Y9 Options

[CMAA]

I'm just looking for some advice.

My son has just started in y9 and yesterday was told that those that have attendance above 97% will get to choose their GCSE options first. We are going away at the end of the month for a wedding and now my son is fretting that he'll miss out on choosing his options.

It doesn't seem fair, and I just wondered if anyone knows anything about the rules on this kid of thing?

How long are you going to be away for? Usually, options are chosen in the spring term, so maybe the school is just giving a heads up that attendance is important.

Just a week. We really don't know what to do now.

I'm sure everything will be fine, if you can you could phone the school and ask if he could tell them early because he's away. Similar thing happened to my friends daughter and they phoned and said they couldn't make the options meetings so they rescheduled a meeting for her x

I would be furious if this guidance is applied to kids with health problems - my daughter has never had attendance above 95% because she had cancer a few years ago and needs a lot of follow up. I think if they tried to apply this guidance to kids with chronic health issues it would be discriminatory. If they’re just applying it to unauthorised absences I guess that might be different and they might be able to?

I'm guessing they are trying to discourage term time holidays and truancy.

If its medical as well its not on!

As far as I'm aware, they aren't differentiating, regardless of the reason for the absence.

We agreed to go as it actually suits us to take LO out of school, as he has autism so cannot cope going anywhere during the holidays anyway. We've learned from past experience that it's just far too busy.

I am sure he will get his choices.

But they have informed you of their rules.

Only likely to come in effect if for whatever reason a subject is "oversubscribed" I am guessing they think it fairer if this is the case to offer the places to students who has missed less school.

I've never heard of a student not getting their GCSE choices though.

Is it essential to go for a whole week? If so, does your DS really need to be there. If not, perhaps, he can stay with a combination of family and friends for a few nights.

I suspect the school will include this in his attendance figures no matter what, given that many won't authorise time away from school other than for medical or essential appointments.

If a subject is oversubscribed, it’s possible they could use that as part of the criteria.