GCSE'S and Half Term

[FrancesDestroyed]

We have a static caravan in France. DS has his own bedroom and Wi-Fi access. There are indoor and outdoor pools on the site.
We wanted to go away Sat - Sat. It's been a tough year personally as a family and the break would do us good.
DS could bring all his books, have quiet time for revision, have a swim in the sun and back for more revision, but he's refusing to go. We've said he could take a friend, but he says, "No."
He's stressing out at home terribly. There are a couple of revision classes on at school over half term, but he won't let us talk to the 2 teachers to ask what they're doing.
In summer, he's doing NCS for 4 weeks, so it will be difficult to have a holiday then.
AIBU to say, "we're going," or would he be better at home?

My DS is also GCSE year (first one tomorrow...) he is also stressed, I think it’s an unusual GCSE student that isn’t. Mine would absolutely refuse to go away and I wouldn’t push it, personally I think they are better at home if that’s what they say they need, they are the ones sitting the exams. This is my third going through GCSEs, so I’m more relaxed if anything this time around!

He should be allowed to stay where he feels most comfortable.

I understand that you'd really like to go away, but I don't think that the half term in the middle of GCSEs is the time.

Do you have other school age children or jobs that require working in school term times? If not, there's ten weeks between the end of exams and the beginning of sixth form / college. So six weeks not affected by NCS.

I don't understand why he can't take his books & revise in the sun. I'm foreign so maybe I don't get it. I think ultra-too-much-studying DD would be happy to take books elsewhere & revise... as long as she had WiFi to still chat to her friends, all good.

Sorry your lad is so stressed.

When is his first exam back and what if there are travel delays? I would certainly not give permission for my son to go away with a mate to France during such an important week.

We alao did not go away at Easter as we needed to keep things lowkey while ds started revision and woukd not contemplate a holiday mid gcses.

Thanks for your advice. Yes, I do see about where he's the most comfortable; trouble is he's madly stressed at home. We are tied to school holidays. My older DC studied at 1/2 term in the caravan in France with no worries, but younger DS does get very stressed.

Yes, wherever he's most comfortable would be best.

Personally, I would stay home.

Even allowing for NCS, there are plenty of other weeks during the summer to go on holiday.

It is horrible seeing them stressed. Although your older children benefitted from the week away, it sounds as though your younger son is different, and the security and familiarity of home might be what he needs.

DS1 is a stressy student; by the summer half-term of Y11 he was exhausted from the exams he had taken so far, and would not have been up to going anywhere.

DS2 (currently Y11) is calmer and more resilient; so long as he has his revision materials and wi-fi access, he's happy.

Stay at home.

My dd has to go into school over half term.

Good luck to your ds.

We are staying at home at half term. No way would I take my child away during the gcse period.

I'm another that wouldn't do it, GCSEs are harder this year, the pressure seems to be more ramped up and the kids are really feeling it.
Our half term will be based around school revision sessions for maths, other revision and trying to get DD to relax. She wouldn't want to go away.

Def wouldn’t do it, sorry.