School Holiday Fines

Spendless

balletshoes wrote: »

my daughter is year 11, GSCE year, and she's had revision sessions in school by invitation (so its tailored to what the child needs to maintain/improve their predicted grade) in both February and April school holidays (she may have them in May too). I made it my business to find out if school sessions were likely for revision during the school holidays (based on this happening last year at the same school). They are not compulsory, and parents may feel their child won't really benefit from them. I know my child, she is more motivated to get on and do things if she's in school revising. So, we've not had any planned breaks away from home this year, and won't have until the end of June.
I do feel schools and teachers can't win - on the one hand they get bashed for giving out homework/offering to attend school after hours and in holidays to help children revise, and on the other with all the bureaucracy that goes along with having a class, they don't have enough time in the day to actually teach.

The school/s should communicate with the parent/s and pupil/s when they are going into yr11 about them running revision classes in school holidays. My sister found out as the school broke up for the holidays.

I have no problems whatsoever with homework in term-time, but we get frequent comments of 'there's enough school holidays to go away in' so the holidays should be for just that family time/to go on holiday in, not for homework. It's all the years getting holiday homework not just the exam sitting years.

maman

No way can revision classes in the school holidays be compulsory.


Referring back to my earlier post it's about schools being held accountable for pupil progress when so many aspects of a child's life are beyond their control.


So ideally, a parent whose child was coming up to Y6 SATs or GCSEs would use some of the time in the Easter holidays to encourage revision. Schools know for many pupils this isn't going to happen so they offer revision classes.

mrsinvisible

But its OK for the schools to organise a trip abroad during term time? taking the children out of school is alright if teachers are doing it? Does the school pay the fine? do the parents pay the fine? If a parent removes a child over the same timescale they will be fined, one law for them and another for us yet again.

Sam_Sam

Every extra day of school missed can affect a pupil's chance of gaining good GCSEs, which has a lasting effect on their life chances

So if this is the recent statement about time away from school during term time.......then please tell me why it's ok to close my children's school for a day and use it as a polling station!

wazza99

Just pay the FPN......and go anyway, still cheaper. None of this bull cant afford it, don't try and justify it to yourself or anyone else. £60 is not worth worrying about, if your in the mindset to go in term time just do it and get on with life.
Don't even start with "oh the holiday is so educational and cultural" nonsense, its a holiday beer, sea and sand in most cases.

Andre31

I totaly disagree with the government fineing parent's for trying to save money on taking there kids on hoilday the government could rejuice the 6 weeks hoildays were the kids only get fed up and say im bord split the 6 weeks in to two 3 weeks then parents could take there kids on hoilday in the cheaper price bracket so they have an obtion when to go on hoilday and not pay out rageious prices as the 6 weeks hoildays now and if the hoilday companys then put the price up in the 3 weeks hoildays the government fine the hoilday companys not the parents for just wanting to take there kids away on hoilday

Kayalana99

So if a child is 4 but in full time education do we not have to pay it? 100% sure? I keep getting mixed answers.

Kayalana99

mrsinvisible wrote: »

But its OK for the schools to organise a trip abroad during term time? taking the children out of school is alright if teachers are doing it? Does the school pay the fine? do the parents pay the fine? If a parent removes a child over the same timescale they will be fined, one law for them and another for us yet again.

Of course it is. This isn't about what is best for children it's just an extra way of getting tax.

If it was for the benefit of the children, then yes why are the school's allowed trips away but not the parents...etc etc.

I'd understand a more strict system in place for parents keeping there kids off school for no reason - but I bet they don't get fined £60/£120 do they.

It's all about the money.

Iggy3

Yeah, 100% attendance is crucial...
Rubbish!
In the primary school my kids attended to, they used to watch movies and play games in the last week of term (up to Y6). No learning whatsoever!
So, is it better to for the kids to watch a movie at school or to spend time with parents on holidays?
I've never had 100% attendance at school and used to go away with my parents. Some holidays I remember till today (I'm 40 now). I'm now in higher education now. I don't think my attendance affected my level of education dramatically.
And please, don't judge me by the spelling mistakes I made as, English is not my first language.

svain

wazza99 wrote: »

Just pay the FPN......and go anyway, still cheaper. None of this bull cant afford it, don't try and justify it to yourself or anyone else. £60 is not worth worrying about, if your in the mindset to go in term time just do it and get on with life.
Don't even start with "oh the holiday is so educational and cultural" nonsense, its a holiday beer, sea and sand in most cases.

.... and this is the best advice on this whole thread