5 Signs You Should Join a High School Holiday Program

School holidays are a well-earned break. But if your child is in Year 7 to 10, the school break can also be a smart time to catch up or even get ahead. And no, we’re not saying your child should give up their whole break. Even a few hours a day in a high school holiday program can make a huge difference next term.

And let’s be honest: There’s a pretty great feeling in looking back and knowing you used your break to invest in yourself.

If you’re wondering whether your child needs tutoring over the holidays, here are 5 signs that say YES.

Table of contents:

• 5 signs you need to join a holiday program
  • Want to get ahead
  • Never have time to catch up
  • Struggle to understand certain topics
  • Panic before exams
  • Want to feel more confident
• Should you join a holiday program?

Check the 2025 VIC school holiday dates to plan your holiday program effectively.

5 signs your child needs to join a holiday program

1. They want to get ahead of their class

Every year, some students walk into school with confidence (even excitement) while others feel anxious or behind before the first lesson begins.

Some students feel more comfortable when they’ve had a chance to see things in advance. Starting a new term with zero idea what the teacher is going to say can make them feel uneasy, or worse, disinterested.

A holiday program could give your child a useful head start if they:

• Get nervous before school starts again
• Struggles to get back into learning mode after a break
• Worry about not understanding new topics
• Like to feel “on top of things” or ahead of their peers

Learning the content in advance is especially helpful for subjects like Maths, where early gaps can snowball if they’re not addressed quickly and properly. In other words, without a solid foundation, learning new content can feel overwhelming.

“Being exposed to the content before school gave me time to absorb.” — Hannah, 99.50 ATAR Matrix graduate

Holiday programs are designed to help your child learn content before it’s taught at school. That means your child can explore new material in a structured way (with support from a teacher, not just worksheets) before the pace picks up at school.

“The back-to-back lessons allowed for a quicker and more efficient understanding of the content, providing a major head-start.” — Angela, 99.40 ATAR Matrix graduate

When your child has already learnt the topic in a holiday program, the term feels a lot easier. They can focus on refining their skills, not scrambling to catch up.

Explore a Matrix holiday program:

• Year 7 holiday program
• Year 8 holiday program
• Year 9 holiday program
• Year 10 holiday program

2. They’re stressed and never have time to catch up

Let’s be real. Term time can get hectic. Students these days are juggling assignments, tests, sports, music lessons… maybe even part-time work. It’s hard to find time to stay on top of everything.

Maybe your child’s not falling behind because they don’t care. Maybe they’re just overloaded.

Check if your child has a habit of doing the following:

• Skimming through assignments at the last minute
• Avoiding homework in tricky subjects
• Or feeling overwhelmed more often than not

These are all signs your child might need a reset.

Some subjects are quite heavy in content and often get rushed during the term, like Science. A holiday program can give them focused time to reset, review and breathe. No distractions. No school bell. No pressure.

“Holiday courses help me get ahead or catch up because I’m often busy with extracurricular activities during the term.” — Michael, Matrix graduate

A few well-designed sessions (even just two or three hours a day) can pull the weight off your child’s shoulders and reduce end-of-term stress.

“It saves me a lot of time and stress while allowing me to put all my effort into past papers instead of self-learning.” — Megan, 98.55 ATAR Matrix graduate

3. They struggle to understand certain topics

It’s totally normal for students to feel confident in some areas, but lost in others. Maybe your child flies through Science but freezes in English.

Your child has probably zoned out during a lesson and thought, “I have no idea what’s going on”. That’s okay! It’s just a sign they need more time with the content.

Are they struggling with algebra? Finding writing essays in English hard?

When a subject becomes too hard, students tend to:

• Tune out during lessons
• Stop asking questions
• Lose confidence altogether

The holidays give them the time to learn properly, with expert help, clear explanations, and no judgment. That makes a big difference next time the topic comes up at school.

Why holiday programs are ideal

• Teachers can break concepts down slowly and clearly.
• Small groups mean individual attention and space to ask questions.
• Each topic can be revisited without rushing, helping your child build a solid understanding.

“Holiday classes helped me ace my Year 10 exams. They explained concepts in more depth than we’d covered at school.” — Vaneeza, 97.75 ATAR Matrix graduate

With experienced teachers, practice questions, and 1-to-1 feedback, tricky topics become clearer. And that’s a great feeling.

“The teachers make the classes interesting and help explain topics super clearly. I’m never bored in my holiday classes.” — Patricia, Matrix graduate

4. They panic before exams

At the moment, your child’s study plan might look like “start the night before” or “hope for the best”. A lot of students haven’t been shown how to revise properly, or they’re too overwhelmed to start.

Panic-mode studying can take a toll, especially during crucial Years 9 and 10 assessments, which shape subject choices and confidence. But, a bit of forward planning could change everything.

Holiday programs mean your child will have already done the hard work before the term starts. When test time comes, they’re simply revising, not catching up or learning anything new.

And as any parent knows, that means a more peaceful household, too!

“Matrix teaches their lessons a term ahead… this saves me a lot of time and stress while allowing me to put all my effort into past papers.” — Megan, Matrix graduate

5. They’re just not feeling confident

You may remember high school being about more than just grades. It’s about raising a hand in class, playing full-out in sport, and feeling sure of yourself. For many students, confidence in the classroom affects what’s possible everywhere else.

Confidence is a big part of success at school.

It’s hard for your child to enjoy school when they’re always doubting themselves. In order for them to get better at speaking up in class, tackling new topics, or walking into an exam, believing in themselves is key.

A holiday program helps build confidence, as your child can:

• See and learn the content before other people in their class
• Practise asking and answering questions in a supportive, small group
• Get clear feedback that shows exactly where they’re improving and what to focus on next

“The fun environment and collaborative learning boosted my confidence in answering questions and during exams.” — Ngan, 99.75 ATAR Matrix graduate

When students feel safe to ask questions, try again, and see their own progress, confidence tends to follow.

So, should you join a holiday program?

Only you can answer that. If any of the above sounds familiar, a holiday program could be worth considering. It’s a small investment in your child’s wellbeing and academic confidence. 

Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide:

• Do they like to feel prepared before term starts?
• Is their school week already packed?
• Are certain subjects consistently stressful?
• Do they panic before tests or exams?
• Are they lacking confidence in class?
• Do they have goals they’re serious about?

If you answer yes to any of these, a holiday tutoring program could be one of the smartest ways your child spends a few hours of their break.

“While you might be hesitant to give up holiday time, Holiday Courses are definitely worth it. It’s a helpful boost to the term with a fun teacher and learning environment.” — Anhaar, Matrix graduate

At the end of the day, it’s all about balance. A few purposeful hours now can lead to significantly less stress later, and a term filled with calm, progress, and growth.

Ready to give your child a confident start to the new term?

Connect with Matrix today to find the right tutoring program for your child, whether they want a headstart in Maths, maximise their revision, or build their confidence before the next exam block.