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AIBU?

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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:
goldenlocks · 10/05/2023 08:13

I cant be asked reading all the missrable, holier than thou posters on here.... Go on HOLIDAY. Emjoy!!!!!

Beetlebum1981 · 10/05/2023 08:13

KS1 SATS are optional, the dates of tests are also 'suggested' so if the school are that concerned about the data then your child could do them the week after.
I know of schools who do them over 3 weeks & they take the children out in small groups to do them.

Booked holiday, moved primary school, SATS problem
TuesandThursNero · 10/05/2023 08:15

goldenlocks · 10/05/2023 08:13

I cant be asked reading all the missrable, holier than thou posters on here.... Go on HOLIDAY. Emjoy!!!!!

I’m guessing your parents allowed you to miss a lot of school, and that involved missing many a spelling test

TemporaryNaming · 10/05/2023 08:21

Take your kids on holiday whenever you want. I don't generally take my kid out of school during term time as I need to use annual leave to cover the school holidays but if they are otherwise doing well a week off isn't going to send them down the route of being delinquents. Different if they are missing lots of school but for the sake of a week it will be fine.

hiredandsqueak · 10/05/2023 08:22

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

Two of my dc went to school in the two different neighboring authorities to the one we lived and my other children went to. There was a lot of variation in holidays so much so that a half term break would be spread over three weeks.

sanityisamyth · 10/05/2023 08:39

This half term is the only one that EVERY school has at the same time because of the GCSE and A Level exam timetables. Students must be available to sit the exam when the exam board schedules it so they have their break together.

MetalFences · 10/05/2023 09:07

JessicaBrassica · 10/05/2023 08:03

I'm surprised that May half term differs. It's usually the week starting with the bank holiday - because otherwise teachers get an extra day off and most LAs would rather teachers were in school when they were being paid.

Have you read any of the posts explaining this?

NotmykingEatCake · 10/05/2023 13:13

I would be withdrawing my child from these tests even if they WERE IN school,

Going on holiday and avoiding this nonsense is a brilliant idea. Year 2 SATs mean nothing for your DD.

NotmykingEatCake · 10/05/2023 13:13

sanityisamyth · 10/05/2023 08:39

This half term is the only one that EVERY school has at the same time because of the GCSE and A Level exam timetables. Students must be available to sit the exam when the exam board schedules it so they have their break together.

It's a primary school, genius 🤣🤣🤣

Original poster
kangaroopelicanartic · 10/05/2023 13:18

sanityisamyth · 10/05/2023 08:39

This half term is the only one that EVERY school has at the same time because of the GCSE and A Level exam timetables. Students must be available to sit the exam when the exam board schedules it so they have their break together.

Well he's only 7 (next month) so I'm not sure GCSEs are an issue quite yet...

OP posts:
ThomasWasTortured · 10/05/2023 13:22

sanityisamyth · 10/05/2023 08:39

This half term is the only one that EVERY school has at the same time because of the GCSE and A Level exam timetables. Students must be available to sit the exam when the exam board schedules it so they have their break together.

This isn’t correct. Some primary schools have 2 weeks at May.

TempsPerdu · 10/05/2023 13:25

I’m a teacher and personally I’d just go on holiday - Year 2 SATs are a waste of time, of About as much use as a chocolate teapot to the child themselves and are due to be phased out after this year anyway (v pleased that Reception aged DD won’t have to do them and we’d discussed withdrawing her from them if they weren’t withdrawn).

I wouldn’t worry too much and would concentrate instead on having a lovely break.

PenelopeTitsDrop3121 · 10/05/2023 13:38

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. We have 2 junior schools 5 mins drive apart and they have had different half terms.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 10/05/2023 16:27

I'm pretty sure the school can and will accommodate this for you. There's always a child off sick during SATS, they just sit them on another day. Enjoy your holiday.

PaigeMatthews · 10/05/2023 18:16

JessicaBrassica · 10/05/2023 08:03

I'm surprised that May half term differs. It's usually the week starting with the bank holiday - because otherwise teachers get an extra day off and most LAs would rather teachers were in school when they were being paid.

What a ridiculously stupid response.

Nattertatter03 · 10/05/2023 18:19

sanityisamyth · 10/05/2023 08:39

This half term is the only one that EVERY school has at the same time because of the GCSE and A Level exam timetables. Students must be available to sit the exam when the exam board schedules it so they have their break together.

This is where you’re wrong, secondary school in my town has half term after GCSEs are finished… in June. They use may to revise

QuillBill · 10/05/2023 18:32

What a ridiculously stupid response.

Especially when it's already been explained.

mafsfan · 10/05/2023 18:33

Beetlebum1981 · 10/05/2023 08:13

KS1 SATS are optional, the dates of tests are also 'suggested' so if the school are that concerned about the data then your child could do them the week after.
I know of schools who do them over 3 weeks & they take the children out in small groups to do them.

That's from next year. It says 2024.

They are mandatory this year and can be administered any time in May (ie before the OP goes on holiday). Better (for the school!) than the child getting 0.

knockyknees · 10/05/2023 23:45

It wouldn't even occur to me to cancel/postpone my holiday in these circumstances.

Just go, enjoy yourselves and have a good time. :)

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