Many things puzzle me about education in the UK. Why on earth do we do that….
Hawklad had just under 3 weeks off for Christmas. He really needed it, online college had been taking its toll recently. He needed a break, many kids will need that break, as will teachers. A time to recharge, relax, have fun, live. But this festive break wasn’t really setup to be a break. He had to work in an exam project which is due for submission midway through January. Shed loads of work involved in that.
That would be bad enough…
Why do they schedule Mock Exams for the first week back in January. So on top of working on his project, he had to revise for 3 exams. All over the Christmas Break. It’s not just the work, it’s the angst and worry of oncoming exams.
I just don’t understand why they can’t push the exams back a couple of weeks. Why can’t we just let kids just enjoy a holiday.
A Dad trying to cope with the loss of his Partner and becoming a single parent. 
Agreed! As a mother of 3 (all grown up now), I’ve often thought this. It can have very serious implications for mental health where children and young people are concerned… even the seemingly most cheerful of them.
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I think sometimes people forget the fun element of being young, it can’t be just about work.
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Way too much stress for anyone, Gary. A ‘holiday’ is precisely for the purpose of rest and relaxation. Whoever plans these onslaughts to good health needs a deep and profound inner look, and probably a good holiday themselves… Or just maybe some common sense.
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He’s completely zonked out now but is having to start work on the main exams now. He needs a break.
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I hope some sort of reprieve comes for him. No one performs at their best under such pressure…
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BECAUSE THE IDEA IS TO BREAK YOU? AMERICAN EDUCATORS DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE KIDS ANYMORE IT SEEMS, BECAYSE THEY THEMSELVES ARE UNDER THE SAME PRESSURE TO PRODUCE PARTS OF OUR SOCIETY SHOW A TOTAL LACK OF CARING EVEN FOR THEIR OWN KIDS000BUT HAPPY NEW YEAR ANYWAY, MY LONG TIME FRIEND!
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sadly that’s true, I keep hearing people say we need to get back to Victorian work ethics. Not sure these people have ever read Dickens….
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I;d prefer 1950’s work ethics myself! I have read Dickens! That was a bad time!
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Puzzle is indeed the word. I love the photo. I often photograph solitary trees.
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Trees have so much character
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Wholeheartedly agree with you on this. No schoolwork or projects or studying for exams during the break, please! I’m sorry it was rough for Hawklad and you!
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he’s already tired going into the main exams now which are in 3 months. It should not be like this.
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Agreed completely
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our education system really does need a revolution
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Absolutely agree with you, 👏
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we need change
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Many brilliant brains have pondered this question and have come up with a brilliant education system that nobody seems to like. Even worse, it doesn’t seem to produce lots of bright people. When my kids went through the system they seemed to have endless mocks and parts of exam and “projects” which were often done by parents. And spelling lists with errors in them.
This is a small fraction of my thoughts on education and educators and I won’t get going as it’s not long before the subject of firing squads for politicians comes to the top . . .
Good luck with it. The best thing for kids is talking with parents. Values, personal standards, general knowledge and, in your case, far too much chat about Yorkshire. That’s the best education. The rest is about passing exams.
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he’s doing a media a level. It’s all theory and remember names kind of thing. They don’t show the kids things like how to film, how to edit, or any practical stuff. Just seems to wooden and out of date.
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My two did Information Technology. When I asked them about HTML for my eBay site (back in the old days when you needed this sort of thing) they told me they didn’t do that, a lot of the lessons had been about correct seating positions and avoiding RSI.
I agree with you – wooden, out of date and, frankly, useless. We are not doing the right thing for the kids.
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Oh, and Happy New Year.
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happy 2026
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🙂 Thank you.
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Sad, we have similar settings in India.
I remember eons ago I used to get home work even during summer vacations.
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that’s really sad, they do that here as well, doing it more and more.
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It’s so stupid. You’re told to only take kids away during the school holidays and then they get set a load of sodding homework and revision. Let them be kids and enjoy the break.
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it’s like they want the kids to have zero fun and just get ready to be a resource.
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Probably a lot of truth in that.
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It’s the same here. Online classes to make up for the hours lost due to smog in winter break. Kids are so stressed out
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just let them have some fun
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Yes, when they are free and young.
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You are so right. Everyone needs to let their minds rest. I remember what a blessing it was to have a Christmas break, etc., without a list of work putting pressure on me.
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it just seems to be about cutting the childhood days down as quickly as possible
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Uffdah, that is rough. Is it a condensed academic schedule? I could see short-term courses pulling that nonsense. But with a traditional term, the break should be precisely that–A BREAK. Hugs to you and your son! xxxxxxx
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it sounds like the authorities keep adding things to the syllabus and now the teachers just can’t get through it all. But why should the kids pay the price first that xxxxxx
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Why do they have to add so much stress to an already stressful time…. college is not easy. I can actually say that from experience! I’m really sorry they do that…. 💕
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it doesn’t make any sense does it ❤️❤️
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I agree, kids should be allowed to enjoy a break, I guess they are on a schedule, and a tight one at that, still, they shouldn’t cram everything into so few weeks. X
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I guess part of it is they are trying to add too much to the syllabus x
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That is so frustrating. Kids really need that time to recharge so they can come into the next term ready to go.
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