School asking for flight details after unauthorised term-time absence abroad

[PersonalData]

We went abroad mon-thu last week, ds (10) was in school the week before and went back on Friday. We let them know and obviously knew it would be unauthorised. As it was 8 sessions we don’t qualify for a fine. His attendance is usually 100%.

They asked on friday before and after for us to provide proof of the flights and other details for ‘safeguarding’ but he was back in school and clearly fine ?? We declined as this is private personal data. They replied back that we must submit the evidence by the end of tomorrow?

Is this usual ?

Id not be giving them anything! Totally overstepping.

This was what we felt ! He was back in and fine on friday so they can see he’s ok !

How ridiculous of them. Have they said why they need this? Safeguarding’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting

No just that they need the details and evidence for safeguarding

Submit evidence or what? I wouldn’t send them anything

We had to do this when we took one day (one day!) - we didn't even get a fine, but the school still wanted to have details that our flight was that day. I took great pleasure sending them our whole holiday itinerary.

Just tell them and don't be awkward. Unless it's life or death you don't need a holiday the first week of term.

It’s private information though - we let them know when he would be off and why that is enough

You trust the school? A good relationship with them? Long standing? Never any issues?

if yes to all of the above - just trust they they’re asking because for some reason they need to report it

What’s your relationship otherwise like with the school?

We are luckily just under the 10 sessions threshold for a fine !

Is this primary or secondary?

Absolutely fine !

No luck about it I guess

Where you went can be disclosed such that it does not involve personal data. The school can then check that flights to the said airport do exist, which should be enough.

Primary

Primary or secondary?

you trust the school? So why wouldn’t you trust that they do actually need this information for some reason

why don’t you ask…. Why

But he’s back now so why does it matter ?

You just said “no”
rather than enquiring why?

It's probably not about you. There are probably vulnerable children for whom they do need this information for whatever reason, but they have to ask everyone.

I’ve asked them. They just keep repeating for safeguarding and that it’s a requirement not a choice .

Exactly
it will be safeguarding
they want to know that it was actually for a holiday and not because…you couldn’t be arsed to take him to school OR you had hurt him and didn’t want him in until bruises cleared up

So bizarre for them to want them. Do you often just ‘do’ things because someone asks you to with absolutely no basis for them to require it?

Safeguarding is one of those words bandied about by people supposedly in authority to try to intimidate. Using it in this way undermines genuine safeguarding concerns.

the only scenario I can even conceive of where they might ask for flight details would be if they were concerned a 13/14/15 year old girl was being taken overseas to marry. Flight details could mean someone steps in. Clearly not the case here.

I would be asking them to explain exactly what their “safeguarding” concerns consist of, other than nosiness.