Yr 11 & Exam end date

[financialwizard]

I want to book a holiday for the year that my DS finishes his secondary education. We are going to have to go in the school holidays because dd will still be at school. It is going to be a once in a lifetime for us because we probably won't be able to afford it again.

As it has been an extremely long time since I had anything to do with a final year in school I have forgotten when the last set of GCSE's are likely to be.

I was originally thinking of going over Easter but then realised that he will either need to be studying or might have exams? So I am thinking last two weeks in August instead. Will this be safe?

Exams will be finished the the end of June.

You can prob go in July as exams will be over, but a lot of schools are now insisting the year 11s come back and start AS levels until the end of the school year, even if that is not their planned route. New rules and all.

If you go in the last couple of weeks of August you'll need to think about how you will pick up the exam results.
Don't forget that some schools have the school prom after all of the exams have finished - but that won't impact the summer holidays.

Gcse results will come out near the end of August - think it will be Thursday 20th August. Being around for gcse results is not necessarily as important as for A Level results but it is still something you might want to think about.

You would be wise to talk to the school where your DS attends and, if different, the sixth form/college to which he will go if you want to do something outside the normal school holidays.

GCSE exams finish in June but some schools have extra stuff after them (life skills things quite often) and more and more sixth forms are running intensive courses in July to start bridging the GCSE to A Level gap.

As your DD is at school and you need to go in school holidays I would make it earlier in August or at the end of July. Which year is your DD in - you could potentially consider her missing some school and go slightly earlier in July? Although as other posters say it does depend on what your DS may need to attend after his exams.

DD will be Yr 2 yes I am a gluten for punishment and tbh I wouldn't want to take either of them out of school. DS wants to go in the Army so I think he might want to be back for his GCSE results unless I can get my Dad to pick them up for him and then DS could contact him. Maybe it would be best to go around 7th August. I think DS would rather the holiday than a school prom should they clash, and we all are in need of a break after the 6 years we have had!

Is he going into sixth form/college? Often you need to do registration for these at the end of August - you might want to check.

I know you said he wants to go in the Army but most people I know doing that still do some Sixth form or Public Service at FE college.

I believe exams finish in June and gcse results come out possibly on the 20th August next year. Definitely wise to check the the particular school. You need to give written permission if you want someone other than the student to pick up the results

He is wanting to go straight to Harrogate mummytime which is technically a college/sixth form. I think plumping for the 7th to the 21st of August might be my best bet or 5th to 19th.

We are talking year after next and I need to book it early so we have time to budget for spends, etc.

I think first half of August, or last week July would be your best bet.

Going to pick up your results with your mates and sharing in the excitement is important I think. Plus being on hand if results aren't what's needed.

Proms round here are all done and dusted by around 1st week of July (well inside term time). Have a look to see when this year's y11 prom is to give you an idea.

Just got hold of the school and they advise from 1st August, so that is my answer :)

It will be our last holiday together because my two eldest (well dss and ds) will be making their own way in life from then. DS is joining up and dss is older so probably won't want holidays with us because we won't be cool enough.

Have a lovely holiday and hope it all goes well !

Thank you. We are all looking forward to it immensely.

my 15 yrold dd is disappointed with her art project grade. She loves art and worked so hard on her project to try get the top grade.. after ten weeks of solid work her teacher gave her an A, and no more. she is really upset with this as she has got the same grade on a few other projects with much less effort. she was desperate for an A* and she cried when she told me, she just wants to give up trying on the other 60% of her overall grade.. i don't know what to say to her?

anxious better off starting your own thread rather than using this.
Hug her, tell her 60% still to go, and an A is a fantastic achievement.