(Warning judgeypants well and truly applied) to think that missing school because of a pop concert is totally out of order

[Northernlurker]

Dd has just mentioned in passing that one of her friends wasn't at school today because she went to the Summertime Ball concert in London. Apparently she missed the train this morning and so didn't make it to school. I have a number of v judgey issues with this:

1. Attending a concert on a school night
2. Missing a train that is needed to get her to school - she is 13. She hasn't missed the train, the adults she was with have failed to ensure she caught it.
3. Missing a full day of school - there are lots of trains - why on earth didn't she get a later one and still make it to school.

If an employee did this I would be hugely pissed off with them. Where on earth have this girl's parents got the idea that missing the whole day because of this is at all ok?

Or am I being a miserable sourpuss judgeypants cow?

Sorry but how does this affect you exactly? YABU.

Its not illegal - it will be unauthorised absence (school will not know until after the event). Unfortunately I couldn't get tickets for nearest TT concert so am off to Wembley which necessitates a mid afternoon departure time hence taking day off. So in 4 years of secondary school DS will have had 2 unauthorised absences - how is that worse than someone taking children on holiday in term time (ok admit I have taken them 3 days before end of summer term when still at primary school). DS will have done all his GCSE exams (Year 10) - it is his choice.

Truanting - not turning up and not having a note//letter/request for the day off from a parent - either before or after.

You're the one who said "You'll need to judge me too", Therealmrsb!

AWomanCalledHorse - Michael Jackson in concert really was something to remember forever, wasn't he? I saw him a couple times, but not on school days! :)

No point in me requesting the day off in advance as it will be refused.

But unauthorised absence is truanting, isn't it? Why will it be refused, stoatie? It'll be refused, but it isn't truanting?

Sorry 'truancy', not 'truanting'...I think!

I see truanting as something when the parents haven't granted position either. Otherwise I see it as unauthorised absence from the school's pov. But schools vary so much these days on what time they will allow as authorised. I think parents in most cases are the best people to make the decision.

I think missing tme in GCSE and A level years are different though, but again - one day? Hmmm, depends on circumstances I guess.

No point in me requesting the day off in advance as it will be refused

So it's condoned truancy.

I was t allowed to miss school to go to Soft Cells last EVER concert my friend on the other hand was. I've never forgotten that after twenty odd years!

I thought truancy is any absence that the school hasn't authorised - unless the child is sick.

I tell my son all the time that these are the best days off his life. And if something amazing comes up I'll give him the day off.
I've also told him that when he starts university/work life will be difficult different.
He's just finished his standard grades [scotland] and worked his arse off.
I just think that the teenage school years are their last days of freedom. Responsibility comes soon enough.
Robert Plant - nehnehnehnehneh

LadyBeagle, is this you???

I am totally meh about why on earth you think its any of your business at all???

Wouldn't wash with someone at work It's not work though is it!?! - not paid to be there, not an adult, it's a place of education - which you don't HAVE to attend. You don't have to let your DC miss school but I genuinely do not get why it bothers you. Even with my tightest judgy thong which travels very far up me crack I wouldn't give the tiniest tit about it

Or am I being a miserable sourpuss judgeypants cow?

Just a bit

Its probably just a one off and she will have happy memories

It is truancy, unauthorised absence. And as such I am a truly awful parent depriving my child of a valued education. As opposed to the school having a target setting day when each child has to go into school for a target setting meeting with the teacher - when they agree the targets that they have already written down on the form during an earlier form tutor period. However that is another thread.

Ultimately as parent I have to make a judgement call and on this occasion I think he deserves a reward for his hard work (ignoring fact that he has just been a complete arse whilst I was on here)

I would freely admit it's nothing to do with me. I'm just choosing to huff about it. Have HQ bought in a new rule now that says you can only comment on things that directly affect you?

That's AIBU screwed for a start then........

I'm going to google Robert Plant now. I maybe some time

That depends if you like the older man!

We had a big festival held over the weekend in the same town as where I teach. Today at school we had nearly 20% of the pupils (aged 10-13 years old) absent from school with no previous holiday forms completed. Of course, teachers who were at the festival had to be in school today - but I am not sure we had any problem with any pupils being off - is up to their parents. I imagine they will all be back in tomorrow with sick notes

Have just grilled spoken to dd again. She said that her friend goes to lots of concerts and 'nearly always' makes it to school the next day

However she also said ' why are you bothered' - mumsnetter in the making obviously

I consoled myself for my sourpuss grumpiness by laying down the law re concerts on school nights in this house and in response she dissed the patchwork dungarees I wore at university. And my navy blue nail polish....

Like the sound of your DD

I skived off school to get tickets to see Deep Purple back in the day

never did me any harm