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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to take dc out of school for 1 week every year

82 replies

manechanger · 17/06/2014 11:33

dc has second choice secondary. was quite happy as closest school, didn't put first because it felt a bit gimmicky. have just found out it has different holidays to rest of schools in county and breaks up on 1 aug with 2 weeks off during oct half term. I have a 9 year age gap betw oldest and youngest and for financial reasons we often go camping so prefer july than aug because of wasps.

what would be the consequences if i take dc out of school for a week every year until the oldest is at high school? is it just a fine?

OP posts:

WhereHas1999DissappearedToo · 17/06/2014 12:23

Good grief, you want your dc to miss out a whole week at school because of bloody wasps when you go camping. They're going to be there all summer, so I suggest you bring some bug repellent and read the term notices before applying.

YABVU.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 17/06/2014 12:23

God - your son is going to be bullied something rotten when he admits the reason he misses the last week of school every year......

Ok - so school holidays are hellishly expensive and a pain to organise but I'd just hope that he gets a transfer to his first choice asap and suck it up.

Itsfab · 17/06/2014 12:24

"as I wanted local and we didn't get into my preferred local choice."

BECAUSE you didn't apply for the local school. .

I will have three children at three different schools come September and all work really hard to make sure all are off at the same time but there will be times when one is off and not the others. Such is life.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 17/06/2014 12:25

Won't anyone think of the wasps? They have feelings, too, you know!

OP YABVVU, but I think you now that now
very funny thread.

WorraLiberty · 17/06/2014 12:25

One of the Mums at my DC's school claimed they have to fly to Spain next week, due to a family bereavement.

The Head said he would consider authorising it, if he could see the flight booking details.

Oddly enough, the flight was booked 6 months ago, along with the 4 star hotel....

Cue one very red faced Mother who is now apparently fuming that she's going to get fined.

ilovesooty · 17/06/2014 12:28

Liars like that mother cause real difficulties for the genuinely bereaved and grieving.

Original poster

manechanger · 17/06/2014 12:32

itsfab, what are you talking about? there are two local schools. i applied to both, this one was second choice. I applied to my local schools, both of them.
avon, yes I'm now aware that i am being unreasonable!

I was clearly naive when I applied I am new to area and didn't realise it was even possible to have state schools that had such different holidays so I didn't look at holiday dates. Obviously I knew it could be a day or two out and inset days but not quite so different. If all academies go this way it could get pretty complicated for those who have primary and secondary kids.

OP posts:

stephenmanaganiseverywhere · 17/06/2014 12:38

The story you relate Worra is too delicious for words...alas I fear it might be apocryphal: I mean how does anyone get to hear about this...if I were the mother in question I certainly wouldn't be broadcasting it, and if it's the Head then he is being really unprofessional!

Or maybe he told the secretary 'in confidence'....whatever, a lovely anecdote as I said!

WorraLiberty · 17/06/2014 12:42

stephen I'm the Chair of governors at the school

But apart from that, the woman is openly 'fuming' about it in the playground and telling everyone else to 'be careful' when booking their holidays.

Itsfab · 17/06/2014 12:42

You said you didn't apply for the first one as to gimmicky. That is why I assumed what I said.

stephenmanaganiseverywhere · 17/06/2014 12:46

Worra I am genuinely delighted to know it's true but that's the kind of bitch I am

WorraLiberty · 17/06/2014 12:51

stephen she has no idea what a massive favour she's doing the school, by telling all and sundry

I bet the attendance officer wants to give her a hug!

Original poster

manechanger · 17/06/2014 12:51

sorry was typing quickly, of the two the one with the ridiculous wasp friendly holidays is my slightly closer school. I felt some gimmicky elements to it (style over content) so I put it second rather than first. I put my other local school first. Dc didn't get first choice but got second choice.

I am generally irritated that I didn't get the school that would have suited my dc better but had managed to find things I liked about this school and was coming to terms with it until I found out about the holiday dates. I have now accepted that I am unreasonable to consider taking dc out of school and that I probably should have done a little more research before putting this school on my list however all the other schools in the area require an entrance exam so I do feel that the 'choice' was really an illusion.

If I had put this school first I would of course be unable to even consider complaining and would probably feel that the things that made me put it first would make up for it. I think I have to be honest and I say whine that I don't want this school and I just have the hump. Then I will have to pretend to dc that it doesn't matter.

OP posts:

Hakluyt · 17/06/2014 12:57

God, I hate flying ant day.

Original poster

manechanger · 17/06/2014 12:58

yeah it really gets up my nose

OP posts:

wannabestressfree · 17/06/2014 15:14

The reason we have two weeks at half term is that we do our CPD on a monday after school. Thats why we have the longer holiday.........

ComposHat · 17/06/2014 15:20

Sharon is that you? Did the episode with the wine and the dead wasp on the windowsill scar you for life?

Serenitysutton · 17/06/2014 15:26

"Didn't put first because it felt gimmicky"

What does this mean? What's gimmicky about applying to the school you want?

Serenitysutton · 17/06/2014 15:28

Ah cross post. Thanks for clarifying

Sirzy · 17/06/2014 15:29

love it Worra.

I know a child at a local school whose mother was quite open in the playground about the fact she was going to phone her child in sick for the week they were away... except the child told the teachers they were going away so sent a holiday form home with the child for the mother to fill in!

Original poster

manechanger · 17/06/2014 15:48

Serenity, Didn't put the school as first choice because it felt like it had some gimmicky aspects to it. For example no books but kindles in the library, a practical science lab which ran 3 classes at the same time and an art room which does the same (though a less noisy lesson so not such an issue). it is a new build and looks stunning but some of these decisions seem to have been architectural rather than for the benefit of the children's education therefore I put the school I preferred first and the one I got was second choice. I realise my first post was in shorthand but tried to explain further up the thread.

compos, i see you have a friend who may be a little more understanding, please send sharon my way for moral support...

OP posts:

ouryve · 17/06/2014 15:51

If you don't like wasps, go camping in May, instead.

Original poster

manechanger · 17/06/2014 15:55

so I'm guessing the wasp thing isn't really going to be grounds to appeal then?

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 17/06/2014 16:04

You're funny OP. I'll give you that!

dietcokeandcadburys · 17/06/2014 16:09

When you put a school on your list there's a chance your child will go there. If you don't like they way that particular school works then don't put it down.

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