Religious Trips and Time off from school

starM

Hi,

We are planning to go to Hajj (Pilgrimage) in Sept. This can only happen in a month of September. This will be for 3 weeks.

I have 2 kids 5 & 8 years old. We are planning to leave my younger child with my sister and take the older child with us.

We live in Birmingham. I know schools are very strict in relation to holidays but what about if it is relates to religious activity which cannot be done during half term?

Thanks
MS

Andypandyboy

I believe the ruling applies across the board, without exception.

elsien

Some schools specifically mention Hajj in their absence policies. It may be worth checking with your child's school to see what their policy is.

callum9999

Well if today's high court ruling is anything to go by it seems you can take your child out of school whenever you want as long as it's less than 10% of the year.

Though without meaning to be too judgemental, I'm not sure I'd take my 8 year old on a pilgrimage in which thousands were crushed to death just last year.

richardw

3 weeks in a 5 year old's life is a very long time to be away from their parents and siblings.

callum9999

richardw wrote: »

3 weeks in a 5 year old's life is a very long time to be away from their parents and siblings.

Assuming they know their aunt, I'm sure they'll just about manage to cope. There are kids not much older living in boarding schools!

theonlywayisup

callum9999 wrote: »

There are kids not much older living in boarding schools!

With children in boarding school, I am not quite sure what you mean.

callum9999

theonlywayisup wrote: »

With children in boarding school, I am not quite sure what you mean.

When children live at school.

theonlywayisup

callum9999 wrote: »

There are kids not much older living in boarding schools!

callum9999 wrote: »

When children live at school.

I know what boarding means - they don't live at school, they stay there during term times.;)

Your first comment isn't clear, particularly because of the exclamation mark.

callum9999

theonlywayisup wrote: »

I know what boarding means - they don't live at school, they stay there during term times.;)

Your first comment isn't clear, particularly because of the exclamation mark.

Well my point seemed incredibly obvious so I didn't know if English was your second language... Though as they spend more time there than at "home", I don't see how you can object to them being said to live there?

Children live in boarding schools away from parents and siblings for entire terms or entire years, I don't think an almost 6 year old being with other family for 3 weeks is really going to be that traumatic!

Voyager2002

starM wrote: »

Hi,

We are planning to go to Hajj (Pilgrimage) in Sept. This can only happen in a month of September. This will be for 3 weeks.

I have 2 kids 5 & 8 years old. We are planning to leave my younger child with my sister and take the older child with us.

We live in Birmingham. I know schools are very strict in relation to holidays but what about if it is relates to religious activity which cannot be done during half term?

Thanks
MS

I think that Mecca will still be there once your children have finished school, so why not save the Hajj until then.