Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Missing sixth form for 2 days

63 replies

Urbangiraffe74 · 01/10/2025 08:09

Hi. Tricky topic. We pretty much never take our kids out of school, so they have always had very high attendance rates. However an opportunity came up that I found I couldn't say no to.

My 16 year old has loved a particular US pop star for several years. I tried to get him tickets for his last tour 2 years ago but missed out as they sold out so fast. This autumn he is touring again, playing the UK for just 4 dates. I managed to get 2 tickets for my son and I and gave them to him on his GCSE results day. He is so excited.

The concert is unfortunately mid week - there were no UK gig dates at the weekend. It's also several hours away from us as he's only playing 2 venues.

I thought that would mean one day out of school and that 6th form would be more relaxed on attendance, being more centred on self directed study.

In practice however, once I worked out the travel arrangements, I have realised it means 2 days out of 6th form.

He can of course study on the journey to and from London.

I'm wondering how to play it with the school. It's clearly leisure so won't fall within the 'exceptional circumstances' category. Do I fill in an application form anyway, knowing they will say no and disapprove and we, or he, may get in trouble? Or do we call him in sick those two days?

We have never done this before.

OP posts:
cha04 · 01/10/2025 11:10

Urbangiraffe74 · 01/10/2025 08:09

Hi. Tricky topic. We pretty much never take our kids out of school, so they have always had very high attendance rates. However an opportunity came up that I found I couldn't say no to.

My 16 year old has loved a particular US pop star for several years. I tried to get him tickets for his last tour 2 years ago but missed out as they sold out so fast. This autumn he is touring again, playing the UK for just 4 dates. I managed to get 2 tickets for my son and I and gave them to him on his GCSE results day. He is so excited.

The concert is unfortunately mid week - there were no UK gig dates at the weekend. It's also several hours away from us as he's only playing 2 venues.

I thought that would mean one day out of school and that 6th form would be more relaxed on attendance, being more centred on self directed study.

In practice however, once I worked out the travel arrangements, I have realised it means 2 days out of 6th form.

He can of course study on the journey to and from London.

I'm wondering how to play it with the school. It's clearly leisure so won't fall within the 'exceptional circumstances' category. Do I fill in an application form anyway, knowing they will say no and disapprove and we, or he, may get in trouble? Or do we call him in sick those two days?

We have never done this before.

There’s so much more to life than work and school. I regularly take my kids out. We weren’t put on this earth to be almost imprisoned by the mundane routine. You’re majorly overthinking this. Just do it!

ThatNaiceMember · 01/10/2025 11:09

Call in sick, easier for you and easier for the sixth form itself.

BuildbyNumbere · 01/10/2025 10:57

Just fill in the form and take him out … what are they going to do? 🤷🏻‍♀️

NewMrsF · 01/10/2025 10:56

Just have it as an unauthorised absence. You’ve already given him the tickets, unless he’s done something to justify a punishment you have to take him. It would be disgustingly cruel not to.

dizzydizzydizzy · 01/10/2025 10:56

I meant to say the fact your DC is in the 6th form and therefore above the age of compulsory school attendance will hopefully be in your favour. However, the school will not happy. Hopefully they won't be too upset.

Emmz1510 · 01/10/2025 10:56

I wouldn’t call in sick and lie about it. It’s only two days in an otherwise good attendance record. Just tell the truth. ‘Officially’ they won’t like it and might say so, but in reality they will probably understand. Yeah he can do some work on the journey.

dizzydizzydizzy · 01/10/2025 10:54

Tell the school the truth. You will just make it difficult for your DC if you call in sick.

The school will not be happy about it because it impacts their attendance figures. The school will be much less unhappy of you can let him stay til afternoon registration and then immediately take him out. That way he will be officially in attendance on that full day even though he will be missing all aftetnoon lessons. Similarly, if there is any way you can get him to afternoon registration the next day, so much the better.

I doubt you will get a fine even if he does miss registration for 2 full days but you might - it depends on the school and your local authority.

Hope you enjoy the concert.

abbynabby23 · 01/10/2025 10:45

Urbangiraffe74 · 01/10/2025 08:09

Hi. Tricky topic. We pretty much never take our kids out of school, so they have always had very high attendance rates. However an opportunity came up that I found I couldn't say no to.

My 16 year old has loved a particular US pop star for several years. I tried to get him tickets for his last tour 2 years ago but missed out as they sold out so fast. This autumn he is touring again, playing the UK for just 4 dates. I managed to get 2 tickets for my son and I and gave them to him on his GCSE results day. He is so excited.

The concert is unfortunately mid week - there were no UK gig dates at the weekend. It's also several hours away from us as he's only playing 2 venues.

I thought that would mean one day out of school and that 6th form would be more relaxed on attendance, being more centred on self directed study.

In practice however, once I worked out the travel arrangements, I have realised it means 2 days out of 6th form.

He can of course study on the journey to and from London.

I'm wondering how to play it with the school. It's clearly leisure so won't fall within the 'exceptional circumstances' category. Do I fill in an application form anyway, knowing they will say no and disapprove and we, or he, may get in trouble? Or do we call him in sick those two days?

We have never done this before.

Just call sick not a big deal. Make sure to tell him not upload any photos or videos on social media on the day. He can do a week or two after.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 01/10/2025 08:54

I taught 6th form for 25 years. This is quite common. You can ask, but they may not grant.

Which is why l suggested calling in sick. They all do it. And then show you the pictures afterwards.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 01/10/2025 08:21

Don't say he's ill. He might be 16, not 6... but he's not going to not share his excitement with friends. And (unlike a 6 year old) he's bound to leave a social media trail. Just own it, and accept any consequences.

If he can at least go in on the first morning, he'll only miss 3 sessions anyway.

RomainingCalm · 01/10/2025 08:18

I suspect sixth forms vary considerably in how they respond to these requests. It’s unlikely to be ‘authorised’ - they still care about attendance figures and are likely
to be grumpy about it.

But, on the basis that you aren’t going to give up the chance to go, I’d put in the request and call it a ‘family trip’. Accept that school won’t like it much but put the onus on your son to find out what’s going to be covered and then catch up as quickly as possible on what he’s missed. It’s a good chance for him to learn to take responsibility for his own work/results and making sure that he’s not missed anything important.

Hope he has a great time.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 01/10/2025 08:18

Don't call in sick. You might want to lie but why are you teaching your son to? Besides it'll be obvious he wasn't, and he'll be full of the gig.

You've made up your mind to do it even though it's 'against the rules'. You have decided the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Now own that decision.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 01/10/2025 08:16

I’d just say he was ill.