School absence due to outreach scheme

Spendless

My 13yo was told along with classmates that a local University ran an outreach access scheme that they could apply for if they met eligiblity. Son applied and has been accepted, so has at least one other child.

He had to get the form signed by one his teachers from the relevant department. On it it stated that they accepted that some of the workshops may take place in term-time.

At the recent introductory evening at the University, they stated that they would write to all the schools concerned about the date of the next workshop, but parents need to inform school too. So, I've tried...I have written a letter to his form teacher about it, who said she's have to speak to Head of Year. Having heard nothing, I've e-mailed HoY myself and have heard nothing. I spoke to the Pupil Support Officer who didn't seem to know what I was on about. So, can anyone else help me? Who do I inform and how? Do I get a form to fill in from school reception, like you do with a hol request. I'm trying to avoid a phone call on the day concerned asking where he is? I haven't been able to get hold of other child to ask if they have worked out what to do.

balletshoes

can you go into school Spendless, and explain at reception what your issue is with the outreach programme and school permission? They might be able to find someone relevant who can speak to you then.

Spendless

No, I'm at work full-time from now until he goes on it.

meritaten

I would go back to the teacher you wrote letter to and just 'check' that they know about the upcoming workshops and wont be marked as 'unauthorised absence'. I would also keep a note of each letter as evidence if something does go wrong. The workshop will have evidence of his attendance there so its not as if he was playing truant!

angelil

Oh dear - what a pickle

Seriously, well done for trying - lots of parents wouldn't have even bothered to do as much as they have.
Can you phone them and ask them to call you back when they have the answer?
If that yields no joy, then as others have mentioned, I would just keep hold of all of the paperwork until you're sure it hasn't gone down as unauthorised (maybe even until the school year is over so that all of this year's school reports are out of the way - although maybe that depends how your child's school records absences on the reports).

VickyA_2

Can you forward your e-mail to the HoY to the Headteacher? It's so important to have everything in writing in a case like this (I'm a teacher, so know the trouble parents go to).

mandragora_2

I think that the school should be able to code and approve this absence relatively easily, especially if the university is in touch with them and confirms the nature and validity of the workshop. If you look at this list, I'd think that either codes B or D would cover them (my bet is the school will go for B code, as it is the most relevant and won't adversely affect their attendance data)
Codes and meaning:
B
Educated off site (NOT Dual registration)
Approved Education Activity
C
Other Authorised Circumstances (not covered by another appropriate code/description)
Authorised absence
D
Dual registration (i.e. pupil attending other establishment)
Approved Education Activity

Send a 'received receipt' email to the head of year and copy it to the head or whoever is in charge of attendance oversight at the school, explaining what your son has been offered and explain that this will be the reason for his absence on x and y dates.Oh, and well done to him - I hope he has a great time, and really gets a lot out of this amazing opportunity.

peachyprice

Yes, you need to fill in the same form as you do for holiday. It's actually a request for authorised absence form, I have had to fill in these for my daughter when she has had time off for ballet exams, it gets put down as authorised absence, for educational activity.

Spendless

Thanks for the responses. It gave me some ideas for what to try next. I rang today and fortunately got some one on the phone who knew what scheme I was on about. They got the relevant teacher to ring me (the one that gave teen the info and application form in first place) who said in future if I supply them with the dates she will e-mail son's form teacher and HoY with details that he's off due to outreach scheme. Then if he is flagged as being absent from a class the staff who would deal with it, will be aware of the reason for it.

fluffnutter

Tell the university too of your efforts to alert the school. Let them know you've done all you reasonably can and if they want to take it up with the school themselves, they're more than welcome.

pollypenny

I'd have just written to the head in the first place. I'm sure he or she would be interested to hear about take-up of outreach courses.