DC's School's Annual Compulsory Saturday

[strawberrisc]

My DC's school insists on on a compulsory Saturday event every year. The students are gifted back a day in the week but if they don't attend the Saturday event it is recorded as unauthorised.

The first year she'd already commited to a Guide weekend, last year we were away for a family birthday. AIBU to think that non-attendance on a Saturday shouldn't be recorded as unauthorised and that the whole thing is just a pita?

That's really odd. Why on earth do they do that??

How ridiculous why do they do that?

Is it private?

My (private) school does this - its for open morning and well known as a three line whip. The date is in the calendar months in advance and we don't get a day off for it! If she really can't make it then yes it goes as unauthorised.

It's not private but it is religious!

Just let it be down as absent..

It's religious. A faith school you selected Then, Not just your default school.

subtlecheese. No actually. But thanks for your dissection.

If it isn't a private school then I am not sure of the legality of this. If you are UK based I would contact your lea for clarification

I wouldn’t particularly care that it was recorded as unauthorised. What difference is it going to make (other than increasing the school’s rate of unauthorised absence)?

Same as Arbitrary - it is their own figures / %s they are making worse.

Out of interest, what do they do on the Saturday ?

At one of the Grammar schools near us the whole of year 7 have to go in for Rugby on a Saturday morning up until October half term , after which it is voluntary unless you are in the teams . Lots of people complain but they chose the school knowing all about it . I can't actually see the point of one Saturday but at least they get a day off in lieu .

That’s common at the grammar schools here, the Saturdays are for open days etc. Is there just one day per year or can she do another?

My dd school has a compulsory evening 6-11 , they get the afternoon of instead on the same day.

Our school (private) has speeches day on a Saturday, and its not just compulsory for the kids but for the parents too! It’s incredibly boring as well.

Let them mark it unauthorised

No way would ds agree to go to school on a Saturday and no way would I deal with the meltdowns trying to make him!

It's to visit the cathedral for a service - preferably with family.

I will check with the LEA - great idea.

I think I'd rather take the hit!

Hope you get a resolution.

I assume it is a Catholic school? If so you may find that it is something they can get away with but I wouldn't be sacrificing family time. If they want to do a family service they should arrange it for in the week

its not just compulsory for the kids but for the parents too!

How does that work, last time I checked school/education stopped being compulsory at 18.

Given parents have the right to withdraw their child from acts of worship then really I don’t see how they can force church attendance on a Saturday?

I wondered if it was my DS's previous school, but you then said she, so I guess not. His was/is an all boys grammar school with a mixed 6th form. Every year they do a compulsory Saturday event, which they have to attend. Its quite difficult to get out of, but IIRC you could get out of it for a good reason. It did start with a trip to the cathedral for a service and then fund raising games, stalls and food back at the school.

I’d take the hit on the attendance figure if it clashed with something already booked.

Common for academy schools too. We always had a 'family commitment.'