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Primary education

Educational day out of school?

10 replies

ArseyKwa · 01/12/2012 10:44

My dd1's class are going on the first transitional trip to the nearest secondary school this week. They're going to do 3 such days (and did one last July). Seems quite excessive to us, especially this early in Y6, but I can appreciate that for some children who are going there, they will appreciate this. However, my daughter is one of only 4 kids who are not going to that school. Without going into the ins and outs of it, we have decided that dd is not going (she doesn't want to).

That's fine, and she could stay at school with the Y5 members of her class, would still be doing her own work. But then she's missing out on what is essentially a "fun" day out. Head teacher is fine with me taking her out of school that day for a day's holiday. However, I want to do something educational with her (like visit a museum that fits in with their current topic work).

Can I insist that this is an educational day, much as going to sit ballet exams is viewed Hmm? Is there an approach/set of wording that is more likely to achieve that outcome? Not sure where to look for information on this (but have a friend who is an Attendance officer who has mentioned such things, so I may consult her).

Help appreciated, thank you.

OP posts:
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MoaningMingeWhimpersAgain · 01/12/2012 10:57

AFAIK, it is unlikely. But it doesn't matter what code they put on the register really, does it?

You can send her to school as usual if you want to (and I would) but if you taking her out for the day then it may be unauthorised. I don't see whether or not it is 'educational' really makes a difference except in regard to whether you feel you can justify it to yourself.

Education off site is a code for the register to account for residential etc and days such as they have planned, it's an administrative thing for the school only and is irrelevant to your plan IMHO.

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DeWe · 02/12/2012 19:00

In my experience both as a pupil and a parent, they usually have a wonderful time left behind at school. She'll probably be given "jobs" round school and feel terribly important.

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tiggytape · 02/12/2012 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BackforGood · 03/12/2012 23:26

Presuming you are trying to keep her in line for "100% attendance" certificate type thing ?
The answer is no I'm afraid.
Last year my dd1 (in Yr8 at the time) had 100% attendance, although the school had taken her out of lessons and counted these as 'Educational' (to attend the opening of an incinerator Hmm once, and to spend a day at an old folks centre once) . When she was invited to a Reception at the Houses of Parliament, (through a volunteering things she had done), they wished her well and said they hoped she had a lovely day, but it meant she couldn't get her 100% attendance certificate.
Fair enough - she wasn't there 100% of the time, the thing that irks a bit, is she wasn't there when they took/sent her to 2 far less educational events, but because they'd organised them, they didn't count as her missing school.
It's just the system I'm afraid.

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GoldFrankincenseAndTwiglets · 04/12/2012 10:11

She can be marked as Educated Offsite (code B) if your Head agrees. This code isn't not just for residential trips and planned days out, as mentioned earlier - my DD has 2 Educated Offsite afternoons (at home with me) every week.

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purpleroses · 04/12/2012 10:26

Could you use the opportunity to take her to visit the secondary school that she is going to? Some are quite flexible about when you visit.

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MushroomSoup · 04/12/2012 21:52

That's interesting *G

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MushroomSoup · 04/12/2012 21:53

Oops! Meant to say
That's interesting Gold, how does that happen?!

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GoldFrankincenseAndTwiglets · 05/12/2012 05:49

Mushroom, I home ed her a few afternoons a week. The 'educated offsite' code needs 4 criteria to be met - can't remember all of them at the moment but I know we do them :) One is that activity has to be educational (well, duh!) and another is it has to be carried out by a person approved by the Head (our Head was happy for me to do it). It works really well!

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We3bunniesOfOrientAre · 05/12/2012 06:09

Yes it can happen, for various reasons dd1 didn't go on a school trip but went with us to a suitable alternative place, the school agreed and put it down as educated off site. They are usually quite sticky about authorised absence, but in this situation they could see that ours was a good alternative.

Have you spoken to the other 3 parents, are their dc going? You could maybe take it in turns to take them all out together, might make your case stronger.

I don't know that I would worry too much at this stage, as places haven't been allocated anyway, it is different nearer the time though. I think all the yr 6 go to have a day at the local sink school around this time, very few end up going there though. Having said that we did withdraw dd1 from the preschool trip to the local school, but she was only 4 and only one of 3 not going, and we felt at her age and it was in July, it would confuse her.

Hope she has a fun day whatever you decide.

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