Well, I'm one of the fortunate ones that doesn't take Art, a language or Latin as one of my choices for GCSE and so I don't start until the 4th June and I finish on the 19th. Can't wait till they're over!!!
Your point about character......I think that it is an extremely valid point. Most people will be able to fly a commercial airliner (as long as they are no completely malcordinated) and so these days I feel that the emphasis is put on your character. If you have a good character/sense of humour/easy to get on with then it will get you further than if you've got a type rating on a 777.
So, go for it and good luck! Perhaps we'll meet on a training course!
Hopefully with a load of GCSEs and A-Levels behind us!