Holidays in GCSE year

[LittleMonks11]

I’m struggling with the notion of no holidays during GCSE year. Not just for us but for DD, who also needs things to look forward to and struggles with the relentless workload already (Y10).

Would a Feb half term break be irresponsible? She has her final assessment point just after though before the real thing starts in May 😩

What did others do? Just suck it up?

We are planning a special post exams two week trip once she’s done though.

Assuming no clash with mocks I think a break at Feb half term is fine (we also went skiing, Y11 DS took books but I don’t think he opened any😁).

Personally I’d avoid holidays at either Easter or May half term, but February is fine I think.

We didn't, for either dd.
Their schools did revision sessions at school during holidays from February half term and their friends also had revision days at their various houses (which often turned into sleepovers!).
My dds would have been stressed/upset to miss these.
We did go away more in their Y10 as we knew we'd only have 1 holiday in their Y11.

Thanks all. Interesting to hear the different approaches. She is doing art and last mocks will be right after Feb half term so perhaps not then. So Art final coursework to consider too. Autumn mocks are Nov/Dec so maybe a new year holiday somewhere. Maybe a short Easter break 🤔

As a TA in GCSE classes - no I don't think the whole year should be holiday free, but look at the key points are. If there are mocks just after half term, some revision in half-term would be sensible... maybe a couple of nights away and a few days for revision?

Yeah we’re caning it this year 😂

Gosh I hadn't even considered taking no holidays. Surely kids need some enjoyment and parents certainly do. But I speak as the mother of one who is dedicated / swotty. We have November mocks so not planning much in October half term (but we get 2 weeks, so probably a weekend away). She has a school ski trip in Feb and we'll go away at Easter, not for the whole holidays of course. Pretty sure this is quite normal among her peers.