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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Gcse revision booking holiday in May half term

67 replies

freakazoidroid · 05/04/2015 09:39

I am just looking at a disney cruise for 2016. It is in May half term 2016 . My ds will be in yr 11 then and about to do Gcse 's . Would I be stupid to book it for then? The fjord cruise is only running that week , or would it be doable? Or would it be better for him to stay with grandparents?? He isn't that fussed about going - doesn't like sailing ! And just take our 8 yr old??? Any help greatly appreciated! X

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/04/2015 09:42

I think he would probably be needing to revise. You might find school have revision sessions that week too.

poisonedbypen · 05/04/2015 09:44

He will be right in the middle of a stretch of 5 weeks of exams. Absolute no no as far as I'm concerned.

BernadetteMatthews · 05/04/2015 09:45

I would not book a holiday then. I spent last May half term firing questions at DS to help with his revision.

Sparklingbrook · 05/04/2015 09:46

It would be a no from me too. DS doing his GCSEs this year and Whit week is in the middle of them.

outtolunchagain · 05/04/2015 09:46

GCSEs start before half term , I think the first one this year is 27th April , last year Ds had about 4 exams in the week before half term and then the bulk were in the two weeks following .Sorry but this is a very bad time for a holiday

auntpetunia · 05/04/2015 09:47

If its anything like this year then your ds will be bang in the middle of gcses first one is 11th May.

balletgirlmum · 05/04/2015 09:48

Unless there was an exam during the half term itself I wouldn't have a problem booking a holiday as long as he could take some books with him & do a bit of revision whilst there.

MyballsareSandy · 05/04/2015 09:48

Def not! My DDs school say no holidaying in Feb half term, Easter hols and May half term of year 11 as they have revision classes at school.

ElizabethHoover · 05/04/2015 09:49

NO NO NO NO NO

ElizabethHoover · 05/04/2015 09:50

PLUS - disney AT THAT AGE?

JeanSeberg · 05/04/2015 09:51

Why would you want to leave him with grandparents at a time like that?

Gymbob · 05/04/2015 09:52

I also contemplated a holiday then, my dd will be in the middle of exams. I quickly decided no, its me that really wants a holiday but I will have to wait. its tough luck on me, the exams are more important and even though she probably won't do a lot of revising I won't help by taking her away.

what happens if your DC doesn't do quite as well as you'd hoped, would you blame yourself for holidaying at a crucial time?

PestoSwimissimos · 05/04/2015 09:52
Hmm Biscuit
TrulyTurtles · 05/04/2015 09:53

And revision on holidays? That ain't gonna happen. No from me too.

cathyandclaire · 05/04/2015 09:53

It's bang in the middle, my DD has 6 exams the week after half term this year, one on the Monday, first thing in the morning, IMO it would be madness to book a holiday for then.

TheWordFactory · 05/04/2015 09:55

Nope.

My DC both have quite a few exams after half term. They will need to revise. They will also need a lot if TLC and support at this time if they're to do well .

Sparklingbrook · 05/04/2015 09:55

I don't know what a Disney Cruise involves but I don't think DS1 would be eager to go on one exams or not.

ElizabethHoover · 05/04/2015 09:56

we took mine to florida ages 12.10,8 and they were very meh about the Disney bit, - only for girls

outtolunchagain · 05/04/2015 09:56

The OP does say that it's mostly for her dd who is 8 , but have to say I felt bad not being there in the morning when ds1 did his chemistry exam ( he hates chemistry) because I was going to Chelsea Flower Show.I admit I was being ridiculous but generally I wanted to be around just as background support really , it's a stressful time and I wouldn't have left my dc at that time , ds1 had a major panic that week , just needed to get in with them , there's so much build up and it was good to be there to cook nice meals and bring him back down to earth a bit and just remind him that exams are not the be all and end all .

LemonYellowSun · 05/04/2015 09:58

I would take him away in the summer break after his exams. Stress over.

TheFirstOfHerName · 05/04/2015 09:59

I wouldn't take him on holiday.
I also wouldn't plan to go away myself at that time.

He needs to study and revise.
You need to be there for moral support if you are at all able to be.

balletgirlmum · 05/04/2015 10:04

I don't se anything wrong at all with going away at Easter & think a school is ridiculous to try & dictate that.

We will definately be going away at easter unless either of the kids want to do a rresidential.

SuburbanRhonda · 05/04/2015 10:05

So you're planning a holiday that, realistically, is only doable for one of your children?

Why would you do that?

Hmm
SuburbanRhonda · 05/04/2015 10:06

balletgirl, I'm assuming your DCs aren't yet at the stage of GCSEs or A levels?

balletgirlmum · 05/04/2015 10:08

Dd is 13