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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Time after finishing GCSE’s

26 replies

SnowfallSnowball · 26/06/2022 10:30

Hi all

My daughter is due to take her GCSE’s next year and I know they finish at the end of June. Are they free from school after that? I guess they’d return for their prom/end of year leaving party whatever.

I was thinking of taking my DD on holiday once she’s finished. I’ll probably ask the school anyway but wondered what others have done once your teen has/had finished their exams.

OP posts:
LindaEllen · 26/06/2022 10:42

Almost all schools I know let the kids leave after their GCSEs, the one exception being our local private school who decide to start the A Level syllabus (whether the kids are staying on with them or not).

Pretty sure you'll be fine - but worth emailing/phoning the school to double check :).

Original poster
SnowfallSnowball · 26/06/2022 12:57

Ahh that’s good to know, thanks! 😊

OP posts:
BenchOfCompany · 26/06/2022 13:10

Ds2's last exam is tomorrow. They went on a sort of study leave around 15th June, these exams are long due to covid. Ds1 finished his last exam on 15th June.

There is always a contingency day for exams so double check that, plus Ds has to attend a day at his sixth form next week. Lots of info on social media for the sixth form so you can see what dates that is for this year to give you an idea for next year for the colleges/sixth form your DD may attend.

The legalities are they can leave school of the year they turn 16 on the last Friday of June or something very similar to that.

Womblesaremyfavouritefood · 26/06/2022 13:43

DC finished GCSEs 3 days ago. Now on 11 weeks of holidays! Lots planned, including NCS for 2 weeks, holidays etc. Lots of their friends are working, taster sessions at 6th forms, D of E, going to festivals etc.

ShanghaiDiva · 26/06/2022 13:57

dd’s school suggested that students wait until a week after their last exam before going anywhere incase there were any issues due to Covid. During this week she also has prom and a sixth form bowling event.

Butterfly44 · 26/06/2022 14:00

Once exams are over that's it! So yes to holiday! Prom dresses a round about the end of exams for most. Results day usually end of August.

CMOTDibbler · 26/06/2022 14:04

Ds had his last exam on Friday, then Monday/Tuesday has sixth form induction, Thursday D of E expedition, prom Friday. Then nothing till September. I think the exam boards set a contingency day of the 29th where students needed to be available in case any exams had to be moved, so check when the 2023 date is

mommynette · 26/06/2022 14:09

Back in my GCSE days (class of 2009), after exams you come back to class but its not serious like you just come in and the class watch movies and stuff. I don't know how schools are now with all the Covid safe stuff and things. It's all health and safety nowadays isn't it, I don't know???

Newgirls · 26/06/2022 14:19

maybe allow time for prom, music concerts, drama shows or anything else your kid might be involved in? The rest of the school is still open so that all happens after exams? Sixth form inductions are usually compulsory. And then free to go!

whenwillthemadnessend · 26/06/2022 14:28

Dd has a week of sixth form induction directly after exam finishes which was 23rd June for her.

Then she is free to do as she wishes.

Every school different tho and it depends on collage or sixth form so I'd check with school

BooksAndHooks · 26/06/2022 14:34

Ours seem like they will never be free. They had final exam on Thursday. They are back in for two full days this week for preparing for sixth form / college. They then have their college or sixth form induction days. Followed by compulsory work experience which takes them up until their prom on 11th July. If they don’t attend any of the events above they can’t attend prom.

Original poster
SnowfallSnowball · 26/06/2022 15:45

Womblesaremyfavouritefood · 26/06/2022 13:43

DC finished GCSEs 3 days ago. Now on 11 weeks of holidays! Lots planned, including NCS for 2 weeks, holidays etc. Lots of their friends are working, taster sessions at 6th forms, D of E, going to festivals etc.

Sounds busy! All fun though 😊. What’s NCS?

OP posts:
Original poster
SnowfallSnowball · 26/06/2022 15:51

Thanks for your replies so far! Responses seem to vary guess it does depend on what the rules are for each school. Also with 6th form/college, not sure from what dates would be safe! Just trying to be very organised 🙂

OP posts:
Staynow · 26/06/2022 16:23

We go away next weekend, ds isn't interested in prom and will miss the 6th form taster day - but we'll have a fantastic holiday with much cheaper flights!

easyday · 26/06/2022 17:03

There's usually a make up day if for some reason an exam couldn't be done, but my kids were free after last exam. Prom was after, and there was an option to start pre A level classes but I doubt think anyone opted for that! Would have encouraged mine to get a job but we were moving and didn't most of the summer travelling from one Airbnb to another waiting for our purchase to go through.

Womblesaremyfavouritefood · 26/06/2022 22:04

I think NCS stands for National Citizens Scheme. It's a 2 week rolling government backed programme during the summer for 16 year olds. I imagine everyone is invited to go after GCSEs. 1 week of outward bound stuff at a residential centre (raft building, climbing, archery etc) and 1 week of volunteering in the local community. Totally outside my DC's comfort zone, but a good thing for UCAS forms and it introduces you to a wide spectrum of people and experiences. Costs the parents £50 per child (max - if you're on a low income it's only £10), but costs the government £1,400 for every single child that goes on it.

BooksAndHooks · 27/06/2022 08:31

Womblesaremyfavouritefood · 26/06/2022 22:04

I think NCS stands for National Citizens Scheme. It's a 2 week rolling government backed programme during the summer for 16 year olds. I imagine everyone is invited to go after GCSEs. 1 week of outward bound stuff at a residential centre (raft building, climbing, archery etc) and 1 week of volunteering in the local community. Totally outside my DC's comfort zone, but a good thing for UCAS forms and it introduces you to a wide spectrum of people and experiences. Costs the parents £50 per child (max - if you're on a low income it's only £10), but costs the government £1,400 for every single child that goes on it.

I don’t think everyone is offered it. This is the first time I’ve heard of it, definitely wasn’t mentioned by our school. Sounds like a great opportunity.

Silkierabbit · 27/06/2022 08:40

Last exam here was 24th June and after that nothing compulsory. Theres a prom and leavers day and taster day for 6th form and results day on 25th August but all can be worked around, not compulsory.

EdithWeston · 27/06/2022 08:45

Contingency day this year is 29 June - it's always a day or two after the last scheduled exam from every board, so it can be used for any paper of any board

Some schools use it as book return day (as it has to be kept clear), others may set a different day for that.

There may also be a leavers' day after the end of exams, and/or a leavers' ball

If a lot of pupils stay on for 6th form, then there may be transition week (taster week for joiners), expectation of work experience, DofEd or similar stuff

ExtremelyDedicated · 27/06/2022 08:50

You don't get offered NCS by the schools as such, but they often come in and do an assembly in y11 then the students sign up independently (choice of dates, venues etc). They did come into DS's school, he decided against it but then Covid struck anyway. DD has just finished GCSEs and says it hasn't been mentioned at her school. Both mine went right through Scouts /Guides and have done bronze DofE and didn't feel it offered much that they hadn't already done between those and school residentials. I've heard similarly from other parents, those who haven't done those things get a lot more out of it. DD has got prom and 6th form / college taster days this week, properly free from next week.

Ragwort · 27/06/2022 08:53

NCS is well worth looking into, not all schools 'promote' it as such but it is a great thing to do. My DS loved it .

ButterflyBitch · 27/06/2022 08:55

Can’t speak for nowadays but some of the best memories I have are when I finished my GCSEs. I went out every day with friends and had a whale of a time. Loved it. Extended summer holiday. Twas brilliant.

caringcarer · 27/06/2022 09:27

Legally a child can leave school last Friday in June this year. DS has a cricket 6 a side tournament on July 5th for college he will be moving on to as induction event as he is studying Sport/Cricket. He will go back to school for prom July 19th and to drop in his old uniform as he won't need it anymore and school can give it to anyone struggling with cost of uniforms.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 27/06/2022 09:35

We’re going away on Friday. Dd finished exams last week. Induction this week and then we’re off. Looking forward to it being a bit quieter!

catsonahottinroof · 28/06/2022 15:04

I was going to book a holiday for just after exams, but glad we didn't now as there are quite a few things going on for the next few weeks. There is prom which for most schools seems to be the week of the last exam, or the week after. Then, sixth form taster days, important if your school doesn't have a sixth form or your daughter is not sure where she wants to go. (If going to college, their tasters tend to be more towards the end of the summer).