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Original poster

To take DS on holiday during work experience week

217 replies

Flufty191 · 23/10/2023 20:30

DS is year 10. We live in a small town. He's due to do work experience next summer. He/we have contacted every company in the local area and have either had no response, been told they don't offer work experience or the work experience places are already taken.

His options now are a charity shop or the school canteen (the canteen is the schools only help if you're unable to secure your child a place somewhere).

He's already doing voluntary work for his DofE.

Would I be unreasonable to book a family holiday abroad for a week instead?

Yanbu-book it
Yabu-he should do the work experience.

OP posts:
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Poiboi · 10/07/2024 06:58

Work experience week has no bearing on one’s future/university applications at all. You have drunk the kool aid if you think otherwise.

Poiboi · 10/07/2024 06:57

I remember we were given work experience places by our school. I spent a week in HMV. Complete waste of time - I was given all the annoying cleaning job no one could be arsed to do. Pisses me off looking back.

Cochise5 · 10/07/2024 04:09

NuffSaidSam · 24/10/2023 09:29

It's been seen as essential by many universities/employers for decades.

No it has not.

Don't be silly.

No university is looking at when you did your work experience placement when you were 15 when you apply to University. Or when you apply for a job.

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Well said

Cochise5 · 10/07/2024 04:06

Working for her nanny was a good option which in turn could lead to a caring profession if she choose . But I say go on holiday anyway .

Cochise5 · 10/07/2024 03:59

It is a complete waste time . My daughter is working in a community cafe and all she has done for the last few days is sit there or clean a toilet . The person in charge has no interest no customers either . What has that taught her .

NotMuchElseWeCanDo · 25/10/2023 12:18

Mixed views.

Work experience can just be a teenager sat there reading some brochures and making the odd cup of tea for everyone!

Equally, I think an example should be set that there will be things we don't necessarily want to do (work experience) but we have a commitment/responsibility to do them!

sollenwir · 25/10/2023 12:11

samupnorth · 24/10/2023 20:53

That he shouldn’t feel pressured into wasting his time in a canteen because of an idiotic idea the school has had …

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Why are you assuming he'd be 'wasting' his time though?

samupnorth · 24/10/2023 20:53

Moonshine5 · 24/10/2023 06:39

If you take him abroad what lesson are you teaching your son?

That he shouldn’t feel pressured into wasting his time in a canteen because of an idiotic idea the school has had …

BeyondMyWits · 24/10/2023 18:00

The schools visit our pharmacy when the kids are there.

But you wouldn't lie, just say they are not doing work experience, they already have/had a job. You might get fined for unauthorised absence.

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 17:53

Nodashians · 24/10/2023 17:52

I’ve never heard of a school visiting a DC on work experience, there were three hundred per year at my DC’s school, that would be a very busy week for the school staff.

I got visited. The tutors went round and tried to check in on people to check it was going OK.

Nodashians · 24/10/2023 17:52

I’ve never heard of a school visiting a DC on work experience, there were three hundred per year at my DC’s school, that would be a very busy week for the school staff.

Tiredanddistracted · 24/10/2023 17:47

I'm sure you've considered this, but the school will probably want to visit your son at his work placement. Just in case you care about getting 'found out'.

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 17:21

Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie · 24/10/2023 17:15

We would at the place I used to work for, but ok.

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👍

Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie · 24/10/2023 17:15

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 16:40

Hahahaha what. No rep would want that.

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We would at the place I used to work for, but ok.

Bristolnewcomer · 24/10/2023 17:04

@Flufty191 are you prepared to pay the fine for termtime holiday?

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 16:49

margotrose · 24/10/2023 16:46

But the school cares or they wouldn't timetable it in

They only timetable it in because they have to, surely?

Well yes. But someone somewhere must want the kids to do work experience...who is it? The government?

sollenwir · 24/10/2023 16:48

margotrose · 24/10/2023 16:46

But the school cares or they wouldn't timetable it in

They only timetable it in because they have to, surely?

Not all schools do it, not sure whether that depends on area or if it's school head/board decision, or some other reason.

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 16:47

Babybjorn · 24/10/2023 16:23

It sounds like your mind is made OP and like you’ve got plenty on your plate. Make a decision and own it! DS sounds like a good kid. Have a chat about the importance of honouring commitments usually, let the school know politely, make sure he sees through the summer work experience and book the holiday! I don’t think anyone is particularly invested in whether he does the experience in that particular week or not. From your first posts, some people (me included) thought DS thought it was beneath him all, which is bound to get some backs up! I don’t think that is the case though. Sounds more like you all need the holiday and the work experience week is a good time.

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I agree. You've already decided OP. As long as your son doesn't mind then go ahead and do whatever you want!

margotrose · 24/10/2023 16:46

But the school cares or they wouldn't timetable it in

They only timetable it in because they have to, surely?

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 16:46

margotrose · 24/10/2023 16:05

Does it have to be? Can't I just make a comment for the sake of it?

Jeez Louise. Chill out.

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Who is louise

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 16:44

margotrose · 24/10/2023 15:32

It’s not really that simple though is it? It’s a good lesson in the social contract. He receives an education, his teachers presumably often go above and beyond and in return, he has his own duties to perform.

I really don't think the teachers care all that much if Joe Bloggs or Sophie Smith go away on holiday instead of doing a week of work experience in the school canteen lol.

I do agree though that OP should just say they're off on holiday and leave the work experience out of it.

Of course the teachers don't give a shit what happens to OP's son out of school. But the school cares or they wouldn't timetable it in

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 16:42

Flufty191 · 24/10/2023 15:49

Some of these replies are so heavy/deep/serious. I just can't bring myself to care that much about it.

We've had a chat and decided if he hasn't found something by Christmas then we'll go on holiday and he can do the week in the summer holidays instead. Winner winner.

If the school are ok with that and he explains to them its because he thinks he's above the two work experience offers he has then yeah go for it

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 16:40

Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie · 24/10/2023 16:25

Assuming you're doing a package holiday, you could mail the holiday company and see if he could do a day or two shadowing a rep?

Hahahaha what. No rep would want that.

happylittlesloth · 24/10/2023 16:40

margotrose · 24/10/2023 14:57

Well, you may not, but I certainly have done in the past (I'm self-employed now so can do what I want, pretty much).

I've turned down offers to go on courses, offers to do overtime, offers to change my hours around and increase my responsibility because, for various reasons, it didn't suit me at the time. I've also asked to change my hours and my responsibilities to suit me and my employer has, where possible, agreed to it.

You don't just have to live your life blindly following what you're told to do by school or work.

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This isn't an offer to do work experience. There is no negotiation here only skiving off.

margotrose · 24/10/2023 16:28

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