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Should children revise over October half term? 53% of parents say no, but an expert says it depends

Should children revise over October half term? 53% of parents say no, but an expert says it depends

More than half of parents want children to switch off this half term, but an education expert explains when revision might help.

Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: October 12, 2026 at 2:17 PM

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October half term is almost here, and for children across the country, that means a much-needed break from early mornings, homework and the school run. But for parents of secondary school pupils, there's one question that can cause a bit of a headache: should they be revising during the holidays?

With GCSEs, assessments and mock exams on the horizon for some pupils, it's tempting to encourage a little extra studying. But is keeping up with schoolwork really the best use of their week off?

We asked MadeForMums parents what they thought, and the results suggest most are firmly on team 'let them rest'. In our Instagram poll, 53% said holidays should be for switching off, while just 13% believed a little revision was important. A further 33% said it depended on their child's age and upcoming exams.

Should children really be revising over October half term?

According to Lindsey Wright, Head of Education at Tutors Valley, parents don't need to turn the school holidays into a week-long study session. But that doesn't necessarily mean putting the books away completely.

“Half term should still feel like a break, particularly for children who have had a busy few weeks at school,” Lindsey explains.

“That said, a small amount of focused revision can be useful for pupils who have upcoming assessments or areas of work they know they are struggling with. The key is making it manageable rather than expecting them to spend hours at their desk every day.”

In other words, there's no one-size-fits-all answer, and what works for a Year 7 pupil settling into secondary school might look very different from what a Year 11 student preparing for GCSEs needs.

When is it OK to skip revision altogether?

If your child is keeping up with their schoolwork, has no major assessments approaching and is feeling tired after a busy first half of term, there's no reason to assume they need a revision timetable.

For children who are struggling with a particular subject, have fallen behind or have tests straight after the break, however, a little targeted revision could help them return to school feeling more prepared.

Lindsey says parents should consider their child's individual circumstances rather than automatically filling their holiday with study sessions.

Parents should look at what their child actually needs rather than assuming that more revision is always better.

Lindsey Wright, Head of Education at Tutors Valley

“If they are exhausted and need a break, forcing them to revise for hours probably is not going to be productive. But if there is one topic they have been struggling with, spending a bit of time going over it could help them feel much more confident.”

How much revision should children do during half term?

The good news for parents hoping to avoid daily homework battles? Revision doesn't have to mean hours sitting at a desk.

Lindsey recommends short, focused sessions rather than setting ambitious targets that could leave children feeling overwhelmed.

6 simple ways to keep revision manageable

Try a 30-minute session: Focus on one topic your child finds particularly tricky.
Keep practice questions short: A handful of useful questions can be more manageable than a lengthy worksheet.
Look back at previous mistakes: Revisiting a recent test could help identify areas needing attention.
Use flashcards: A quick refresher on key facts can make revision feel less daunting.
Mix studying with other activities: Encourage your child to review notes before heading out to do something they enjoy.
Don't insist on daily revision: One or two focused sessions across the week may be enough, depending on their needs.

Why more revision doesn't always mean better results

It's easy to assume that the more time children spend revising, the better prepared they'll be. But Lindsey says it's how they use that time that really counts.

Half an hour spent properly focusing on a topic is going to be much more useful than sitting at a desk for two hours while getting distracted and counting down the minutes until they can stop.

Lindsey Wright, Head of Education at Tutors Valley

For parents, that could mean swapping a rigid daily timetable for a quick conversation about whether there's anything their child would find helpful to go over before school starts again.

So, should you let your child switch off this half term?

With more than half of MadeForMums parents voting in favour of a proper break, it's clear that many families value giving children time away from the classroom.

And Lindsey's advice suggests the answer isn't necessarily choosing between revision and relaxation.

If your child needs a rest, let them enjoy one. If there's a tricky topic or an upcoming assessment causing worry, a little focused preparation might help.

Ultimately, half term can still feel like a holiday, even if a few flashcards make an appearance along the way.

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Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.