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

This one :) Exactly this.

And you child will definitely thank you for not pushing them, when they finish school with woeful qualifications and no prospects...

My kids have finished school and did rather well thanks both have decent jobs and are moving up the ladder through hard work and experience.
I didn't push them as that doesn't get the required outcome you just get pushback instead I encouraged them and supported them not only academically but socially as well so that they became well rounded individuals. I took them out of school for holidays and they lived laughed and enjoyed life they weren't stressed and full of mental health issues.
We put far too much pressure on kids these days.

Not sure how going to Disney world transforms you from an exam taking automaton to a full rounded person…

My teens flipping loved rome. We went in the summer stayed in travastere the streets were like a massive party. Everyone got dressed up and was glamorous. They talk about that trip far more than our Disney one (admittedly not Florida but California).

Hard no. It's not once in a lifetime when she's 14. If it was to visit a dying relative or something equally important then maybe but not Disneyland.

When did your DC take their GCSEs @Mumtryingtolivethedream?
GCSE content has increased significantly in recent years.
It's interesting that all the KS4 teachers on this thread are saying a hard no.

DD and I went to Rome when she was 15. She also loved it @TheaBrandt

When I was at school, my Dad always took the first two weeks of September off for his annual holiday. This did causesome problems for us. However, this is a once in a life time chance so personally think that as long as she isn't missing exams, then let her go

Absolutely they are not the be all and end all and certainly don’t define you. They are however a really good start and make a world of difference to what is possible afterwards. Why make future life harder when you could make it easier? Disney is not the be all and end all either and surely does not define you. When daughter has a great career of her own she can book her own trip to Disney, and maybe take mum as a than you.

One is 20 done a levels wasn't sure what they wanted to do so got a regular job and has done well but is now thinking about wanting to join the police wasnt interested in uni. the eldest is 22 finished uni and is working in accounting still got a lot to learn and extra exams but his company are supporting with this as part of his development.
Yes the content is heavy I've heard some of my friends comment on their children and school it's probably one of the reasons why mental health in the young is at an all time high amongst other reasons obviously