Teachers:how disastrous would it be to go on holiday for the whole of the xmas holiday in year 12

[bourboncreme]

We may have the opportunety to visit my brother and family in africa over xmas next year ,we haven't been before for various reasons and db and dsil are very keen for us to go out,the boys would love it and it would be great for them to spend some time with their cousins etc.We can't go in summer times becaiuse that is db's busy work season plus sil is from USA and always goes home for a month.We can't go at easter because that would be too difficult given ds1s exam schedule.

Ds1 will be in year 12 hopefully doing 4 subjects (GCSEs allowing)english,history,philosophy and RE he will have exams in the January,are we being foolish to even consider it?We would probably go the day they break up 17/12 nad back at NYear.Hopefully spend sometime with db at their house but also fit in safari and possibly Vic Fals .It just feels very sad if we can't go becasue of exams for ds but i wouldn't want to spoil things for him.

Realistically how much do you expect them to work over the xmas break?

The best advice here will come from the school - they will know who well your child is doing and whether he can afford to lose that preparation/revision time (because, with the best interntions in the world realistically how much work will actually get done on the trip?!) It is hard for others to advise without knowing ability, progress, when the exams are, ability to perform under pressure etc. I know we run 'in-school sessions' during the hols which many students find vital,we also seem to have students needing this time to finish coursework and most teachers do plan/set work and revision over these hols. I would speak to all the teachers involved and follow their guidance.

I would go - surely he would be able to put aside a couple of hours each day on holiday for revision, exams wouldn't start until the 2nd week of Janaury and due to the subjects he probably wouldn't have them anyway. Also as it's Year 12 and AS Level subjects he could always resit a module later on anyway.

I think very few Year 12's do more than 1-2 hours of PROPER revision a day over Christmas anyway.

A trip to Africa would be such a good experience as well to write about on UCAS etc.

I am a 6th form teacher and I must support the science teacher who wrote earlier...so much disruption is caused when a student is absent, they miss vital revision, notes and practice. Missing actual exams seriously disadvantages them and causes them untold stress.
Although it sounds like you have made your mind up already I would advise you to wait. In 2 years time he will be at Uni and you can go whenever you wish.
I find it interesting that you are fitting in around the commitments of your family over there rather than the commitments of your son.

tspirit the OP isn't talking about missing any school just going on holiday in the school holidays.

tspirit - they are talking about going away for the whole of the Christmas holiday - no actual days off school. I also find it a bit silly that you wouldn't advocate time off school, but missing time from Uni would be fine!

I would take them. What a great opportunity.

tspirit ,if I wasn't concerned about my son I would not be posting here about it would I.The children would miss no lessons or in fact days of school,in all his schooling and his brothers none of the children has ever missed school for any reason other than sickness.

My familys commitments are fundamentally work and family ones ,yes it isirritating but as we would be staying with them we have to give consideration to that,also my SIL only gets to see her family once a year so I appreciate that that time is precious.

I have checked with school and so far it would seem that he will not have exams in the January anyway.Also in two years time ds2 will have exams so if we stick to not going on holiday for 4 years where does that leave ds3 ,or indeed family relationships,I only have one brother .