to ask DS' school to authorise a couple of days off

[ijustwanttobeme]

DS is in year 11.

He is hoping to go into TV/ film production work ( had a thread recently about choosing relevant Alevels)

He has been offered two days 'work experience' as a runner for a director, who he happened to meet at an independent film screening a few weeks ago. obvs, not paid, except for food and travel, but worthnit's weight in experience for someone as keen as DS.

Thing is, both days are school days.

The producer has offered to email the head teacher etc etc, but I was wondering what I could put in my email/ letter to said head in order to get the days off.

DS is wondering why he couldn't throw a sickie, but I want to do this above board.

Just for the record, the school is a Performing Arts/ Media specialist school too.

hmm, should I have put this in education?

Or chat?

YANBU, when we were that age everyone was off doing bits and pieces of work experience- those who wanted to teach, doctors, lawyers, etc. As long as it's not overlapping anything utterly crucial, I don't think there should be a problem.

Will he miss any exams and or controlled assessments?

Just explain what you've said in your post but maybe beef it up about how useful it will be for uni applications.

Even if the school don't authorise it he should still do it. Unless he has poor attendance I'd be surprised if you get fined for 2 days work experience.

YANBU! And I'm one of those people that gets snarky about term time absence for holiday. Assuming your ds works hard and does well at school and his attendance is usually good, then this is a great educational opportunity, and I think there's a certain box they can tick for approved educational activity or something.

Definitely get the producer to write, it will be good for the schools attendance records, and ask him to talk about the things your ds will have the opportunity to learn on those days. In your letter you can state that you will ensure that missed work is caught up on from friends.

And if they still won't authorise it, sod them.

I agree with the other posters, do it! It's not like you want to take him off for a jolly, he will be off getting experience and working hard.

And as for if they still won't authorise it, sod them too right! The experience he will get completely outweighs two days in school

Tell them you wish him to do this, and that it appears to fall under the provisions of Code W on the attendance register.

Yanbu, it sounds like a great opportunity not to be missed. Also with the email from the producer they should approve it. It will count towards his future career plans so I think the school should support your DS with this.

YANBU it sound like an amazing opportunity - as long as he doesn't miss any vital GCSE work I don't see the issue

Thanks everyone

Iborolass I beefed up what DS would be doing, plus gave outline of all what he does in terms of film/media stuff around school- always does end of year stuff, teachers goodbyes, concerts etc.

CoffeeTea103 Mentioned good for college/ uni / job applications

Nojustalurker Confirmed all work up to date, Eng and Maths GCSE's done, controlled assessment completed yesterday and rarely any time off. Plus that he'd catch up on missed work.

Meditrina threw in Code W too

If he doesn't say yes, then don't know what would happen if DS was still off. Will we actually get fined?

Hope you get the leave authorised, come back and let us know. I don't know how the system works when a child is absent and unauthorised, I imagine there must be some reporting system to the LA (its nothing to do with the school) and they decide whether to issue a fine. From what I've read on here it's not an automatic fine.

I did not a reply, as it turns out the head was off today. I left a message for the attendance officer, but did not get a call back.

DS is going to have the days off and we'll deal with any fall out afterwards.

No one can say we haven't tried to do the right thing.

Just had an email from the Head, apologising for delay in replying and agreeing both days as authorised leave.

Yippee!!

He also said how well DS is progressing at school ( he's not naturally academic), how mature, polite and talented he is etc. finished by saying the school are very proud of him and we should be too.

Aaaahh, that's my baby he's talking about :)

That's really good news. I know that lots of posters on here have stories about head teachers being really unreasonable about authorising leave but I bet most heads are pretty sensible about it. I bet your son will have a fantastic time.