Feb half term holiday in yr11?

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We usually go on holiday at Easter but obviously won’t do that this school year. DH is now talking about going in Feb instead. Is there any reason why that would be a bad idea? We can take resources with us so DC can do a bit of school work when we’re away if needed.

Do you have mocks the following week? We certainly do

Depends when mock exams are.

We always going skiing for Feb HT with the extended family. So far 3 cousins have gone whilst in Y11, there’s 1 that’s in Y11 this year and another next. Some school work gets done in the chalet of an evening but I don’t think it’s ever occurred to anyone they shouldn’t go…

They’ve got mocks at the end of November. I’m assuming there’s no more mocks before the actual exams, are there?

Depends on the school.

We have November and February mocks. Also revision sessions during all holidays apart from Christmas holidays.

This is what I need to check. If there are exams / revision sessions then we won’t go.
If he doesn’t need to go into school over that break we may go on a short trip and factor in him doing a few hours of revision a day whilst we’re away.

DS (y11 last year) had mocks in Nov/Dec and after Feb half term. He was also very resistant to going away at all in Y11. Both his school, and DBro (HoD Science elsewhere) recommended not going away after Christmas.

Yes, worth checking. The school where I invigilate has mock exams in November and again after half term,

I’m taking my ds in y11 away in Feb, we’ll take revision with us if needed, but they need a break sometime. I’m a teacher so stuck with school holidays even after he leaves!

I think there will be mocks in march. We skied for the first 5 days of the Easter holidays before exams. It was fine. She did a bit or work in the evening-smashed the exams.

I'm thinking of taking my year 11 away for the Feb half term purely so we can be somewhere away from distractions (xbox!) and do a bit of revision (4 hours on the plane each way, on the beach, in the restaurant etc) whilst enjoying a little holiday.

But it's just me and him so perhaps that's different.

I haven't decided yet though - will decide much nearer the time.

DS (now y12) told me that March mocks came in after Covid so that the school had a very recent assessment of the students if the whole exam season os cancelled again. He wasn’t sure if this is just his school/all schools/the law.

Many schools now have a couple of sessions of mocks.

How much work is realistic if you’re on holiday?

We probably wouldn’t go if there are March mocks. But, if we did, I don’t see why he couldn’t do a couple of hours in the morning and a couple in the evening with fun stuff in between. Would he do more at home, really?

Mocks are usually in March. They are super important because they can form part of the exam mark if for some reason the final exam cannot be taken. Go on holiday in July once they are over

Oh trust me we won’t be going if there’s a chance it will impact on his performance. I had no idea March mocks were a thing.
I’ve just asked DS who said that apparently they haven’t decided yet if there are going to be March mocks. Make of that what you will!

They will do this if they think the Y11s need more exam practice.

TBH I would err on the side of caution and forego this year. You will have all summer to go on hols. If you don’t have other children who are younger, they will be done with exams and prom by early July.

My child had mocks after the Feb half-term. His school also put on extra revision days in the half term holidays to help students in various subjects, this was to help all students not only the ones struggling.

dd has mocks in November and February. We’re going away in December.

DS only has November mocks. She has a ten day school trip over Feb half term.

Mocks are whenever the school timetables them. Ours are not in March.