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Original poster

Booked holiday, moved primary school, SATS problem

144 replies

kangaroopelicanartic · 09/05/2023 14:30

I'll try to keep this short.

-booked a holiday this time last year. We are due to go on the 22nd
-was given notice that we had to move house
-moved and had to change the kids' primary school. Notified them of the holiday and was told as it was pre booked it wouldn't be a problem. It was booked for the first school's half term.
-just been notified by the school that my oldest kiddo (he's 7) has sats the same week we're booked to go in holiday
-holiday company will let me move the dates but it's so expensive I simply can't do it. It would double the cost and it's just not possible

I have no idea what else to do. Money is very tight and part of the reason i booked so early was to pay in installments so we can afford to go! Not to mention the house moving costs have totally wiped out my savings.

Any ideas please? It's been such a totally shit few years I was really looking forward to a break!

OP posts:
gogohmm · 09/05/2023 14:57

Whilst some half terms do vary, the May one I have never heard of changing as it's linked to the bank holiday, this year 29th May. Before you speak to the school again I would double check it really is half term in the other area, so you don't write an email stating it and you are incorrect.

TuesandThursNero · 09/05/2023 14:58

gogohmm · 09/05/2023 14:57

Whilst some half terms do vary, the May one I have never heard of changing as it's linked to the bank holiday, this year 29th May. Before you speak to the school again I would double check it really is half term in the other area, so you don't write an email stating it and you are incorrect.

Exactly!!

Himawarigirl · 09/05/2023 14:59

If the school have already told you that they’re happy for you to go ahead I don’t see the need to worry about it now because they’ve told you it’s the week of SATs. They have no bearing on your individual child, they’re a way for the school to assess the progress of their students across different stages of their time in school. It’s not like your child is going to be missing the equivalent of a GCSE or an A-level exam that will have a strong bearing on their individual future plans. Overall, the situation is unfortunate but sounds like the school have been accommodating. Are they now suggesting you cancel due to the sats dates?

ThomasWasTortured · 09/05/2023 15:00

gogohmm · 09/05/2023 14:57

Whilst some half terms do vary, the May one I have never heard of changing as it's linked to the bank holiday, this year 29th May. Before you speak to the school again I would double check it really is half term in the other area, so you don't write an email stating it and you are incorrect.

Some primary schools have 2 weeks at May half term and 1 less week at either Easter or summer.

x2boys · 09/05/2023 15:00

TuesandThursNero · 09/05/2023 14:34

State schools? And different half terms?

I have always had two kids in two different schools as my youngest is disabled and goes to a special school it's the same LEA ,but holiday dates often vary.

Haribosweets · 09/05/2023 15:02

Just go on holiday! I'm taking my son out of school for week in year 8. He's missing a science test but they will do hiswhen he gets back. I'm sure the school will do the same for you. Have lovely time

x2boys · 09/05/2023 15:03

gogohmm · 09/05/2023 14:57

Whilst some half terms do vary, the May one I have never heard of changing as it's linked to the bank holiday, this year 29th May. Before you speak to the school again I would double check it really is half term in the other area, so you don't write an email stating it and you are incorrect.

When my oldest son was at primary school,they got a week at Easter,and two weeks in the may/ June half term.

CeeJay81 · 09/05/2023 15:03

I'd go and not worry about the tests. We don't have them in Wales and in many countaries your kid would have barely started school. I disagree with tests so young tbh. Enjoy your holiday and don't worry about what the school say.

quietnightmare · 09/05/2023 15:04

Holiday holiday holiday

Don't give it any more thought

ResisterRex · 09/05/2023 15:08

I don't see how it sets a precedent. Unless someone who also has to move finds themselves in the exact same circumstances. I'd go. They already OK'd it. If you change it then it's arguable that sets a precedent stating that the school can flip flop.

Boomboom22 · 09/05/2023 15:10

Academies don't have to follow la times either.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 09/05/2023 15:11

TuesandThursNero · 09/05/2023 14:40

You “think” two different authorities?

OP neighbouring primary state schools in the same authority or adjacent will have the same half term.

Show quote history

Not true where I live. Academies set their own dates, so different state schools have different half term dates even within the same town.

Bluerhododendron · 09/05/2023 15:20

Taking term time holiday is not allowed in my L.A - SATs or no SATs

Not authorised, is what you mean.

WaltzingWaters · 09/05/2023 15:24

Go on holiday and enjoy.

melj1213 · 09/05/2023 15:28

TuesandThursNero · 09/05/2023 14:40

You “think” two different authorities?

OP neighbouring primary state schools in the same authority or adjacent will have the same half term.

Show quote history

Maybe in your area but this isn't a universal fact.

In my town alone there are multiple schools with different holiday dates as some are academies, we have a free school, another is an independent and a couple of faith schools so they can set the dates of holidays themselves.

Usually the secondary academies try to sync their holidays with the main feeder primaries (if they aren't already in the same academy trust) but otherwise they are free to choose their own dates. Add in that we are only a few miles from the border between LAs and some children go to school in the next county over and it's easy for there to be different holidays.

When I was at school I went to a grammar school in the next county (20miles away) for sixth form. My mum worked in a local school and one of her best friends, who also worked in the school, was getting married abroad. They booked it for the Easter holidays and we thought nothing of it until we checked and realised that their holidays were the week before and week of Easter whereas my holiday was Easter Week and the week after.

My mum went into the school and explained that they ha don't even considered that my hols would be different. Fortunately because it was my AS Level year we were just doing internal mocks for the week before Easter and I was going away with a bunch of teachers so my headteacher was happy to give my mum a copy of the mocks my classes would be taking so I could either use them to study while we were away (I did science based A Levels and there were science teachers going on the holiday who were happy to help me study) or try them when I got home from the holiday in my "extra" week off.

BeforeLight · 09/05/2023 15:29

May half term is the only one in the year which all local authorities have the same date. This is due to GCSEs, SATs etc.

so not sure how this can be right. Any other half term yes but not this one

Paq · 09/05/2023 15:31

Just don't do SATS. Problem solved!

tiredhadenough · 09/05/2023 15:32

@TuesandThursNero where I am due to academies running schools the high school has different half terms.

Really isn't the case that all schools have the same holidays 🤷🏼‍♀️

tiredhadenough · 09/05/2023 15:32

But to the point in question they can do your child's sats at any time so don't worry and go on holiday!!

CoozudBoyuPuak · 09/05/2023 15:33

A holiday booked for the half-term of the previous school when you had no idea that you would be having to move schools is a perfectly acceptable reason to have a term-time holiday. I do not think any fine would be upheld.

SATS are not obligatory and have no benefit fo the child. They are for measuring the school's effectiveness in how much the children learn by comparing skills before and after each key stage. It is fine to miss them.

Have a great holiday.

Sanch1 · 09/05/2023 15:38

I would stick with the holiday as SATs in my mind at Yr2 only benefit the school. However, have you checked with the Local Authority what the threshold is for a fine and if this would be more/less than the more expensive holiday dates? Our LA only lets you off 8 consecutive sessions (4 Days) so going on holiday for a week will get a fine.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/05/2023 15:38

tiredhadenough · 09/05/2023 15:32

@TuesandThursNero where I am due to academies running schools the high school has different half terms.

Really isn't the case that all schools have the same holidays 🤷🏼‍♀️

Of course it isn't. I always find it odd how people confidently state something as fact that isn't true and would be quite difficult to know definitively (such as the term dates for all schools in the country so they could know that 'neighbouring primary state schools in the same authority or adjacent will have the same half term'), when they don't anyway.

I live near the boundaries of four different city council areas and there are differences in term dates between them.

Sugargliderwombat · 09/05/2023 15:41

Sat's don't matter. Holidays and family time does. Just go and explain to the teacher and the office about term dates.

Can2022getanyworse · 09/05/2023 15:44

TuesandThursNero · 09/05/2023 14:40

You “think” two different authorities?

OP neighbouring primary state schools in the same authority or adjacent will have the same half term.

Show quote history

Not necessarily. I know of several schools in my city (same LEA) which have different half terms and Easter breaks.

Just go on holiday op. They're not GCSEs.

fairypeasant · 09/05/2023 15:50

Sometimes neighbouring schools within a mile of each other have different half terms.

Not your fault, sats don't matter, enjoy your holiday.