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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be angry about attendance charge from school

562 replies

HidingInTheBathroom · 07/02/2014 15:36

I am very upset at the minute. Received my fine today for taking my children out of school four days before they break up for Christmas.

Me and my husband have received a £60 fine for each child for each parent.

We are being charged more for being a couple. Which I think is wrong. The last week of school they only watch films and went to a pantomime. Oh and had a school disco. The holiday was far more educational than watching films and family time is hard to come by with work.

When I have requested a meeting with the head teacher I have just got a mouthful of abusive from the receptionist.

OP posts:
Whitegrenache · 07/02/2014 16:09

BTW there is not excuse for the receptionist to be stroppy with you

starballbunny · 07/02/2014 16:10

Prison sentence.

The law say's receiving an education.

Learning how an airport works and even reading a book on a sunlounger is more educational than watching an end of term video, which is certain to be something they have already seen.

It's a money raising farce and it punishes the wrong people.

We can afford to go away in high season, and DH has a job with very flexible holidays.

Many families where both parents work full time in less senior roles are really struggling to get any chance of a holiday and time together at all.

Why should these 'hard working families' suffer when feckless tyrants won't.

The DCs who's parents don't care or have MH issues, drink or drug problems and need help, won't get their DCs to school any more often.

So the fines don't improve educational outcomes for vulnerable DCs (more and better trained EOW's might, but they are being cut with LEA savings)

Original poster
HidingInTheBathroom · 07/02/2014 16:10

She said this because I kept questioning what was the meeting about. I said a complaint needed to discuss with the head. She said still needed the full details to which I replied I wanted to discuss the issue with the head teacher and through the receptionist.

OP posts:
YouStayClassySanDiego · 07/02/2014 16:11

So family didn't get the fine, is this at the heart of the issue.

Perhaps they booked the holiday before the law came into force and they could prove that with their booking form.

I know of situations like this

TheAfterDark · 07/02/2014 16:12

So was she the receptionist or the school business manager? Usually two different people / roles.

Chivetalking · 07/02/2014 16:13

I think it's fair enough to query politely why there appears to be one rule for one family and one for another but the fine itself just cannot be a surprise.

Original poster
HidingInTheBathroom · 07/02/2014 16:14

The family booked two days before they flew. So why one rule for one and one rule for the other. When teachers strike are my children not missing education then. When the school close for voting are they not missing education then. When the close for teacher training days do they not miss education then?
What about school trips that last a week skiing is this not a holiday absence?

OP posts:
jacks365 · 07/02/2014 16:15

Standard policy to refuse a meeting without actual details of what it is regarding. Happens everywhere if one of my staff tried to put a call through without details it would be refused.

Floggingmolly · 07/02/2014 16:15

It doesn't matter whether the Head meets with you or not; the LEA has already issued the fine and it's out of the school's hands.
But you knew this would happen, didn't you? Or did you assume you were so special that the rules didn't apply to you? Hmm
As to being penalised for being a couple... Clue yourself in, ffs!

ohhifruit · 07/02/2014 16:15

I assume they made you aware of any potential charges before you enrolled your children?

Wantsunshine · 07/02/2014 16:16

I don't see the issue taking children out of school if they are doing well. Especially last week of term. I would not be happy if they did fine that it was not all parents.
As for the receptionist perhaps she is new and has only just recently finished working as a Doctors receptionist and has brought her old working practice with her!
Hopefully it was a great holiday and it was a bit cheaper so it balances out a bit.

TheGruffalo2 · 07/02/2014 16:16

Don't turn it into another teacher bashing thread Hiding! You do realise teachers have nothing to do with the legislation on term time holidays and fine for breaking it?

theborg · 07/02/2014 16:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dawndonnaagain · 07/02/2014 16:16

Your argument is invalid. The fact is you knew the consequences and chose to go ahead and have your holiday. School trips, strikes etc. are an irrelavance. As is the school business manager/secretary. Her shouting is a different matter and should be dealt with accordingly.

Original poster
HidingInTheBathroom · 07/02/2014 16:17

Flogginmolly I'm about why am I being prosecuted when others who kiss arse are not?

OP posts:
YouStayClassySanDiego · 07/02/2014 16:17

It is a rule that pisses a lot of us off.

However you knew this , you can't call foul now.

The head won't discuss the other holiday of which you speak , why should he?

theborg · 07/02/2014 16:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
HidingInTheBathroom · 07/02/2014 16:19

In not on a teaching bashing why is it one rule for one and one rule for another?

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 07/02/2014 16:19

Are the arse kissers at your school?

YouStayClassySanDiego · 07/02/2014 16:19

Suck it up OP.

You can't get out of it anyway, pay it and simmer away in indignation at the injustice.

5Foot5 · 07/02/2014 16:20

Were these four days the only unauthorized absences your children had had?

I ask because our local paper carried a story last week about a parent who had been fined for taking his DD out of school for about a fortnight. In the article the head said that the fine would normally be imposed if a child had been away for more than 5 days.

I am just wondering whether the reason you are being fined and this other family are not is nothing to do with their membership of the PTFA but maybe because your children have had more unauthorized days in total.

TheGruffalo2 · 07/02/2014 16:21

Also, heads do have very limited powers of discretion. You don't know what the other family wrote on their application and the back up evidence they provided that led the head to authorise it. To claim it is because they are PTA seems sour grapes to me, rather than evidence of preferential treatment!

FitzgeraldProtagonist · 07/02/2014 16:21

Gets on my tits, my general position is you should be able to take your children out if their attendance is above x%.

However, I have a question. If parents don't live together is it just the parent who took them out now who has to pay the fine?

EG "hello, EXP I want to go away in term time. Will you have the DC? No? OK you can get fined for refusing to get them to school too"

Original poster
HidingInTheBathroom · 07/02/2014 16:21

Yes they are at my school her husband has put a large sum towards a new classroom and yes they told the school they was going away.

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/02/2014 16:21

This is why I wouldn't request holiday time, my ds would be 'sick.'Wink

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