DS17 wants to skip school day for UCAT. AIBU to say no??

Of course he should stay home to prepare. If that were my dc I would tell them to take the Monday and Tuesday off if they felt they needed it. At this stage the UCAT is far more important than a few missed lessons

I don’t know why you’d be making this difficult for him. Tell the school the truth. Your son sounds diligent, hardworking and responsible. He’d nearly an adult, he seems to know what he’s doing so I’d just be supportive of him at this stage.

Get a grip op, of course this is ok

Are you always this controlling and intense? He's 17, not 7! He's nearly an adult. It's got nothing to do with you if he feels that he needs a day to revise.

UCAT is important and he needs it for his future. It’s absolutely fine to take him out of school for this! School won’t care and probably authorise it. It’s not like it’s for something frivolous. School won’t bat an eye and will be encouraging/supportive.

When is the UCAT? Why Wednesday?

He needs time to prepare but guess he's been doing loads already.

I wouldn't lie. At 17 he needs to organise this himself with college. It should be approved if the exam day, if it's just revision it might go as unauthorized.

Good luck on the test.

So if he's in the sixth form, he surely only has to be in school for actual classes?

Absolutely let him take the day! I can’t believe this is even a question!

I wouldn’t lie and say he was ill. It’ll be obvious and embarrassing. I’d simply say he was sitting the UCAT exam, and wanted a day to prepare, and if they want to they can mark it as unauthorised, but he’s not going to school. I suspect the school will authorise the time off, as success in uni placements benefits them too.

You should absolutely support him, this is really important. Give the lad a break!!

It's not like a day off primary school to go to Alton Towers. Give him some autonomy on this.

Your son is months or weeks away from being an adult and has aspirations to be a doctor and this is how you treat him - like a five year old.

He's being responsible you're being ridiculous.

I'd let him take the day off school but I'd be honest and tell them why.

I would let him and I'd tell school the truth. They should support that IMO. Also if he's year 13 will he even be missing a whole day of lessons? Neither of mine had a full day of lessons at that age

You don't need to phone him in sick, you tell them that he is preparing for an external exam. This is a reasonable excuse for absence!

Isn’t he in 6th form? In which case there is no legal requirement for parents to ensure that he attend every school day. It is up to him to manage his attendance. Not you.

Poor kid, let him have the day. UCAT is important. Plus he is almost an adult. He is obviously a motivated and hardworking lad - trust him to make the right decisions for himself.

If you don't want him to lie, encourage him to tell the school the truth about why he is taking the day off. Doesn't matter if it isn't authorised - his teachers will understand.

Hopefully he’s already done a fair bit of preparation as it’s really important, but I would allow this if it helps him feel ready the day before.

Why is school attendance so important to you given you have a very bright focussed dc? Is there a damp patch on a wall you want to cover up with an ‘I’ve got 100% attendance’ certificate?

Talk about skewed priorities!

I just mean depending on how many he’s already done. Like you can’t do it indefinitely. It’s not like remembering an essay. But if he felt better about it I’d let him

A high UCAT score is every bit as important as excellent A level grades. If he is on track for 4 x A* then I would cut a bit of slack and allow the day off for UCAT. If he doesn't do well in his UCAT he won't get another chance until next year.

I would be honest with the school though.

He’s just had 6 weeks to prepare. Did he spend this time wisely?

You and he need to think what he’ll be missing if he doesn’t go in. Has he chosen Wednesday because he doesn’t have many classes that day?

You don't have to lie. Just tell the school he's having a day preparing for the ucat.

The UCAT is a really big deal. I’d just tell school he won’t be in that day because of the test, wouldn’t say he was sick. I’d definitely let him have the day for this and if they don’t authorise the full day, so what?

The UCAT is incredibly competitive. A friends son was in the top 10% pf UCAT, got 3As at A level and still didn't meet the criteria for dentistry.

One day isnt going to make a difference to his a level grades overall at this stage, lack of the prep for the UCAT and a lower score may significantly limit them.

Friends son is taking a year out and resitting the UCAT this time to improve on his score hopefully.

You are being unreasonable to refuse him the additional time hes asked for prep.