Parents axe holidays so kids can revise

PARENTS always want their children to excel in exams but now it seems they are prepared to go one step further to help.

One in five has opted to cancel or delay a holiday to give their offspring more time to revise, according to a study.

Looming GCSEs and A-levels have prompted 84 per cent to consider making such a sacrifice but 21 per cent actually did so.

The findings by online education company MyTutor mark a cultural change from previous decades when parents would carry on with their lives as normal, irrespective of their children’s schooling.

In the survey of 2,000 parents in the UK, more than threequarters of families feared that going on holiday ahead of exams would harm their children’s results.

A similar proportion said they would be too stressed to enjoy a break during the Easter holidays when pupils are usually busy revising for their crucial GCSEs and A-levels.

Bertie Hubbard, chief executive officer of MyTutor, said: ‘We know that exams are a stressful time for students, and it’s important that they are given the space to revise in the run-up.’ However, he warned against putting too much stress on pupils.

‘Just as important during this high-intensity time is student well-being, which is why it’s worrying this research shows that holiday work makes the Easter holidays a period of unnecessary stress for families,’ added Mr Hubbard.

Meanwhile, another survey this week has found that one in five teenagers is using online ‘study tubers’ to help revise for their GCSEs.

They are increasingly watching YouTube vloggers who post videos about their work habits and share tips and advice about exams.

The National Citizen Service has urged parents to ensure the trend does not ‘replace peer-topeer learning, reading revision books or taking mock exams’.