Anyone challenged a term time holiday judgement?

Spendless

OP- Have you taken a screen print of the school's incorrect calendar that you used to book dates?

I'd also keep a copy of the newsletter too.

Just in case you end up having to take this to appeal.

stewdaviesuk

Spendless - yes done all that. I just wonder if the LA will do exactly what it states on their website and if the head fails to authorise it they will not change it. Its all new here so I guess no one has challenged it or even got to grips with how it works in practice.

A different head with experience may have accepted it, he is new and playing by the rules 100%.

I was in a situation some years ago when we had to make redundant a member of staff from a clerical pool. I was new and honest and appraised my clerical member of staff fairly giving them 95 out of a 100 over a series of questions. The old hands all appraised theirs 100/100, knowing full well someone would be honest and get a lower score. She lost her job and I learned a valuable lesson.

tonycottee

If it's one day, couldn't you just call in sick?

stewdaviesuk

tonycottee - yes if we had not gone and told the head by putting in a holiday form as we assumed we would not have an issue. now its in the open we can't undo it.

poet123

stewdaviesuk wrote: »

becominganobsessivesaver - if thats true it would be welcome news. We have been given nothing other than a notice about being fined, no proper guidelines, but the LA states on its website

"Only the headteacher can decide if the reason given for absence is acceptable. If the head teacher decides that the reason given for absence is unacceptable, the absence will remain unauthorised."

He won't give it.

As a school governor I think that given what happened was due to the school providing incorrect information the Head is being unreasonable withholding his consent. I would write to the Chair of Governors explaining your case and asking for the opinion of the GB. My guess is they will advise him to be reasonable (assuming what you say is factually correct and can be proven)

tonycottee

stewdaviesuk wrote: »

tonycottee - yes if we had not gone and told the head by putting in a holiday form as we assumed we would not have an issue. now its in the open we can't undo it.

Could you just not withdraw your request? Ultimately, they would then need to prove that your child was not sick and you had gone on holiday, which would be almost impossible for them to do.

stewdaviesuk

I will leave it for now and see what happens, maybe nothing will come of it. I can't be bothered making much of a fuss right now but thanks for all the advice.

The new head will be under enough pressure without facing a barrage of complaints from the likes of me. I know there at least 10 parents who have less of a case than I do pushing their point so i will see what happens before i play my hand.

thorsoak

tonycottee wrote: »

Could you just not withdraw your request? Ultimately, they would then need to prove that your child was not sick and you had gone on holiday, which would be almost impossible for them to do.

Bad advice, imo. You'd know that you had lied, they would know that you had lied. This is a new headteacher, and you and your family could have a working relationship for 4 years or so. Everytime s/he could be subconsciously be thinking oh yes - the liars!

No - not what I'd do.

poet123

To be honest if the wrong holidays were on the website the Head doesn't have a leg to stand on. I worry about his judgment actually if he doesn't see that. It doesn't bode well imo.

jacques_chirac

stewdaviesuk wrote: »

Yes, in fact we not sure of the process and neither was he. We have known him for years as he was a teacher before the new appointment. We were also thinking that if we were going to be fined for the 1 day infringement (its a Thursday), we may as well end his term even earlier and get a longer break. He is only 8 and still plays games in the last short week before christmas so its not a big educational loss as far as we can see.

This indicates you are able to change your booking - is it not possible to catch an evening flight (assuming you are going overseas), or travel the next day?