school wont let my daughter go on a school trip but wont refund the monies

Shepp66

My daughter has been absent from 6th form due to ongoing health issues, genuine health issues.  They have informed her that they can not continue to keep her on the books ( she is due to take her A levels in May !! ) but have said she can continue her A levels but as a private candidate.  They then informed us that a school trip in July that she has part paid towards, she wont be able to go as she is no longer a registered student. Also they cant refund the monies already paid.   My daughter wants to go and can do the trip, surely if they are stopping her they should refund the money in this instances.  We are talking about £750 so a lot to lose.  Any one else come across this issue, I accept if you pulled your child out its your problems but in this case, the school has caused this due to not letting her stay on 3 more months !!

[Deleted User]

 Has she given the school a sick note from her GP to confirm her illness? 

 Have you or the school got travel insurance? 

KxMx

I expect trips are non refundable, but IMO the school should make an exception here since they are the ones saying no.

annabanana82

Our secondary school make it clear on trip letters that we won't be refunded unless they can find another student to take the place. Likewise our scout group does the same for foreign trips. Can her place be filled by someone else?
The reason your child won't be allowed to go I suspect is down to their insurance and as she is no longer a member of the school she will not be covered. 

Mojisola

annabanana82 said:

Our secondary school make it clear on trip letters that we won't be refunded unless they can find another student to take the place. Likewise our scout group does the same for foreign trips. Can her place be filled by someone else?

That's fair enough if the student/scout pulls out - in this case, the school is preventing her from going but keeping her money.

The school should be refunding what has been paid or allowing the student to stay on the school roll and go on the trip.

Pollycat

Shepp66 said:

My daughter has been absent from 6th form due to ongoing health issues, genuine health issues.  They have informed her that they can not continue to keep her on the books ( she is due to take her A levels in May !! ) but have said she can continue her A levels but as a private candidate.  They then informed us that a school trip in July that she has part paid towards, she wont be able to go as she is no longer a registered student. Also they cant refund the monies already paid.   My daughter wants to go and can do the trip, surely if they are stopping her they should refund the money in this instances.  We are talking about £750 so a lot to lose.  Any one else come across this issue, I accept if you pulled your child out its your problems but in this case, the school has caused this due to not letting her stay on 3 more months !!

Have you appealed this?

Can a school do this if a pupil has absences caused by genuine health issues?

Apologies if this has already been done but if it isn't I'd be fighting that rather than a trip.

silvercar

What reason are they giving for taking her off the register? I would suspect it is because they don't want her results pulling their grade average down.
You should appeal that. Although 6th form isn't compulsory, that age group are meant to be in school, college or apprenticeships. They can't take her off the register for no reason.

suejb2

Appeal, as a private candidate you’re going to need that money to pay the exam fees.

zagubov

A college would do this like a shot, on the grounds that they're not now teaching her as she's not studying there. But I wasn't aware that a school could do it. Or is it an academy now, as I suspect their rights differ from a school?

Shepp66

_shel said:

 Has she given the school a sick note from her GP to confirm her illness? 

 Have you or the school got travel insurance? 

Hi, the school have had notices and copies of the consultants letters. They did suggest we look to claiming on the insurance but at the moment she is well enough to go. Meeting them again Thursday to discuss again 

Shepp66

silvercar said:

What reason are they giving for taking her off the register? I would suspect it is because they don't want her results pulling their grade average down.
You should appeal that. Although 6th form isn't compulsory, that age group are meant to be in school, college or apprenticeships. They can't take her off the register for no reason.

Apparently if she goes private it does still link to the schools results.  The reason is her lack of attendance, her mental health has suffered too and struggling to concentrate. Just seems crazy for the sake of a few months.