DD is 15 and in Y10 in England at the local comp. This week at school is what I call doss week. Years 11 and 13 have exams still, and Y12 has work experience. Y10 and below have doss week.
Doss week is a special timetable week that includes the year's annual requirement of RE, two half-day sports days, a biology field trip (half day) and visitors coming into school to do stuff. It actually all sounds quite good.
Some kids are away on expensive trips abroad this week including one of those "raise £3k to go and "help" poor people in Africa" ones. DD is not on any of these trips. Some of her friends are.
Doss week is done in form classes. DD's main friendship group is split across different forms. One of these girls is in her form. There are two other girls in her form who she is friendly with.
DD and the three girls mentioned above in her form are the only girls in her form class who were in school today apparently. The boys are apparently all awful and she has nothing to do with them. The three other girls all have permission from their parents to skip school on Wednesday, and DD is asking me if I would allow the same, as she is dreading being alone all day. She won't even have anyone at lunch apparently as the wider friendship group are all on trips. She asked me at the weekend and I said no. She's asked me again today.
I have said to her that I am annoyed that she is being put in a shit position because other parents are allowing their children to bunk off. I have told her no but that I would reconsider (ie come and ask Mumsnet!).
Attendance is 100%. No illness due to good fortune; some authorised absence for competing in sport at a high level. She is somehow predicted straight 9s but doesn't seem to do much study. She's a good kid. Out of school she only really does her sport. She socialises a bit with friends but not awkward and isn't very socially confident. She originally told me she would spend the day doing some training for her sport (not hanging out with the others interestingly) but she has now added that she has some tests the following week she would revise for.
AIBU to force her to go to school on Wednesday?
YABU - ffs sounds awful; let her stay off
YANBU - force her to attend school on principle