To tell school teen is unwell instead..?

People saying they won’t trigger the fine are wrong. The LA can fine for one day if they want. I was honest as we were missing the first 3 days of term and they fined me. When i challenged the LA I was told I “hadn’t learned from previous offences” and therefore wasn’t going to use their discretion. I had taken them the year before, missing 5 days at the start of term. So repeat offenders, be warned about being honest. Had I lied and said they were poorly, I wouldn’t have been fined as 3 days absence wouldn’t have triggered a welfare visit (ironically).

There is no point asking for approval: they have no discretion to approve days off for holiday. So just tell them.

Does 2 days really trigger a fine?

Anyway, you can’t involve your 14 year old in lying, hiding the trip from friends etc.

Just do it.

From now on in the exam years you will need to prioritise your DC’s attendance, so just take the 2 days now.

Best to tell the truth. What if (heaven forbid) something went wrong on the trip and you were delayed coming home. Also, your DC won't be able to talk about his fab time in Norway with school pals when they get back - or they might accidentally let it slip.

Don't lie. Don't model lying to your children. Tell the truth and take the consequences, then you've got a clear conscience.
(In your position, when I was younger, I'd probably have said they were sick, but my attitude has changed as I've got older. Also, lies tend to come back at you. Someone will snitch! So if you tell the truth in the first place you don't have that worry, and you don't look untrustworthy.)

I would do it and have done it a few times.

They ALWAYS grass you up. Even when they're trying their best. I had a little boy come in on Tuesday after being "sick" Friday and Monday.

Me: Hi Charlie, are you feeling better? It's not like you to be sick.
Charlie: I'm never sick.
Me: Oh right. Where were you Friday and yesterday then?
Charlie: I can't tell you.
Me: Oh. What would happen if you told me?
Charlie: Well, it would be the last time we went to Cornwall for sure!

😂

My children are all grown now so ignore me if I’m talking shit. Just go 🤷‍♀️ What can they do. It sounds like you are willing to pay the fine.
What were they going to do about a grandparent's funeral. Come and drag her away.
While I’m on the subject mind their own business about packed lunches and who is invited to parties.

You don't have to wait for approval (or not) I wouldn't lie, just be honest

They had to become gatekeepers when too many parents took the piss and prioritised getting pissed in the sun on the cheap over education.

Yea id go with unwell. Ive done it and just told DC it's a one off while they're young, dont grass me up by blabbing about where they went, and make them catch up on work missed.

They won’t authorise it anyway, may as well just tell the truth - 2 days won’t trigger a fine

This. I can’t believe how batshit some schools are. I’d tell the truth and pay any fine that is issued. While rolling my eyes I admit..

Unfortunately they have responsibilities in terms of promoting and ensuring high levels of attendance. There are DfE guidelines they are expected to follow. Attendance and the schools management of absences is a key feature of inspections.

No, the rules changed last year fines can be issued after 10 absences (5 days) over a 10 week period and head teachers can choose to authorise absences, they just don’t tend to as a rule as then they get into problems when one families is authorised and another isn’t.

We got a partly authorised absence for an over seas funeral, we extended the trip to spend time with family but they only authorised 3 days out of 5.

I wouldn't lie. Just send a short factual email. Ignore what comes back.

I took both kids out for two days for a family event in a different country. Sent the same email (changing the names only) to both schools. One said it was authorised, and one school said it couldn't possibly be authorised. Both part of the same academy. Both adamant in their interpretations of the same rules.

It's all batshit.

If you're taking them out of school once in a blue moon, you're fine.

Wrong. We were fined £120 for letting the school know my daughter would be off for one day. 100 percent attendance too 😬🙄😡

I would not ever ask or expect my DC to lie.
In my opinion that is setting a worse example than missing school.

If you want to do it then own it and tell the truth.

Just tell them and be honest.

But dont go for the "it will be a culturally enriching experience for them so just as good as going school" line, makes you sound a bit of a twat to the school

Yes they can.

My daughter got approved last year for 10 days off for a wedding abroad.

I'm taking my daughter to for a city break, she will miss school thur/fri this week.

She's sick cough

Yep go for it . Have fun

Send an email.

“Hello,

We are going away from X date to Z date. DC will be off for XXXX. I am aware this will be unauthorised. I will ensure DC catches up on any homework and class work due”.

When did schools become gatekeepers of what you could do with your children?!

The funeral was different as you were seeking for it to be authorised and they are able to authorise funerals.

You know that this one will be marked down as unauthorised so just email them to say he won’t be in and leave it at that.

You won’t get fined for 2 days unauthorised absence.

Go on the trip but tell the truth. An unauthorised absence doesn’t matter as a one off.

it’s just rude and disrespectful to lie, and even worse to teach your teenager that you support them in lying to their teachers. Why should they go out of their way to support your child when you think so little of them?

Just tell them you're going away

We're away for 2 weeks next week and I literally just filled out the dates on the form and put holiday as reason. They don't need to read a load of babble about anything else as they can't authorise it anyway. You won't get a fine for 2 days anyway.

Relax a bit and enjoy you're break away