taking children out of school at term time

loftus

Why must threads like these - and there must have been hundreds by now, doesn't anyone use the search button? - always turn into teacher bashing threads? I'm not a teacher, but my sister worked hard to get her degree as a mature student and works harder as a teacher than I do, usuually putting in 10 hours days at school before marking and writing reports at home. She also works during all the school holidays.
I'm not bemoaning her fate because, like most jobs, there are advantages and disadvantages and she knew this before she chose her career and she loves her job.
If the OP or anyone wants to take their children out of school for a holiday then do it, I'm not preaching because I have done it myself. The school can't stop you! But we all know by now that there is the chance of a penalty for doing so - it part of the "terms and conditions" of the education system if you like. On other threads certain vociferous posters would slate you for complaining of falling foul of terms and conditions that you were aware of!

egyptiangirl

Haven't read the replies (and don't intend to from this final page) however as a teacher I really can't blame parents taking kids out during term time.

Personally I can't see what a school can teach a kid for 2 weeks that a life experience of flying, going to a different country/culture can't beat.

And as I have to pay the extortionate prices that are hiked up in the holidays then I can't blame a parent saving money and to be honest the last weeks in July are usually time for off timetable stuff.

However I do question parents who take their children out when they have an actual GCSE exam. That's just a bit odd!

Shelldean

not read whole thread yet so aplogise if I'm repeating things.
No one is allowed to take their child out of school during term time. Holidays can be taken but only if the head authorises it. Different areas have differing options, in fact schools in the same london borough can differ depending on their heads policy.

A couple of yrs ago my DD school refused me an afternoon off for a holiday, luckly i hadn't given my name so she 'had' an appointment that afternoon. I mean what harm would it be missing one lesson of one hour??? This is the one and only time i have ever taken her out school for a holiday. She was yr 7. And ALL our holidays are taken in school holiday times, this was a one off to help m-i-l get over the sudden death of her hubby.

My mate is off to USA during easter and her sons school has given permission for him to have a week off on the condition he completes a diary while he is there as it can then be marked as an educational absense!!! and this isn't a primary school child, it's a yr 11 who'es about to sit his exams!!! OH and it's the same borough where i was refused a half day holiday for my DD.... you go figure lol

ozvaldinho

I took my 5yo son out of school for three days last week for an educational trip to France, courtesy of Mr O'leary's 1p flight offer. The two of us had a great time visiting parks, museums and learning French. He learned more than he would have at school.

I'm sure that in the last few days of the summer term, there's very little serious learning to do. The school are probably mostly concerned about their statistics, they have to report Authorised and Unauthorised absence, and I'm sure the unauthorised absence is of more concern to the local authority.

Did you condsider asking the school to give your kids some project work or extra reading, or homework? They'll hate you for asking, no doubt, but at least you'll be seen to be doing the right thing, and it may keep the kids occupied on the plane or on a rainy day.

I take each of my kids off for a few days every year for a one-to-one trip, and it's just great to go places that are just over-run with kids in the school hols. Last year me and DD had a fantastic time canoing down the Wye valley with not another soul on the river.

Travel is a great education in itself. And if you leave all the educating to the school, your kids will suffer for it because this SATS rubbish is ruining school life.

PolishBigSpender

Can I ask what all this nonsense about 'authorised' and 'unauthorised' absence is?

In Poland, you simply tell the school that you're taking the child out of school and that is that. They can't say no - the parent is in charge of the child and is therefore trusted to do what is best for the child. If the child fails a year/exams, then it is solely their problem - not the school.

twinklebear_2

Not read whole thread but this happened to me, so when I went on hols I told them the children were ill, nothing was said afterwards. But children now moved schools which I now work in and was told last week that I could take them off for 10 school days for hols, think it might be a bit different if they are in comp and got any exams.

sturll

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Can I ask what all this nonsense about 'authorised' and 'unauthorised' absence is?

In Poland, you simply tell the school that you're taking the child out of school and that is that. They can't say no - the parent is in charge of the child and is therefore trusted to do what is best for the child. If the child fails a year/exams, then it is solely their problem - not the school.

To be fair there are no jobs in Poland and you all bail out to England so education is really of little relevance when in reality you are simply going to retrain and adapt to the British way of life.

TuftyMatt

I booked a holiday last July for the end of May / early June which takes in half term but also the first 4 days of school in June.

This was booked to be after the SATT'S that both my son (14) and daughter (11) were due to take. My son has seen his tests removed but cannot get authorised time off for just 4 days!!

His school merged in September and his old school gave authorised time off, as is the case with my Daughters. I emailed the Head who sent the letter informing us of his decision but failed to get a response!!

As stated the holiday was booked before he began at this new merged school and on previous experience I had no problems so do not intend to pay any fine.

PolishBigSpender

sturll wrote: »

To be fair there are no jobs in Poland and you all bail out to England so education is really of little relevance when in reality you are simply going to retrain and adapt to the British way of life.

No jobs in Poland and we are all going to move to the UK, adapting your way of life? Hardly realistic, is it?
Why would I have to retrain? My diploma is valid in the UK just as well. It's EU, remember?

I'm looking out of the window and the streets are...empty...most people are in work or at school. Or maybe packing their suitcases to invade Great Britain?

(There are less and less money to be made in the UK now, so people are coming back, especially that - believe it or not - many like it here and went to the UK just to earn a bit of cash to buy a house/flat in Poland. Rarely someone is planning to stay there for life.)

gregg1

Kez100 wrote: »

There are very few of us not subject to supervision by an outside body. We also have to stay brilliantly competent or we will be out of business pronto. No income - zilch. At least teachers have procedures under which they are given chance to improve and many get away with being just OK for the whole of their career. Also, reform and change - industries and professionas all have to move with the times. I have major changes at least twice a year requiring constant training. I work in excess of 50 hours a week and I am supposed to be part time 25 hours. I get 5 weeks holiday a year. I am also a Governor which is, as you will know, demanding and voluntary - so I am also subject to Ofsted but without pay.

The only thing I feel sorry for teachers over is childrens behaviour and the lack of ability to discipline persistently difficult children in (what I think of as) a really effective way.

Anyone in the public sector who says it is better/easier/higher paid in the private should be made to take a gap year every ten years in the real world and then they could go back and I bet they'd make better and happier teachers.

Don't forget the lack of parental support in many cases !!