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.

Kids need a holiday too. Don't stress over a holiday in GCSE year. A few days away won't drop her grades. She'll pick up on your stress too. Just do what works for your child and keep things calm.

We went away in December. Caribbean Christmas. Highly recommend

We did long weekend in Feb half term, longer weekend at Easter (BH weekend and an extra day) and long weekend in May half term too. Basically max 4 days in a row of home study.

We did M-F in May half term (UK) just gone which I know many would think of as unwise but DS took plenty of past papers and did a few hours each day. I think it did him good, but he isn’t a leave it to the last minute student anyway and had worked well for 2 years. We also had siblings to consider.

Depends on the child. A whole year without any breaks is a long one. Appreciate this is coming from a privileged position.

We are doing overnight at an expensive hotel for DD’s 16th which may as well be a holiday because it’s going to cost me a fortune she will be thrilled because at age 16 she can use the spa for the first time while dh takes younger ds on a day trip nearby.

I asked dd about it and she pleaded with me no holidays so I’m going to respect that but summer 2027 HERE WE COME.

Our eldest two are just one school year apart so we are now on our third of four years of exams. When DD1 was in Y11 we had a holiday in October then several in the summer. Last year we had no holidays away at all because she was doing the UCAT over the summer although DD2 had a holiday visiting her aunty in Edinburgh for the festival. This year we're going away in the summer, will do the same next year. Then a year of no exams (woo hoo) before DS does GCSEs. Of course by then we'll have two at University (both doing 5 year degrees) so will be skint.

We haven’t gone away for longer holidays for this year 11. We have had a couple of weekend break around mocks etc

Taking full advantage of being able to book a holiday end June for a cheaper price. Majority of the year 11 group without younger siblings are going away after the prom.

We did the same with her older sister. We only usually go to Cornwall or close European country during the break for Easter or May so nothing really missed. Our main holiday is usually in the summer break anyway,

Thanks all. Great to hear different approaches.

We avoided February due to mocks but had a cottage mini break at Easter which allowed study too.

Mini breaks are probably the answer, means you can still get some much needed respite and things to look forward to while not putting up too much of a blocker to revision.

Yes, it is hard. We put in a short self-catering UK break in the Easter when oldest sat GCSEs so that they could choose to come, come for a few days and leave early, or not come. They decided not to in the end but were mature enough to stay home for 4 nights and we went with DS.

It's DS' turn next year - Christmas might be best for us for any kind of break as their mocks are before it, and then they have March mocks then the real thing.

I’m astonished at this. I had a skiing holiday every Easter, up to and including university finals year.

hadn’t even considered skipping Feb half term skiing (in 1.5 years). Surely 4 months out a break with fresh air and exercise will do them more good than another week of intense study??

You need to consider that all young people are different. What might have been right for you might not be right for someone else. DD would have been too stressed to have a whole week off but she did have breaks from revision over Christmas and Easter.

Based on your updates on the timing of the mocks, easter may be a better time to go. If you do decide you want to go somewhere in Feb, could you go just for 2/3 nights somewhere, so time to refresh and revise.

As long as no school is missed, I think time away, even if to visit relatives a distance away, is reasonable.