Would you expect a school to authorise an absence to attend a parent's graduation?

[CottageBearskin]

Just that really.

Child is 13, so non GCSE year
Parent is getting their doctorate

Nope.

Yes I would. We're meant to encourage aspiration in kids. It's an amazing family day too

Yes

I don’t know, but I would do
it anyway in case they say no.

I don’t know whether school would authorise it but either way I’d definitely take them.

Yes, and if they don’t authorise it just do it anyway

Yes, I’d expect them to and if they didn’t Id still take them. Congratulations!

I would ask. It is showing them what academic success looks like.
If you're the parent - congratulations!

I had a day off secondary school to attend my mum's graduation. Made me want to have one myself!

No I wouldn't but I would take them out. One unauthorised absence is not a big deal

A graduation myself I mean

They won't authorise it but really who's going to be concerned with one unauthorised absence?
Just do it

Not necessarily, having been to many graduations including doctorates it's neither inspiring nor very interesting seeing a long line of people queuing up to shake hands. They may play music, have a honoury degree awarded who gives a speech (but DD's had neither just piped music and sore hands from clapping). Do they even want to go (except for lunch!)

I wouldnt expect it. To be honest personally I would just take them out for a nice meal afterwards to celebrate! Really most 13 year olds will be bored stiff during a graduation!

but if they want to go take them an unauthorised day won’t matter

It won't be authorised, schools are very limited to what they can authorise absence for, but they won't do anything except mark it as unauthorised.

A doctorate is pretty special - of course they should go. You decide as parents then tell the school what’s happening. I’d complain to governors if this wasn’t authorised.

It's worth a try and I think it would depend on the individual Head. Teachers can get a day off for attending a child's graduation.

If it isn't authorised you should take the day anyway.

Of course they should. An educational establishment should be supporting educational achievement…isn’t attending your child’s graduation one of the few things teachers can get a day off for?

It should not be for the school to decide what an unmissable family event is for you, providing such events are very rare.

If you think the dc should be there, they should.

Yes i would. I think its an expectional circumstance. (My school has authorised attendance at graduation before but each HT has their own idea of what exceptional is)

My kids school is incredibly strict on authorisations but they were both authorised to come and see my graduation. It was a special day for all of us.

I wouldn't expect authorisation but I would take him anyway. There's very little leeway now compared to when my young adult children were at school and it was up to the head.

Yes, my dc's got the day off for mine in October last year, they were studying for Nat 5's and highers. The school were more than happy for them to come along with me. I would have taken them either way tbh.

Thank god someone else said it! I was bored at my own graduation never mind someone elses at 13.

No