What did your Year 11 do the summer after GCSEs?

[JustDanceAddict]

Dd is doing GCSEs in the summer. They finish around mid June and we are looking into holidays/ experiences for her to do. Just interested in hearing what your teens did/will do. The holiday she may go on will be 3-4 weeks abroad but what about the rest of the time? They have from mid-June and have to be back third week in August for results. I’m thinking more time after GCSEs but before the trip which could be nearly a month.

Get a job? Volunteer? Do NCS?

Does she have a prom to work around? We went on a family holiday straight after exams had finished and prom , had a break on our return then she rehearsed a drama production. Others did NCS but it is a 3 week commitment or D of E . Tbh she was pretty run down initially so don't overplan it.

My dd did NCS. A great experience and it only cost £50. Family holiday which was nearly 2 weeks. Then the rest of the time she was busy with a youth ballet production, daily rehearsals then performance.

She wanted to get a job but couldn't fit it in with everything else.

There will be a prom but I should imagine it will be straight after GCSEs. No date yet.
She’ll go away mid-July and back first week in August if she does one particular trip. That breaks it up at least and we’ll prob have a week away with her & DS pre-results.
She’s not 16 til July so won’t be easy to get a job esp as the summer will be broken up. She def wants one though, prob look for Sat job once GCSE results are in and she knows what’s she’s doing for A level & where. Will make a difference!
Have been thinking of NCS, but not sure if she can fit it in with the trip too.

I worked for 5 weeks as an accounts assistant , volunteered on saturdays, went abroad for 1 week and went to Leeds festival. This was 2011 btw so not too long ago.

Oh and i hated the job ... half wish i hadnt have bothered but the money helped at uni x

We went on what may prove to be our last long family travel experience, to Asia. The following year, after a terrible Y12 in a new school that failed on every level, he finished in June and set up a garden contracting business, mowing fields, cutting wood, and doing whatever labouring was asked for (building paths, clearing rubble, weeding) for older people. At £6.50 per hour, which was nearly double the catering and retail options, he earned quite well for three months. All the little jobs that aren't interesting to professional contractors...

DD did something like:
3 weeks wind down including Prom, 6th form taster days, 16th b-day
3 weeks language camp in Spain (prep for AS Spanish)
1 week theatre workshop
2 weeks family holiday
1 week GCSE results & celebrations
1 week prep for 6th form

I needed it to be very organised as DD isn't.

Lots of local kids do 4 weeks NCS mid July-mid August.

DS got a job 4 days a week and spent the rest of his time with friends.

DD volunteers/works at an animal rescue center/visitor attraction at weekends and during holidays so will probably spend more time there.

Work experience and then family holiday .