AIBU to tell you it is not illegal to take your child out of school to go on holiday

[Pseudonym99]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-34543101

There are several factors that influence a child's academic achievement. It is not a given that 0% absence = A*

these scenarios are happening a LOT now in London and the South East. It's epidemic. It does seem a nonsense to have such draconian measures in respect of holiday absence whilst simultaneously the State is denying an education to large numbers of children. It's an inherent contradiction

perhaps if schools were authorised to deregister those pupils whose parents Refused to comply with the laws relating to state provided education, there would be less pressure on the system?
Actually allow DCs whose parents are willing to get them there on time, maximise their attendance, and support the school in discipline and education to take up places.

Do you mind if I ask what your occupation is south? Do you actually work in education?

nicki in answer to your previous question, Castlebay Community College immediately springs to mind - in that case, legal action was taken by the students, not the parents. I'll look out some other links later.

In answer to your latter question - until very recently, yes, and I still work in a related field.

perhaps if schools were authorised to deregister those pupils whose parents Refused to comply with the laws relating to state provided education, there would be less pressure on the system?

Just pop the unplaced Year R children in any year group where that created spaces?

Right so no parents suing on "little johnny's" behalf in that example then. I will take a look.

I was sure you worked in education there is a certain flavour to your posts that I have come across many times.

Getyercoat
"The idea that teachers alone can teach is bizarre."

Personally I don't think that anyone is saying that at all.

As a teacher I really don't care when parents have their holidays, but I do care that they come in and moan at me (at KS3 and KS4) when their children are below target because of said holiday and they (the parents) have refused to allow said child to come back after school to catch up because they or their child is too busy, or the child won't come back at lunch because they don't see why they should miss their lunch.

Then in the end its all "the teachers are crap", "the school never put themselves out for my child".

I can promise you I would never moan if my child was under performing. I would think I had not supported her enough at home and resolve to remedy that. I would ask what I could do.

I resent being constantly forced into the same box as all these whiny parents that you seem to come across so regularly. I am racking my brains to think if I know any in RL and I have come up with ONE. But she whines about everything and no one takes her too seriously.

are you serious ego? Well I never!

Ego

i confess- i also spent my life's energies in educating other people's cc + i had 3 of my own. What did i learn from 30 + teaching years in 3 widely different areas of the world ? drum roll please- all children learn in different ways , at different rates and if they have time off for whatever reason , we just take up from where we were and we continue working at different rates in different ways. There is no data that will prove that unnecessary absence alone is THE factor in a child not doing as well as s/he can at school.

I think that's a great summary of this issue

I was sure you worked in education there is a certain flavour to your posts that I have come across many times.

It's a very large sector with a range paid and unpaid professions, nicki. I've never stood in front of a class of children and never will.
But, like many who work in education, I am motivated by the collective best interests of children. Unlike some others though, I am also willing to work within the current system in order to achieve it. Fighting the system doesn't interest me; I'd rather invest time and energy in making things as good as they can be for the DCs who are being educated right now.

What do you suggest amarmai? That the Govenrment ignores studies that have factors such as those?

I expect the government to inform parents of these results and then BACK OFF.

I expect the government to inform parents of these results and then BACK OFF

I can see value to that approach - give every child a school place (something I realise isn't achieved in all areas at the moment) and then leave it entirely up to parents to decide whether their DC attends or not.
No intervention for holidays, truancy, lateness; trust all parents to get it more or less right for their kids. Not all will, of course, but the savings in Education Welfare will offset increases in adult support, I imagine?

I can see value to that approach - give every child a school place (something I realise isn't achieved in all areas at the moment) and then leave it entirely up to parents to decide whether their DC attends or not.

No. Why not just target the problem cases? why are the only choices anarchy or stalinist russia?

Most parents are reasonable and want their kids to be educated. leave those people alone.

No. Why not just target the problem cases?

Who defines what a 'problem case' is? You? Me? Or the government of the day?

The current Government has decreed that parents who deliberately prevent their DCs from attending school for anything other than what the HT decrees are 'exceptional reasons' are the problem cases.
You disagree with their definition of problem cases. I don't. There's never going to be a consensus, so who decides, if not the government ?

ego I never said it did. I said that is the evidence the LA involved in the case cited in the OP uses to justify its current approach to unauthorised absence.
It also appears to be what the Government uses to justify current legislation.
Whether I believe it or not is irrelevant. My argument isn't that the government is right. My argument is that until the law is changed, parents who choose to take their DCs out of school should accept the consequences.

You disagree with their definition of problem cases. I don't. There's never going to be a consensus, so who decides, if not the government ?

being inflexible is unreasonable. your definition of unreasonable is at odds with most people here.

the problem cases are not arbitrarily defined. they are kids who HT's deem are being held back because of attendance. by definition, problem cases would be a minority.