Authorised/Unauthorised absence

[janeyjampot]

Does anyone know what this really means? I sent in a request for authorised absence so that my DC could see the Olympic Torch, which is due to pass right in front of my house. The torch is expected at 9am, so they would not have to miss much time.

The request has not been authorised. Will there be any consequences if I keep them at home? I don't want them to miss it but on the other hand of course I don't want them to get into any trouble. They are really conscientious and would be devastated if anyone told them off. I am wishing I'd just pretended we'd got a dental appointment or something and lied!

[SauvignonBlanche]

I'm sure the traffic will be terrible that morning!

[admission]

Authorised absence is for things such as sickness which parents tell school about but has also become part of the aura around ten days for holidays in term time.
Unauthorised absence is where the school does not know why the child is not in.
It is a bit of a stupid situation because it does not matter whether it is authorised or unauthorised, the child is still not in school. I am not going to get into the never ending debate over whether a holiday in term time is a big problem or not but would just ask are the school not doing anything themselves if it is passing quite close to your house so that the children can see the torch?

[janeyjampot]

Thanks for your comments. They actually go to school in the next town, where the torch is arriving in the evening for a party. Other children are probably not affected as I know mine travel the furthest to school.

Locally I imagine every child in the town where I live will be on the street, although I know it's coming through too early for some schools to make an organised trip to see it.

[admission]

In which case as sauvignon says the traffic chaos may mean that you can't get your car out of the drive till it has gone past!

[SauvignonBlanche]

They'll probably close the road.

[BooksandBrunch]

I can't believe they've not authorised it - that's silly. Even if there in year 6, Sats are over. I'd go 'Traffic' for sure.

[janeyjampot]

Thanks, everyone. I think we will just have to say that the roads were closed - I'm sure they will be but in theory we could set off early to avoid the closures.

The whole reason I applied for authorised absence was to avoid this situation. I don't want my children to be the only ones to miss the torch, but I don't want to fall out with school either.

[Tortu]

I don't think they would be able to authorise something like that.....however, the reality is that the teachers would be happy to 'authorise' a traffic problem/ illness/ car problems etc.

[tessieT]

Well get this one. The torch came to our town to today. Almost every school in the town was either involved or authorised an absence for the time the torch was in town, so that our children could witness this exceptional event. At the school I teach at we took over 400 children aged from 4-11 years and believe me it was run with almost military precision. My son's school, a Secondary in the town, refused to authorise any absence. I decided to accept that and withdraw my son as I felt it was an opportunity he couldn't miss. Many other parents did exactly the same. Initially, I was going to remove him for a brief period to watch the torch, however, the children were then threatened by teachers that they wouldn't be allowed to leave! Therefore, all those parents who wished their children to attend had to take their children out of school for a full day. Most of us were truthful, however, quite a few lied and phoned in saying their children were ill. There is now a rumour circulating that the school will issue a fixed penalty to all those parents!!! If this is true, then the message is definitely that honesty doesn't pay!! I should add that ofsted had decided to visit the school today. I wonder why they chose today of all days and what they made of the whole fiasco!