Our kids refused time off school during term time - please advice

missbiggles1

The only time I've taken a child out of school for a holiday has been the last week of the summer term when no work seems ever to take place. Taking time off at almost any other time is frequently going to lead to disruption for someone.

suejb2

In my d.d secondary school there are a number of 'showmen' families,different times, when I grew up they were known as travellers. They work the fairs and every so often go to Scotland or the East coast for a few weeks at a time, they take school work with them from a primary and secondary school, they don't receive a penalty charge.

Yet at the same school there are families who receive a penalty for taking them on a holiday. None of the families have any influence on the choices I make for my school aged children but I don't like the inconsistency .

DCFC79

suejb2 wrote: »

In my d.d secondary school there are a number of 'showmen' families,different times, when I grew up they were known as travellers. They work the fairs and every so often go to Scotland or the East coast for a few weeks at a time, they take school work with them from a primary and secondary school, they don't receive a penalty charge.

Yet at the same school there are families who receive a penalty for taking them on a holiday. None of the families have any influence on the choices I make for my school aged children but I don't like the inconsistency .

Its very inconsistent.

FBaby

I understand not all teaching is good, but a holiday doesn't put that right (teaching is actually made worse by kids being absent so taking children out of school is worsening the problem).

I don't dispute that, just that we need to adapt our judgement to the reality of our society, that is that the education system is never going to respond to the needs of all pupils and that parents will want to go on holiday abroad because it is more relaxing and rewarding than cheaper holidays in the UK.

The issue I have is how parents are being made to feel guilty about their decision. It reminds me of the guilt that is being assigned to mothers who choose not to breasfeed even though research 'prove' that it is better for the child.

What is better for a child is what is better for them as an individual and that takes many different factors into consideration. So although I totally agree that in some cases, taking a child out of school for a holiday is being irresponsible, in many other cases it isn't and is actually what might be best for them.

I do find it interesting that many councils have now revised their rules to actually allow for parents to take their kids away up to 5 days and only apply the fine for longer periods. Why would that be if indeed this is doing damage to the child and their classroom?

My DD needs As too. At the present time I have to say she would have missed loads if she had missed a week during year 11. She's bright, but not bright enough to miss lessons. Catching up is truly difficult at this age, in my opinion.

And that's your DD. My DD is bright enough to miss lessons without it affecting her chances to get As. She got As at all her mock GCSEs in year 10, had already got As in some mocks taken in year 9. Not here to brag at all, just to say that each child is different and therefore missing school is going to impact on them differently.

notanewuser

FBaby wrote: »

And that's your DD. My DD is bright enough to miss lessons without it affecting her chances to get As. She got As at all her mock GCSEs in year 10, had already got As in some mocks taken in year 9. Not here to brag at all, just to say that each child is different and therefore missing school is going to impact on them differently.

Given that the syllabus is now considerably easier and the pass park considerably lower than those of yesteryear, I can't imagine it's that hard at all for a child with strong parental encouragement.

Jagraf

FBaby wrote: »

And that's your DD. My DD is bright enough to miss lessons without it affecting her chances to get As. She got As at all her mock GCSEs in year 10, had already got As in some mocks taken in year 9. Not here to brag at all, just to say that each child is different and therefore missing school is going to impact on them differently.

OK. I'm sure she will do well.

FBaby

Given that the syllabus is now considerably easier and the pass park considerably lower than those of yesteryear, I can't imagine it's that hard at all for a child with strong parental encouragement.

Out of curiosity, is it easier to get a pass mark as much as it is to get an A*. Just curious.

When I look at what she is expected to achieve, I am quite surprised either way. I find it shocking that she is expected to get an A* in French when she can hardly hold the most basic conversation and her written work is full of errors. At the same time, I am quite dismayed by what she is doing in Maths which reflects more what I was learning at Uni.

I think like many parents who take the decision to take their child out of school, I only did it because I truly believed that it wouldn't affect my two and I do think it is a judgement I am capable of making. If I'm wrong, it is no different to all the other decisions I have taken so far which I believed were the right ones for them.

Pollycat

FBaby wrote: »

And that's your DD. My DD is bright enough to miss lessons without it affecting her chances to get As. She got As at all her mock GCSEs in year 10, had already got As in some mocks taken in year 9. Not here to brag at all, just to say that each child is different and therefore missing school is going to impact on them differently.

I can totally see where you are coming from with the above.

But if schools made decisions based on the child's ability to catch-up for missed week(s), there would be an absolute uproar from parents whose children were not as bright as others on the basis it's unfair.

SeduLOUs

I'm just surprised this debate is still going on after 5 pages when the answer is simple:

It is against the law to take your child out of school, unless it is for an exceptional circumstance (which does not include a 'normal' family holiday).

Headteachers have absolutely no discretion to permit a parent to break the law, regardless of their own or the teachers' opinions on the matter.

If you don't like the law, take it up with your MP.

ViolaLass

notanewuser wrote: »

Given that the syllabus is now considerably easier and the pass park considerably lower than those of yesteryear, I can't imagine it's that hard at all for a child with strong parental encouragement.

There's a big difference between a pass mark and an A grade.