Sixth Form have marked absence down as unauthorised when DS is ill.

[LadyFriend]

DS is in Y13 and doing A levels so of course we want him to be in school. He doesn’t want to be off either as he will have to catch up on work.

Unfortunately we’ve all had this awful virus and been very unwell. Fever, aches, sickness and exhaustion. DS is on his 3rd day off and he really wouldn’t have been able to go in today. I’ve been off for 4 days from work myself and it’s been miserable.

When I called this morning, the lady was a bit off with me and asked whether he had seen a doctor. I said no as didn’t think this was necessary for a virus and he was recovering, but not enough to go in yet. She said she would see if this could be put down as authorised. I’ve just checked and it’s been marked as unauthorised.

So that means they think I’m lying and just letting him stay home to play games?

I’m intending to take this further as I don’t think it’s right for them to do this. Can I challenge this?

It makes squat all difference to literally anything op in year 13

shrug and forget

I've had the same issue today. Not every virus gets better in 2-3 days and its not a reasonable use of NHS time to ask for appointments for otherwise healthy teens. Just frustrating

As a PP says, no one cares about year 13 absences.

How old is your child though?

Keep An eye out for glandular fever given the symptoms and age.

Before challenging it, worth working out whether it matters.

This. Who cares what they think?

Your child is poorly, he's doing his best, and will be back in class as soon as he is able. You are a responsible parent who has informed the school.

How the school categorise it is literally irrelevant.

OK I agree it doesn’t matter really and it’s wasting my energy getting mad about it.

I'd be asking on what grounds they believe the absence to be unauthorised. Generally that means they have reason to doubt he is actually ill.

After just 3 days absence that's ridiculous.

You don't have to provide evidence off illness , like a doctor's note, regardless of what the school say.

As PPs are saying - let it go and don't waste your time and energy on this battle. It's not worth it.
You know your teen; he's ill and not faking it. That's all you need to know.

I don’t see why it matters at any age. Obviously schools want high attendance but I don’t see how it negatively affects parents other than the missed school time. I have never given two hoots how school record my dc absences.

I agree with this. He’ll be finished in 6 months. You know he’s ill and not taking the piss, that’s all that matters.