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Original poster

What would happen if I let ds miss the last 2 weeks of school?

47 replies

Fibbke · 03/07/2019 16:11

He's in year 8.

He's having a totally miserable time at school and starting a new school on September. If its relevant, his current school is a state school and he's moving to private. I'm not sure if the fact he's leaving is making things worse but he's come home upset for the last week. Other kids aren't talking to him, calling him names, he's been left out of end of term sports things (ironically he has a sports scholarship to the new school). He's fucking miserable, I hardly recognise him. The teacher read his work out in class today and then the boy and girl in front turned round and told him it was rubbish - normally he'd just shrug this off but he was choking back tears in the car.

I feel like just letting him stay at home with his siblings (one finished due to a levels, one at private school so has finished for the summer).

Dh won't agree anyway so its moot, but i just feel desperately sorry for him.

OP posts:
Stripyhoglets · 03/07/2019 16:13

Yes I'd take him out tbh. He's miserable and I assume you are moving him because of this.

Standstilling · 03/07/2019 16:14

In your situation, and if it won’t impact on his next school, I’d let him off.

MrsSpenserGregson · 03/07/2019 16:14

Yep I'd take him out too

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nevermorelenore · 03/07/2019 16:14

Depends on the council. Ours would probably try to fine you for non-attendance, but a lot of areas probably wouldn’t bother.

AdelaideK · 03/07/2019 16:14

I'd take him out too.

Bringonspring · 03/07/2019 16:15

Take him out!!!

BiscuitDrama · 03/07/2019 16:15

If you tell the council he has now moved to his new school then you won’t get fined.

I would take him out in a heartbeat.

Wolfiefan · 03/07/2019 16:15

I would normally say no. But he’s leaving. He’s clearly bloody miserable. Won’t be learning anything useful whilst he’s feeling like this. And the school clearly aren’t going to fix this.
Any chance he could have a couple of taster days at the new school?

Original poster
Fibbke · 03/07/2019 16:17

Yes that's why we started looking to move him. Things then improved a bit but im actually now quite worried about him. Ive mentioned it to a teacher but tbh they've got enough to do and i thought if we could just get through these last few weeks he might have a few happy memories to look back on. That is not happening. I think the last straw was that he applied to do backstage crew at lunchtime for the last three weeks and heard today that he didn't get in. That was going to be his escape from the terrible lunchtimes!

OP posts:
Original poster
Fibbke · 03/07/2019 16:18

wolfiefan he's had two and loved it. I've bought him a few bits of uniform as well so he's started to feel ready. He's done his end of year exams so no real work left to do.

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 03/07/2019 16:19

Deregister him as home schooled it’s a simple lead to give to head teacher. That way you definitely won’t be fined.

MyDcAreMarvel · 03/07/2019 16:19

Letter not lead!

Stripyhoglets · 03/07/2019 16:20

Just take him out. Yell them he's left and you are taking him off roll so you can't be fined and it won't affect their figures

Original poster
Fibbke · 03/07/2019 16:21

I will talk to him and dh about it. Ds isn't one for fuss so I know he will feel as though he should see it through.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fibbke · 03/07/2019 16:23

Will the new school know we've done it? I don't want them to think I'm a troublemaker before he's even started!

OP posts:
Mouseville65 · 03/07/2019 16:23

I'm take him out to protect his mental health, it must be causing him a lot of anxiety dreading going in every day. If you've tried the teachers to avail what other option is there.

Wolfiefan · 03/07/2019 16:23

I was just wondering if taster days would get DH on board.
Honestly even if there was lots of work to do he won’t be able to learn if he’s bloody miserable.
(And I’m an ex teacher who thinks kids generally shouldn’t be out of school for no good reason. This is an excellent reason. Put his MH first!) Flowers

Marylou2 · 03/07/2019 16:24

Give him the choice and go with what he prefers. Hope he's happy at his new school. Smile

user27495824 · 03/07/2019 16:24

You won't get fined if you deregister him with intent to home educate. It's a simple letter, you can find a template online and you can hand it in and remove him with immediate effect with no legal repercussions. I definitely would. Private school holidays are usually 8 weeks minimum so it's just inline with that.

Original poster
Fibbke · 03/07/2019 16:24

I am seriously worried about his mental health I've never seen him like this. He's always been very resilient in the past.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 03/07/2019 16:26

Write a letter to the current school to deregister him and you can “homeschool” for the last two weeks

Original poster
Fibbke · 03/07/2019 16:28

Thanks this is all really helpful. He does a couple of sports that he loves out of school so we are off to do that and hopefully he'll cheer up a bit. Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
Frenchfancy · 03/07/2019 16:29

Why don't you just phone him in sick. MH is a good enough reason and they are hardly going to question it with only 2 weeks left. Take him to the gp if necessary.

Wolfiefan · 03/07/2019 16:29

Good luck OP. I like Sirzy’s idea.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 03/07/2019 16:30

Agree with the advice to deregister and then have a wonderful summer holiday before a new start!!