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Teenagers

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

Original poster

After GCSEs. What do they do.

50 replies

theITgirl · 27/01/2017 16:03

Thinking ahead, and also because something called NCS have sent us some info on what they are doing.

What is/did your DC do after exams?

I work term time only and our actual summer holidays are usually quite busy. However DS has six weeks from his last exam till the start of the summer holidays. What on earth do they do all day?

If left to himself he will play on the computer for most of that time and complain after a few days that he is bored.

He is does not want to do the NCS stuff mentioned above as none of his friends are doing it.
It would be very difficult for him to get a job round here for those six weeks, and our summers are busy so it would only be for those six weeks before the holiday.
What do other teens do?

OP posts:
ArabellaRockerfella · 27/01/2017 16:25

My DD did NCS, without any friends and said it was the best thing she ever did! It really matured her, she made new friends and gained a new confidence in herself. I would recommend it and it is a good way to fill the time because as you say there is not much else for them and they tend to just sleep, play computer games, hang out etc

SnugglySnerd · 27/01/2017 16:27

NCS is brilliant, I know a number of kids who have done it, loved it and had loads to put on CVs/UCAS forms.

Clara66 · 27/01/2017 17:13

My dd has 2 weeks' work experience booked x

girlandboy · 27/01/2017 17:37

My DS stayed horizontal and basically did fuck all Sad

merlottime · 27/01/2017 17:42

Mine is doing NCS as are most kids he knows

Crumbs1 · 27/01/2017 17:42

Mine did all sorts of things. One worked at a watersports centre as an assistant dinghy instructor, one went on a couple of trips to Lourdes in France as a pilgrimage helper, one spent time working with the army for work experience and on a cricket tour to India, the twins went to Tanzania with World challenge, one was dancing with BRB so was training.

TheSecondOfHerName · 27/01/2017 17:47

Ten days working away with a charity
A week of voluntary work
A week away with us
A weekend away at a festival
A week at the end preparing for his new courses

The rest of the two and a half months were spent mooching about, sleeping and hanging out with his friends. He had worked very hard, so I didn't begrudge this.

bigTillyMint · 27/01/2017 17:55

In the 6 weeks before we broke up (we are teachers and younger brother still in school)
Slept.
Partied.
Hung out with mates.
Sunbathed.

repeated ad infinitum Grin

There is no way on earth she would have done NCS (and nor would DS)!
Or preparation for A'levels.
She worked hard for her GCSES and wanted to relax. It worked out fine for us.

MaureenMLove · 27/01/2017 19:49

I think they should not much to be honest! This is the last time until they retire, when they'll have a big block of time to just 'be'!

DD didn't do much, although I did insist that she didn't spend her time lying in bed all day and she was expected to do more around the house since DH and I were both at work.

madmother1 · 27/01/2017 19:51

Ncs too. My DD nearly got cold feet about it but loved it. It took about 4 weeks of her time though. So check the dates. It's also good to have on a CV. She got a part time job soon after.

ArriettyClock1 · 27/01/2017 19:53

Mine had a long and blissful summer, just like I did at his age. He was not interested in NCS.

He slept, grew exponentially, saw friends and relaxed. I am really glad as years 12 and 13 are really hard work for them (unless they do 'soft' subjects).

antimatter · 27/01/2017 19:54

Both my kids did it and loved ti. Check time slots as they are filling up fast

WestCoastGirl · 27/01/2017 22:10

Both my two did nothing but chill and hang around with their friends after GCSE's. There is no way either of them would have done anything like NCS or anything constructive during their long break and after the stress of exams I was happy for them to do that. Ds did the same after A levels and prior to uni but again I was fine with that as he worked hard beforehand.
If they want to do NCS or get a job, that's great, but I wouldn't force them to as they will never get this time again.

Timetogetup0630 · 27/01/2017 23:18

My DD is a lifeguard and spent a lot of time looking cool by a nice, heated outdoor pool.

I got to swim too
[Grin]

DS who is younger spent a lot of time in bed and generally wasted a whole summer. No way would he do NCS, which was deemed to be "lame".

MyWhatICallNameChange · 27/01/2017 23:47

My DS watched the box set of How I Met Your Mother and ate loads of biscuits.

He does Explorer Scouts and volunteers, so he did leave the house occasionally!

Original poster
theITgirl · 28/01/2017 07:38

Thanks for these. I would love him to do the ncs stuff, but he is resistant.

OP posts:
Figure17a · 28/01/2017 07:42

Ooh, what is NCS and should DS have had a letter?!

I wad trying to think what I did and I honestly don't remember.

We have a vague plan that Ds will do some adventure trying with cadets and do some painting/gardening at home.

Hassled · 28/01/2017 07:42

I used contacts to make the most recent DC to go through this volunteer at a local primary school - he helped with their end of term production thing. He seemed to actively enjoy it. But the rest of the time he was pretty well horizontal and it was the source of much frustration. In hindsight I wish I'd made more of a thing about him getting a proper job.

Original poster
theITgirl · 28/01/2017 07:43

Although it sounds fine to do nothing as well.

OP posts:
Scarydinosaurs · 28/01/2017 07:49

Is there any work experience/job shadowing he would like to do?

I spent a few weeks staying with friends in London and doing work experience at a publishers. I got the tube each day, made my own way across town, generally felt like a grown up! I loved it!

user1484226561 · 28/01/2017 07:50

Although it sounds fine to do nothing as well

its not fine really, it is the first section of his adult CV, and if it is completely blank, there will be questions about that for a long time. It is also the only significant period of time to work towards your UCS application, which he will be completing around 18 months after GCSEs.

He needs to have something to show for his time, an couple of online courses (there are thousands, all topics, and free) voluntary work, travel, a job, etc.

I enroll students for sixth form at the end of August, and very few turn up at the end of summer without something they can talk about at interview. I would expect students to have done something constructive with their time.

Carriemac · 28/01/2017 07:54

NCS Is brilliant and such good value. DS was a leader last year and it's well paid !

RaskolnikovsGarret · 28/01/2017 07:57

DD1's plans after the exams are (she certainly hasn't got six weeks off before the summer starts):

One week work experience in one place
One week work experience somewhere else
A concert tour in a European country with school
A short IT course during one week
One week doing nothing
Two and a half weeks' family holiday till the GCSE results come out
Two and a half weeks doing nothing

I think she's got a good balance of doing stuff and chilling. Most of her friends have similar plans - I think a totally unstructured summer would do their heads in. They will obviously meet up/go to the cinema etc too, so plenty of down time.

SallyGinnamon · 28/01/2017 08:07

DS did NCS too and discovered he was good at 'telesales'! His role in the charity bit was getting sponsorship from local businesses.

He also went on a week away to Poland with five friends. They found an apartment on Air BNB and flights on Ryanair. We were a bit nervous for them but we had their itinerary and it sounds like it was character building!

The rest of the time was spent sleeping I think. Catching up from all the late night revision. Fine by me.

hugoagogo · 28/01/2017 08:11

Doing nothing is fine and won't make a difference to their cv.
I wish ds had done something constructive, he cluttered up the house terribly, but it hasn't done him any harm; he is in his list last year at 6th form and has uni offers to choose from.