To move up north to allow son more opportunities?

[Corpo]

DS has been a child model for just up to a year now he has done 7 jobs within the year. He could have had many more but I have declined a few due to me being wary about his attendance.

School have flat out refused every single one but due to his attendance being over the percentage they couldn’t stop it. They have now put a stop to all his photoshoots as his attendance has dropped under the percentage and they won’t be allowing anymore.

DS absolutely loves his modelling it’s the one thing he loves he lives and breathes it. He loves football too but seeing how well he works on set and when the photos go out he is so proud of himself and of course him seeing his money grow and all the plans he has for it when he’s 18.

A lot of the shoots are in Manchester which is a 2 hour drive for us. So he having to take full days instead of 2 hours if we lived in Manchester.

I completely understand the school but it’s upsetting how much control they actually have over us and they are stopping DS doing something he loves.

What would you do if you was in this position? I know a lot of parents don’t agree with it. But I now feel as I’m letting my son down if I don’t try my best for him.

in my opinion you are not unreasonable. All these kids are going through school are receiving a distinctly mediocre education.

They’re coming out and not doing anything particularly spectacular. Even if they’re bright. Why? Because they have no network, no track record, no work ethic or parents who don’t push them or some combination of the above.

there is this overwhelming idea that we must always do what we’ve always done but the reality is that it is not the only way. School can be home school, part time, stage, on film sets, travelling around the world. Whatever. But how many adults fucking hated school and do nothing but an averagely paid job they don’t particularly like yet still freak out at the idea of kids’ schooling not being exactly as theirs was? Tonnes.

if he loves modelling I’d ask why? Does he understand the context? Is it an ego thing or does he genuinely love it? If so I’d get him into things around it too - photography, lighting, make up, costume, etc so he understand the whole business.

obviously you’ve said you’re being wary - stick to your guns and don’t let him do anything you’re not comfortable with.

if he can act he would be educated on set whilst working. Theatre work is a possibility too?

I’d put him in performing arts and dance.

join a home Ed group on Facebook. See if that resonates with you. Some schools consider flexi schooling too.

school in this country are not amazing by any stretch of the imagination. They cater to the middle ground and offer no opportunity for big characters to flourish. I wouldn’t limit your son because “school”

every bloody person in this country who is truly powerful/rich/famous/successful is there for one reason - network. Not because they had 90% attendance at their local state primary

also is he your only child? Whatever you do you have to massively consider its impact on other dc. Especially in terms of money - other siblings won’t be ok with one child having a pot of money they don’t - they’ll just think well he was blessed with that talent and I wasn’t so that sucks for me and where’s my money.

anyway I think you have to do you and what you feel in your heart but don’t let other people dictate that

I'd be more worried about his education rather than the child modelling at this stage.
Not suggesting he will but what if he's a teen and is no longer cute? He'll have nothing at all to fall back on.

There’s also online school if you can afford it

It’s not teacher’sthat worry about attendance, it’s the LA and Ofsted.

Inverness is the child modelling capital of Europe, apparently

'All' kids going through schools are receiving a mediocre education? All of them. How do you know @Alopeciabop

Doesn't he need a performance licence to model? In which case he does need school permission.
At any rate I've known dc get really good performance opportunities which they've had to turn down because they school has refused to give them permission to miss school. You need a letter from the school giving permission if you are missing school-ds even needed a letter last summer even though it was after the end of his GCSEs and he was missing no school at all.

@VORE it isn’t just a question of taking a fine. DC require a licence to work. The LA will not grant this if they have excessive absences. No reputable employer will hire them without said licence.

@Alopeciabop couldnt have said it better myself!

our education system is mediocre at best (as someone who went to state school her whole life) and I think you should take opportunities to develop wherever you can.

I have 100% got where I am in my career because of my personality and I put a lot of that down to all the travelling (and subsequent school missing) I did growing up!

DH and I have already agreed that we will be taking our children out of school during term time for ski holidays and to travel to new countries and have proper life experiences because these are what will shape our children and give them an edge in life!

Child models are ten a penny around me. Making any big decision about what is likely to be a year or two of poorly paid jobs is madness.

I'm going to take a wild guess that you didn't achieve very highly at school yourself OP?

Move if you like, home school if you like but please be aware that child modeling isn’t a trajectory to a long term career, he could stop getting work in a few months as he changes and his look may not be what is in demand any longer. This happened to DSS, from about age 5-8 he was in a lot of adverts, high profile campaigns etc for well known companies but they just stopped asking for him after a while. He is still a very conventionally good looking kid but just doesn’t have “the look” that’s in demand any more (whatever that is). Same thing happened with DHs cousin’s son too and she was a fashion model and had contacts and networks but still the work dried up.

Hell would freeze over before I would let my child model or act or similar. The best opportunity you can give him is a good education and not take him out of school in term time

Every day is Indeed a school day - didn't know that 🤣

@Vettrianofan well he may be rich, but he's not old enough to check the damage yet, is he?
Didn't go so well for Macauley Culkin for years did it?!

If she could afford it surely she'd just put the money into savings for her son instead of having him model to make money.

OP, your child HAS to be in school - you can't just take him out randomly to do "something he loves". It's verging on child neglect to refuse to give him a proper education. Ditch the idea of moving, ditch the modelling and make sure he has a proper childhood.

Probably would have earned less though.
People who sell a London property can afford a bigger house with lower mortgage but cost of living balances out I think.

I wouldn’t move just for that (only if a move would benefit your family in other ways and be worth the upheaval for DS).

I have a DS who was an exceptionally good looking child (objectively, not just by mummy standards 😂). He is now a teenager and still looks great to me but more awkward, acne etc so not sure a modeling agency would agree.

I home Ed and my dc loves it. I’d give the home Ed a try then see how things go from there .
Education won’t suffer and education is also life experiences .
A lot of countries Their kids don’t start untill age 7

It's great that he enjoys it.

You haven't mentioned any other DC, any other parent or family figures or any of your own career decisions that would be hugely impacted by a 2 hour move. Not sure if that means no other close relationships or career.

It is alien to me to consider moving on the basis of a few child modelling bookings, bit that is because I have other DC, a career, a DH and other ties to my home.

It also seems strange that Manchester is the centre for child modelling rather than London - agree with PP about looking for other agencies potentially.

Finally the money that your DC is earning - is this not offset by your own earnings being hampered by having to take time off for these bookings? And are the amounts really enough to set him up?

By all means if you want to move then do it, but I wouldn't be doing it because of the modelling.

My child is a teenager now but has been modelling for many years . Very successful has done campaigns for high profile brands and made lots of money . However , he’s quieter now because he’s just too tall for the sample sizes that they use to shoot the clothes .
I wouldn’t move cities for his work . He might be busy this year then no jobs the next year . My child has ended up going into acting now and loves this more than modelling . Things change . I’d stay where you are. London is where the bigger brands are based . Manchester has JD, Footasylum , John Lewis , Primark, Matalan etc but all of the brands like Zara , River island , Next and designer brands shoot in london or abroad .

Let me add he’s in y11 now and we’re grateful that he’s managed to shoot a Christmas commercial this year but I’m booking him out as unavailable for November/December for his mocks and then March - June for his GCSEs . They come first .

That’s is an exactly what you have said.

A child who enjoys not going to school more than he enjoys going to school. Surprise, surprise. OP is seeing the pound signs and depriving her child of an education. He could hit grow and very likely never be let anywhere a modelling studio. What then? He will have no sound education to fall back on. Totally irresponsible.