Can I be fined - has anyone actually been fined?

[Weathergames]

Hi, I want to take my 3 kids away in July - meaning they would miss the last 3 days of term when all they do is watch films DS1 will have left by then anyway.

Can the school actually fine me? Has anyone been fined for taking their kids out for a few days (kids have 100% attendance).

I work for the LA (not the same as where kids are at school) in attendance and I know the LA I work for would not spend money prosecuting me for 3 days absence.

I've heard of schools asking for a call every day of sickness and sending education welfare officers around to do 'spot checks' when schools doubt sickness.

Ah right so the poster upthread who said OP would get a criminal record was wrong then. that's good, otherwise it seems silly!

Also, the school leaving age is (has?) going above 16 - will parents still have 100% responsibility for attendance then? That is going to be a difficult shift surely while on the one hand over 16 is an age where you get more legal rights and most people agree that young people should have more autonomy, yet their parents will still be legally responsible for their actions in this one area?

There is a strong relationship between students who take holidays in school time and parents who are never seen at parents evenings, which generally indicates a lack of parental support

Of course there is, but no doubt we'll be told we're mistaken. After all, practically every parent removing their child insists they really value all types of education, that they're very supportive and how they're determined to do the best thing for their children No, hold on - silly of me; naturally it will all be the school's fault for holding the consultations at a bad time ...

It's a shame there is a rule that is completely wrong which causes parents to ring in sick

And of course it causes parents to lie, does it, rather than it being their own free choice? ... heaven help us all

I don't know about secondary but primary certainly watch films and play the week before christmas and before end of school year.

They are asked to bring in a toy for 'Toy day' (and that's all they do, they play with each other's toys) and another day it's 'party day' when they are asked to bring in food for a class party and have a disco.

Happened every year so far.

Well then you are letting down the pupils who turn up then soverylucky.

In our LA it's the LA that fines the parents, not the school.

Has anyone said film-watching in schools is a myth? Or have they just said that it rarely happens in their school.

And just because children take in favourite DVDs from home, does not mean that the class sits and watches the whole lot. It just gives a broader selection for the class to choose one from.

No Tiggy it isn't the same.

Speeding and stealing are entirely different from parents taking their dc out of school for a week to benefit their children.Speeding kills for a start.The whole thing is a masseeeeve sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Particularly when for all sorts of other reasons children are allowed time out of classrooms.

The rule/law whatever you want to call it is wrong particularly when you consider many schools/authorities aren't charging.That aside is completely unfair.

I'm reminded of a comment on a different thread, when someone suggested that those looking into ways of improving achievement could simply visit the schools where most children are taken out for holidays

After all, if we believe everything we're told, these are the pupils who have the best SAT results, the best % attendance (except when they're away on holidays, of course) the most committed parents and the best, most rounded life view overall

It's a wonder that they bother considering else, really ...

I was a parent governor - and my 3 regularly missed 3/4 days in May - so we could go on holiday!

no one died, their attendance was between 98/100% and all three are working at 1/2 years above the expected levels

The school had no problem what so ever in agreeing the time off

sadly now we have missed out lovely family holiday (1 adult 3 kids in the sun with everyone catered for)

We are having a week in Somerset in August which will be lovely but they have asked to go back to Spain next year - I simply can't afford to though

Not a big deal but I'm sad we wont get to have fun in the sun

shuffles in
I HAVE FINED PEOPLE! ( lots!)

shuffles out

Speeding and stealing are entirely different from parents taking their dc out of school for a week to benefit their children

As Tiggy said, whether you like it or not this is the law; campaign to change it by all means, but for now it's still in force and crying "not fair" changes nothing

About the comprisons between one type of lawbreaking and another - would you suggest that it's fine for someone to shoplift a small item because some rob thousands from a bank? Or that it's okay to carry out a small assault because others commit murder?

No, of course they're not the same, but the example is; teach youngsters that it's fine to break whichever rule they prefer not to keep and they'll take that lesson into adult life, with consequences we're already seeing

To all you law-abiding masses: should laws be obeyed just because they are laws? If you think this, we have a problem...

If only it was as easy to fine a school or LA when they break the law.

When I led on attendance on my SLT I fined anyone ANC everyone in this position. And I've never worked in a school where the teachers just put films on in the last week, how would anyone with assessment or coursework deadlines get anything done if even a few did this?!

and, not ANC - the African National Congress were never involved.

No I choose to teach my kids right from wrong.They know this is wrong.

Governments have made all sorts of laws in all sorts of countries.Doesn't make them right.

In some countries going to school for girls is breaking a law as my son pointed out.

i dont think SLT do arrange the fines - its the EWO etc or the council

anyway, my tip is if you get the letter, pay the bloody fine - its an absolute offence, your kid is either there or not, any reasoning you have is normally just mitigation.

I am a teacher - we don't show films we are not allowed. They learn until the last minute, no matter how hard it is for the teacher!

If every parent behaved in the way you're about to OP then teaching would be a nightmare, there would be children missing all the time which makes for a difficult learning environment. These are the rules and nobody is above them, whether they agree or not. It is law breaking, no matter whether you feel it is trivial or not.