a very balanced life thanks. Had the odd day off and evenings with friends. A week away? No way. They have 10 weeks off after 16 June! Just seems odd call to make.

TheaBrandt1 · 09/06/2025 08:51

I dont put the pressure on so thanks for that accusation 🙄🙄. Just advising op that many teens would be stressed out by a family holiday smack before the exams. Mine would anyway.

W0tnow · 09/06/2025 08:52

Yes, we did. And A levels. Accommodation included plenty of study space and good Wi-Fi. One of mine did a past paper on the plane iirc. They studied quite a lot. And also relaxed by the pool, swam, and played tennis. As long as the location is quiet and comfy and there’s no pressure to spend days out sightseeing I think it’s fine. It was just the same routine but in a warmer climate!

TheaBrandt1 · 09/06/2025 08:53

Maybe you have the magic super brain teens that effortlessly get 8s with minimum work. Mine are not like that!

Sassybooklover · 09/06/2025 08:53

My son is only Year 9 at the moment but I know Year 11, had revision sessions during the February half-term, Easter 2 week break and May half-term. I'm not sure when my son's school do mocks but I think it was November, so October half-term was again revision sessions. Your best bet would be to check with the school, as I think they all work differently.

ChaiLarious · 09/06/2025 08:56

TheaBrandt1 · 09/06/2025 08:49

Oh she has a very balanced life thanks. Had the odd day off and evenings with friends. A week away? No way. They have 10 weeks off after 16 June! Just seems odd call to make.

The rest of the family don't have 10 weeks off though so they. Other children are still in school till the end of July and parents that are teachers can't just book time off and take the whole family out of school.

ChaiLarious · 09/06/2025 09:00

TheaBrandt1 · 09/06/2025 08:53

Maybe you have the magic super brain teens that effortlessly get 8s with minimum work. Mine are not like that!

Having a week on holiday isn't doing minimum work. They should have been working hard for that last 2 years (well 5 really) so to just be locked in and work hard during exam period is possibly a case of too little too late and quite likely the reason they are stressed.

ChaiLarious · 09/06/2025 09:01

W0tnow · 09/06/2025 08:52

Yes, we did. And A levels. Accommodation included plenty of study space and good Wi-Fi. One of mine did a past paper on the plane iirc. They studied quite a lot. And also relaxed by the pool, swam, and played tennis. As long as the location is quiet and comfy and there’s no pressure to spend days out sightseeing I think it’s fine. It was just the same routine but in a warmer climate!

Edited

This is exactly what we did but apparently it's wrong to do that and my DD would have resented me for taking her and allowing her to relax when she should have been at home stressed out.

Echobelly · 09/06/2025 09:04

Depends when mocks are - our kids' school has so many it was almost impossible to take a holiday. Mocks were in December, so Christmas was about the only option, which we didn't take last time but I think might with DS in GCSE year

BoudiccaRuled · 09/06/2025 09:09

Trip of a lifetime shouldn't have GCSE revision niggling away at the ba k of your minds. Also, if your child doesn't achieve as expected, you'll always wonder if not revising at Easter was to blame (and you would be right!).

Annoyeddd · 09/06/2025 09:18

Although you do need to factor in cancellations etc.
One family moaned as their DC missed a maths exam as flight was diverted

TheaBrandt1 · 09/06/2025 09:23

Maybe if you are super chilled and can relax despite having a huge “thing” looming over you it would be ok. Sadly neither I nor my two are of that mindset! Roll on 16 June…

Berthatydfil · 09/06/2025 09:24

You need to ask the school. And you need to check the exam board/s timetables. Also ask your dc.
Different schools will do things differently. Some may offer intensive revision/catch up sessions over Easter some don’t - how would your dc feel if they missed them?
Would they be anxious and not enjoy the trip? Even if they brought revision material with them in reality how much will they get done?
When do the exams start ? When is Easter its a big difference between early March and late April if exams start mid May.

makemineadecaf · 11/06/2025 05:16

Dd will be year 11 in September. Her mocks are November and then I think they have mini mocks in February too. We are going away at Christmas.

LoveNRoses · 11/06/2025 05:36

ChaiLarious · 09/06/2025 08:13

I'd say at least 50% of my dd's year went away this May half term so it's not that unusual.

Show quote history

My kid is at a highly selective grammar and no-one goes away at May half term. The GSCEs are important and most at school and also in other circles have a big holiday AFTER GSCEs to look forward to.

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