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

j.e.j.

I think they're teens..

meritaten

its FIVE days! how many days of education do schools waste? I can think of at least five - there is red nose day, children in need day, teddy bear picnic day, Harvest Festival day, and 'school trip day' which is just a jolly to the beach.
perhaps parents should start taking schools to court for days the children receive no education?

geek84

Hi Folks

Many thanks for your replies.

I have twins aged 13 years old. They are in year 9 at the moment.

The reason for refusal the school gives is - This is not currently an exceptional circumstance

Are you suggesting it is not worth appealing against the decision?

j.e.j.

I would waffle and say it's an educational trip and they're learning about the culture of India, etc

Nicki

meritaten wrote: »

its FIVE days! how many days of education do schools waste? I can think of at least five - there is red nose day, children in need day, teddy bear picnic day, Harvest Festival day, and 'school trip day' which is just a jolly to the beach.
perhaps parents should start taking schools to court for days the children receive no education?

And given how many parents don't get their first choice school place for their kids, perhaps those who take term time holidays should be taken off the school roll and their places given to children whose parents value their school based education over a cheaper holiday. Whilst travel can be educational it's never more educational in the 39 weeks of school term than it would be in the 13 weeks of holiday!

Tigsteroonie

I don't think it's worth appealing. It may be worth writing a letter explaining why the trip has to be taken in term time rather than only during holidays, and asking for that letter to go onto your children's files in case of future investigation.

You might get fined, you might not. But will that really stop you going? It's not stopping us

1940sGal

You can't really argue that a holiday is an exceptional circumstance. The receptionist should never have said what she did.

But i'm with the others, take the holiday and pay the penalty. It's only 5 days, i highly doubt it would come to more than the penalty.

I'd love to know how these things work though. My next door neighbour's got a very unsavoury relation who is there quite often, along with her scrote of a son who is 14 and never at school. We know this because he's always knocking about the village or at my neighbours. Yet she's never been prosecuted for it and I highly doubt she's ever paid a penalty considering her permanent state of unemployment.

Nicki

j.e.j. wrote: »

I would waffle and say it's an educational trip and they're learning about the culture of India, etc

He could but it would be a waste of his time to do so.

Most local authorities have the same definition of exceptional circumstances which is here

http://www2.eastriding.gov.uk/learning/schools-colleges-and-academies/school-attendance/holidays-during-term-time-and-authorised-absence-from-school/

A family holiday is never exceptional circumstances in and of itself unless one of the criteria here apply or something truly unique and equivalent.

shoe*diva79

Nicki wrote: »

You may be fined (penalty charge).



The penalty notice is £120 per child per parent, so even if not prosecuted this could still cost you an additional £480 to go in October rather than in the 6 week holiday in July/August.

its £60 per parent, per child. Not £120.

[Deleted User]

You obviously forgot to mention the family wedding you're attending whilst you're over there..

shoe*diva79 wrote: »

its £60 per child, per parent. Not £120.

Isn't that per parent, per child?