I think I'm about to do something silly, if I am stop me?

In the spirit of maintaining good relationships with the school, I'd say your

How about:

My daughter, XX, is in your class this year. Although taking GCSEs she is considering an alternative career path which needs considerable time for studying out side of school.

This means that she sometimes finds it difficult to complete homework especially if it is set over night. She has time set aside throughout the week for her to complete homework and coursework but there are some evenings where she is unable to study. If such homework falls on these eveings she will not be able to complete to your deadlines; I believe that during last year she was able to complete her homework to schedule, but I am concious of increasing demands as she starts to study for her GCSEs.

However, sometimes, the work mounted up due to the distribution during the term. Her alternative studies are, and will remain her priority and as her parents we fully support her in this. We do, however, want to see her complete her GCSEs to the best of her ability. It would be helpful to us if you can advise us in advance of substantial homework or coursework which needs to be done at home. This way we will be able to help her manage her time, helping her to succeed. We may also need to ask for flexibility if there is a cluster of such work from a number of subjects.

I would like to stress that our whilst our priority is helping [DD] to suceed in her non-academic studies we will be supporting her in her GCSE studies and ask for the help outlined to acheive this. If you have any concerns regarding this I am happy to discuss it further on .

Many thanks,

KayMac

I would also be inclined to see if you can get a copy of the homework policy - it is often on school website. Many schools have a policy of not setting homework overnight/setting it over 7 days etc. If you have such I would add in to the paragraph about the overnight homework (i.e. Having read the school homework policy I believe that she should be given a minimum of xx days to complete homeowork anyway).

The school I work in produces a coursework calendar, to show which months over the two years are heaviest in terms of cw. Although it wouldn't be reasonable to ask them to put one together just for you, you could ask if the document exists already. We don't send it out until maybe November. Also, you should be aware that GCSE coursework will probably take up a lot more time than last year's homework.

Hmm...personally I think that your current wording leaves it open to 'well if you can free up time on request then you shouldn't have to wait to be asked'.

Schools and teachers may take the view that they are the priority, which despite your dds alternative plans she should still have a solidly grounded education behind her. Schools will also have targets to meet and will put expectations on her to help them meet those targets.

All that said, based upon what I know of your DDs abilities in dance I would expect her to be on the gifted and talented register in the school. They should therefore be aware.

I would perhaps change the last paragraph to give the message that because of her chosen career path her alternative studies are her priority. She will do her best in her academic studies and they can help her acheive that by giving her advance notice so that you can help her manage her time (leave it vague like that - don't be explicit about shifting stuff). You might also want to ask about flexibility should she have a cluster of work from a range of subjects simulateously.

Do it ... don't ask, don't get. Our comp gave DS a practice room and let him drop a GCSE because he was taking music out of school.

Perfectly acceptable OP.

I know lots of DC who do elite sport out of school and they all have arrangments with schools to do homework and indeed catch up on any lessons missed, around their sport.

Overnight hw is really poor practice and as a head of faculty in a secondary I would want to know it was being set so I could stamp it out. Maybe try contacting the head of dept for the subjects that have set it? But be sure your dd isn't leaving it late and then asking for your help first!

She needs to do it herself

I think phoning the head of year and asking that she always has at least two days to do it would be the best option. That is not an unreasonable request.