To send my children to school in the last week of term?

[ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs]

Here in Scotland it is the last week of summer term. According to both my dds (14 and 13) NO ONE goes to school in the last week, and definitely not in the last couple of days! They know they will both be sent in anyway, but are moaning that it's really boring, they don't do any work as the teachers can't teach anything because they would just have to teach it again when the rest of the class was there. Apparently they are told to "play on your phones", and some teachers are actively hinting/ suggesting they don't come in!

I'm a bit pissed off with this. On one hand the school officially disapproves of parents taking children out during term time to get cheap holidays, on the other hand the children who do make the effort to go in are seen as an inconvenience, it would seem. There is no penalty for not going in. Dd2 is home upset because her lovely friends are all staying off the last two days and going to a theme park, despite knowing that dd won't be able to join them, and will be in school on her own. (This isn't just hearsay, they did this at the end of last term too) So I am the worst mother in the world for making them go to school. Am i?

At my kids school lessons are taught all the way up to the last day which has a massive art focus as kids finish off unfinished art/writing then a long final assembly. A movie is usually
playing from after morning tea for those children who have finished all their work and done extension activities/helped peers. Kids definitely not encouraged to stay off school though!

Teacher in Scotland here. These last couple of weeks have been a long slog, but I’m still trying to keep the motivation up. My classes know that the chorus of, “Can we watch a film today, Miss?” is going to be met with a cheerful, “Nope!” and an instruction to get the work out.

It’s very difficult to engage a bottom set second year class in writing paragraphs when they’ve just been watching films or playing on their phones in other departments, but as far as I’m concerned, if you’re in my class you’re there to learn, not watch Cool Runnings.

Hi @SoddingUnicorns!

I have got to do this now because I’m absolutely fuming and I don’t give a shiny shite who thinks I’m out of order, come and get me.
It’s absolutely morally fucking bankrupt to take your children out of school during term time.
Do we bloody care about our kids education or fucking what?
‘Oh give them a day off, nothing is happening anyway” what a fucking pile!
We should all be solid and supportive of our kids education and ANYONE who thinks it’s ok to say “aah day off love, fuck all happening at school anyway “ should be denied a fucking vote because that is what is happening in this country you fucking bloody peasants!!!

Parents wouldn’t let this happen in private sector there may be a reduced timetable as events happen but all children would be there every day.

Because they’re paying for it no doubt. Also they get much longer holidays anyway.

Most definitely still teaching in my classroom. Despite the fact that attendance is below 50% due to parents taking kids out on holiday or just not making them come in. Those who have missed the teaching of the last week (and the content that is still being delivered this week!) will be expected to catch up in their own time in August; if I want to cover the entire syllabus for the courses I teach I a) don't have time for DVDs and b) don't have time to reteach topics missed due to end-of-termitis!

Surely it’s not a matter of private vs state?!
It our kids education ffs!
It’s all the same syllabus!
I’m just absolutely beside myself about people who think it’s its ok to let their kids not attend school when they fucking well should be there!
State or private we want our kids to be educated!
I really don’t want to get all political about this but come on!

@PolaDeVeboise @SoddingUnicorns Another NL maw here too!!

One of mine is only doing 2 days this week, the other is doing 5. Both are teens so I leave it up to them. Teen1 has a lot of free periods and no definite subjects as they are dependent on his results coming in August so he genuinely isn't missing much. Teen2 has just started 4th year coursework so doesn't want to miss his classes at all and has chosen to go in every day. Teen1 thinks Teen2 is crazy

I leave it up to them to make the choice. They know if they miss important lessons they suffer for it so tend to make good choices.

Point taken re private vs state. You paying £7000 per term you ain’t gonna be all that happy about goofing off. Maybe that’s why people paying for private education fucking care. They are the kids who are gonna be your doctor, lawyer etc. Come on now, arms open, ready for attack

I almost bit there

I shall just clarify that I do indeed care about my DC's education, it's a shame they will never aspire to be anything because I let them have a extra day or 3 off.

Never mind; I tried

Lankin I tend to agree with you . I am frustrated being the parent that insists on my dc going in only for them to come home and moan they did nothing! I may have had a little rant about it over dinner last night .

I’m merely trying to point out that it’s absolutely appalling that a school, teachers, parents etc just think ‘ oh, end of term, who gives a shit, come in if you feel like it, otherwise who gives a fuck’

Mine always go in anyway. If nothing else they need to go when I am at work and if I am off I’m fucked I’m having them around unless I have to.

My youngest is still doing some work and the eldest is enjoying his last few days of p7 swagger.

If I ever meet this guy “everyone else” or his parents I’m going to toe them up the arse. “Everyone else” stays off “everyone else’s mum” lets him get the bus into town etc

I have genuinely never heard of this idea that the last few weeks of school are semi-optional! Is this for real? Mine are in independent schools in London and Dd was in tears this morning because she thought she was 2 minutes late for the choir which starts at 7.50am! There is no option to not go in just because it's summer. There's loads going on and it never occurs to anyone to just not go . I'm sure it's the same in the state schools too. Absolutely unheard of. DS in Year 10 is going on a mandatory school trip overseas tomorrow for a week. DD in year 8 is constantly rehearsing for her school's school play - still loads of homework! DD in year 5 is doing daily prep for 11 plus next Jan. No let up at alll here, but they do break up on July 6th.

Surely this forces the week before to become the winding down week?

Thank you Pa1oma some sense!

Dd said there were only 4 people in computing class today. A lot of people have gone on holiday already to take advantage of cheaper prices before English schools break up. Others were off doing Duke of Edinburgh activities. Her classes will get smaller and smaller as the week goes on but I will see how far I can keep her going!

It's always the same in the last week of term (mine finish on Thursday at 1pm)

I'm amazed parents and teachers think it's ok to collude with their kids bunking off! What kind of message does that give? I thought missing school without a parent confirming you're ill was illegal? How will they function when they get a job? Surely it's about self-discipline?

High Five @Teenagemaw !

bakedbeans . Wouldn't mind a pop at that "everyone else" myself!

I weep