DC is year 11 has missed 6 days of school for an overseas trip and been marked away on holiday during term time.
DC wasn’t on holiday they were on a trip (probably best described as an ‘intercultural exchange’) which they had been chosen to attend.
This isn’t a school organised trip but one they applied to an external organisation and were chosen to go on. They actually cut the trip short so as not to miss too much school.
Our attendance coding rules state that they should be coded as ‘not enrolled’ so as not to affect their attendance record.
New school rules state that if you miss ‘too much’ school you will be given no extension on school work, you won’t be allowed to go to the formal and a couple of other things!.
We appealed the coding, pointed out where it is wrong in the rules from the ministry of education and I had a long phone call with the head telling me no absence of more than 5 days can be anything other than unjustified and he won’t change the code.
But he’s wrong!
Basically there is nothing I can do is there? Head is adamant that he is right and won’t change it, DC has been off and won’t be eligible for some of their goals. I can appeal again and win but either way head is going to be pissed off with my DC! Should have just stayed away for the extra week!
Any one had a similar experience and got any advice?
TIA