Once in a lifetime trip - 3 weeks off school

[XMissPlacedX]

My daughter has always wanted to go to Disney world Florida, but due to funds I've not been able to afford it. She is 14.

Her aunty who is quite well off and has a daughter the same age (my dd's cousin ) goes to Disney world Florida every 2 years and has offered to take my dd next year for 3 weeks.

The problem is it's the first 3 weeks of the school term ( September 2024). I've asked her if there was anyway of going in the summer holidays and she said it would double their cost and it would be cheaper for them to pay the school fine .

What do I do ? Do I say yes or no ? I would love for my dd to go but am not sure how much the fine would be and what impact missing that amount of school would cause.

I'm really torn

YANBU. Let your daughter go. All learning doesn't happen in school.

Learning about Shakespeare got me an English Lit GCSE, which got me a place at university (since it's one of the core required subjects), which got me a job that required a degree, which got me experience to start my own business.

Obviously no one is thinking that learning where the River Severn is directly leads to them becoming a banker or a doctor. You're being too literal.

Great compromise! Hope she has a wonderful time.

not read the thread btw

I go twice a year. Every May and Oct. Solo - no kids.
May is good value and towards the end of the school year.
Thats the best time
No way would I take ( and never did ) kids out for 3 weeks at the start of a school year.
On a side note Disney / Universal tickets are VERY expensive, as is food. Just check if you are to contribute towards things like that

@AcrossthePond55 Thankyou, that's really helpful advice x

GCSE are more of a "once in a life time" opportunity than Disney is!

Agreed in principle. But what learning goes on in a theme park?

Sorry but not in GCSE years. Any other - yes.

Let her go.

It's only three weeks - she could potentially have that off for a bad illness, injury, or whatever. Plenty of kids, for whatever reason, miss chunks of time off school and it makes no difference whatsoever. Like others have said, learning doesn't only happen at school. She will be fine, and will remember the trip forever. I missed two weeks at the start of my A Levels at college to go to Florida for Disney and Universal, and I am so, so glad I did. It was one of the best and most exciting trips of my life and I learnt a lot!

Could she go for the first week, and then be put on a plane back? Three weeks is too long to be out of school.

No kids NEEDS to go to Disneyland.
Year 11 and GCSE’s are more important.

The fact you’ve posted on here is enough. You know she shouldn’t miss that much school. She’ll be sad, but you have to do right by her and right now that’s prioritising her education.

@whateveryouwantmetosay

i don’t think much learning is gonna happen in a theme park either. Certainly nothing that can help her progress in her life. Which is what year 11 is all about - getting what you need to progress to the next steps in life.

Experience of long haul travel, how to navigate airports and stations, experiencing another country for three weeks (more immersion), new experiences (all of which increase confidence and make travel less daunting to her in future) fun (we absorb and remember more when we're having fun), she might discover interests or new ideas/possibilities she wouldn't have maybe come across otherwise, and general excitement and passion. These things are all so important for young people who are currently under the relentless deluge of revision, exams and have all the joy and interest sucked out of education. Trips like this are remembered forever (speaking from experience) and give such a boost in confidence and inspiration.

Why is it “once in a lifetime” unless there’s some awful drip feed that she’s terminally ill. She’s 14 she’s literally got a lifetime to go. Taking 3 weeks out in year 10 or 11 is irresponsible. The school will flipping hate you too and it’s likely to cause stress for her on return, Daft idea.

I think 10 days is a good compromise, for what it's worth gcses did bugger all for me anyway 😂
It's really not a long time you could be off sick for a full week.
I think 3 weeks would have been a bit too long imo.

Also other posters rtft

Let's hope the teachers aren't made to do anything to facilitate this decision. They have enough on their plate as it is.

DH is in teaching and I'm so sad, thinking of all the teachers we know, that anyone at all would think this was reasonable.

Hopefully there is an online homework system that the DC can access and maybe spend some time in the morning before the day gets started doing some work. I'm not optimistic from what I've seen of the OPs posts this would be a priority though.

What is seriously irresponsible is people egging on the OP when they don't really know what the OPs DC's school - and the other child's school - may have up its sleeve, beyond the fine, to sanction them for this many days off.

Hope she buys insurance.

Say yes. She’ll remember the trip forever. If her attendance is good the rest of the year three weeks won’t be detrimental

I think 10 days is a good compromise, for what it's worth gcses did bugger all for me anyway

Things are very different these days.

A compromise of shorter time maybe and fly back or there alone?Three weeks in Disney is complete overkill ino.
By using weekend nights could she go for 8 nights?

Why three weeks, that's insane. does she always go for that long?

@Doone22 She isn’t now! Read the update.

The whole argument here is just dc and families doing what they want. Stuff the school rules. Stuff the teachers. It’s all me me me. And it’s Disney. Go after A levels like everyone else.

Honestly, I'd go without a thought.

It would be the trip of a life time, and if she's reasonably bright, she'll quickly catch up on what she's missed.

I remember missing a week of school due to illness, I never caught up and to this day don't know what I missed as what was taught that week was fundamental to many other subsequent lessons (English and Maths stuff that was used subsequently).
I'm curious why you think it won't be detrimental missing 3 weeks, is so little covered nowadays in a 3 week school period that anything missed is of no consequence?
A formal school education used to be something that was valued, nowadays so many place little value on it and are happy to bunk off for 3 weeks for a holiday. I don't get why people place so little value on their kids education