Question about missing Gcse Exams for holiday

stas4949

hello all

I just got engaged to my bf and as you can imagine we are on cloud nine, as are the kids.....

Trouble is we have a dilemma.....

Planning to get married in May 2011 then take our 4 boys with us on honeymoon to Disney, Florida (if we save enough) for maybe 3 weeks (one week will be school hols).... One of our boys (ds2) will be 15 and will probably be taking gcse exams in May/June, so what do we do! The following year (2012) its the other 2 boys (ds3 & ds4).... (ds1 is doing his last ones next year).

Really want to treat them all but don't want to wait until they are too old, as it is ds1 will be 17 in 2011...... ds2 15, ds3 & ds4 13 years

If he misses the exams what happens, can they be taken at another date......

I just can't see a way around it....... This really would be a one of major holiday because its such a special time that we want to share together......

What would you do?

Many thanks in advance x

viktory

It's fairly obvious that your children's education should come first - so change the date of the wedding.

Taking the kids out of school is one thing, but missing a very important exam is not on.

minimoneysaver

Are you serious??? Book the holiday for another time.

kindofagilr

I cant believe this question, not meaning to be harsh

But what kind of example is that to set to your children?

Surely you can book the wedding for later, or go on holiday 2 weeks later?

money_saving_diva

I am sorry but exams are more important than a holiday/honeymoon. I can see how it is important to you and you children but these exams will set them up for the rest of their lives. I don't think you can miss GCSE's and then take them at another date. I also wouldn't tell them that you are thinking about them missing exams or else they will think they are not important. I know plenty of people get through life without GCSE's but I think you should be taking their exams more seriously. Sorry but this is just my opinion and you asked what we would do. I wouldn't dream of taking my child out of school around exams.

CG77

Hi,

Congrats on the engagement!!!

Is there a reason why you can't have the wedding and therefore holiday at another time of year?

That really is GCSE time and personally I wouldn't dream of taking my child on holiday (albeit a really special one) at this time.

If he doesn't take the exams with the others, it'll most likely be costly as the school can and will ask you to pay for the missed exams (if he is entered) and doing them another time can be very difficult and detrimental to the child as they won't have the same support of the exam prep and all the build-up work that the class do just prior to the exams.

As I said, I wouldn't do it. Interesting to see what others say!

CG. x

stas4949

Thanks so much.... you've all said exactly what I've been thinking

The wedding will be at the weekend so no school will be missed, so no problem there

The honeymoon won't happen and I'm happy for that..... We thought about that for the honeymoon before i started working out all the timings with exams..... Would have been lovely..... Easter would be way too busy over there and any later than June will be far too hot for ds4 as he is very fair skinned........

May I just say I'm not someone who lets their kids miss school for holidays as its very important to us and them.....
Ds1 has already had some results 2 C's, a B and an A but has more gcse's to take next year ( their school does it over 2 years)

Is there any other good time to take them?

oh forgot to say judging by exams this year they start mid May until end of June.

Caz3121

as far as I know the "other time" to take it will be 1 year later, I believe all pupils take the exam on the same date/time.
We got married 4 months ago and honeymoon not for another 4 months...nothing to say you have to go away straight after the wedding. If you are set on a particular date to get married just delay the honeymoon by a couple of weeks so all in school holiday

Courgette

I'm a teacher (and engaged!). I'd say without doubt move the date of the honeymoon. His GCSEs are the culmination of 11 years of hard work both by your son AND his teachers. I know this will be a really special holiday but it really isn't on to stop him doing his exams.

For the record, he can next resit in November but as another poster has said he'll have no school support and is unlikely to do as well as he could have done. Also, what does he do for the rest of the year when his mates go off to college and he can't because he doen't have the qualifications? I really can't urge you strongly enough to shift the date of the honeymoon.

Courgette

cross-posted, sorry!

dmg24

stas4949 wrote: »

Thanks so much.... you've all said exactly what I've been thinking

Clearly not, or you would not have asked the question!