Do a lot of parents plan a holiday for end of June when GCSEs are finished ?

[Lardlizard]

Is this a bit of a thing

Well, a lot of families have a summer holiday, so that’s a bit of a thing, and it makes sense to go before the school hols start if you can.

I did last year. It was liberating not having to pay full price.

Lots of DD's friends did after they did their GCSEs. So much cheaper than in the school holidays. Only possible if you don't have younger DC in school though!

Unfortunately June and July are DH's busiest months so we couldn't take advantage.

You should be aware of the contingency date usually later in June. They don't recommend you go anywhere until after this date just in case there is national disruption during the exams apparently. Although we did book an earlier holiday and there was no disruption so contingency date wasn't needed. I've no idea if it has ever been needed to be honest

I suspect it is if you don't have younger children, my DD's secondary school have warned parents that there is an extra possible day for exams in late June and not to book any holidays for that day!

We did the year DS finished his exams, he is an only DC so no siblings to worry about, we went on a Neilson activity holiday & there were quite a few post GCSE students and families (thoroughly recommend Neilson for teenage hols).

I took DD to Orlando post GCSEs. It was also a 16th birthday present for her.

I was going to but mine is looking for work, has found 2 days already and paying £12 ph.
I suppose some start college fund saving earlier these days.
I started work ft at 16, so understand they want money, but I'd love us all to go away.

I went away with friends in the June after my GCSE's. I wouldn't have been seen dead going on holiday with my parents.

Hadn't thought about this before but hope DS doesn't feel the same way. As I submitted his primary school application tonight I can probably forget about it for a while though.

We have...

We can't this year as we have a younger DC. Also thinking about signing up for National Citizen Service, otherwise it's going to be a long summer. In two years time they will be doing A levels/gcses at the same time and I think we'll all want a holiday but it may not be together.

Some do, but many (most?) have younger siblings so still can't.
If it is your youngest, or only dc, and you can get tme of work yourselves, then it is nice to go when it is cheaper.

Remember to find out the date of 'Prom' if they want to go, to.

Increasingly 6th forms have 'Applicant Days' after GCSEs too - I mean, you can miss them but some dc don't want to.

Then, there is fitting in NCS, and there is finding work

As some have mentioned above it would be unwise to book a holiday before the contingency day. This year it's the 24th June. It was brought in for the 1st time last year as a response Grenfell Tower the year before. After that, fill your boots!

We’re going on 4 July for 3 weeks post GCSE. Am hoping he will do some work experience or courses later in the hols.

We did it last year - one doing A levels, the other GCSEs. We took the two weeks before the summer holidays started, so outside the GCSE contingency day. Had to wait for prom anyway!

It was great. The beaches were so much quieter, you could park. We are absolutely doing it again in 2021 when DD2 does her A levels - hopefully DD1 will still be able to come.

Fussed I'm bald you wrote about the contingency plan. I got this from ds school at beginning of year. None of my friends with kids in year 11 have had it or are aware of it. I was thinking they were expecting something huge we didn't know about.

Glad to know they do it every year

I know many people will go the week or 2 before holidays.

I work in education so ds won't be getting such an opportunity!

Yes it does seem to be a thing. We didn't (had another still in school), but I've had friends take theirs on a long weekend away or one went on a teo week cruise! Not always right away but it was definitely to mark end of exams and a 'well done'.
I bought mine a nice watch even though he tanked his exams as it turned out.

Yes, we did a 3-weeker in USA to celebrate.

I would love to but am married to a teacher so its school holidays only for us.
Hope you get a great deal op.

I've not heard of it tbh. We have a younger dc so won't be doing it.

No those that are teachers (grumble grumble)..

We did and went over contingency day as we booked before we knew about it, and also DD missed her 6th form induction day, which they also didn't mention at the open day or in the prospectus! We had to work around prom date too. Lots of DD's friends were away at the same time.

We were told not to in case some exams were moved. But yes left the day after the contingency date. I image it’s the same date most years so why not check back. We did a mega trip with Dd and her BF and had a blast after Gcses and are planning the same this year after A levels. They would rather come with us than go with friends to Europe so not all kids are the same.

I went away with DD1 last year leaving DD2 home with DH. We waited until the first week of July so still school holidays but after prom and sixth form induction. She had a camping trip with her friends between exams and prom.

The contingency day has been around for years @xyzandabc, I come for a family of teachers and have always had it