Page 9 | Once in a lifetime trip - 3 weeks off school

XMissPlacedX · 2023-12-14T20:27:38+00:00

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

RampantIvy · 14/12/2023 22:29

squidgybits · 14/12/2023 22:25

I took my son out of school at age 7 for a month to go to America, he says he is glad that I did.
He learned more from that holiday than the school work he missed and easily caught up with
It is a once in a lifetime experience for many, why not?

Easy to keep in touch these days also
I feel schools these days are not teaching kids life skills and a trip like this is so educational in every way
I have no regrets about doing it, and I hope you don't , either way

There is a massive difference between age 7 (year 2 or 3?) and years 10/11.

Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic · 14/12/2023 22:29

cardibach · 14/12/2023 22:17

How do you propose she catches up the expert tuition she’s missed? 5 hours a day x 15 days. 75 hours of expert tuition. If you paid for it, the least you would pay at GCSe level would be £25/hr. Could easily be £40 in some areas. So a cost of between £1875 and £3000.

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😂😂😂 lol….how many hours of expert tuition. I’m a teacher a this made me rofl.
There’s no way she’s getting 5 hours a day of expert tuition in school. A tutor could help her make up the lost hours in an hour or two per subject easy.
1 on 1 is so much more efficient.

DementedPanda · 14/12/2023 22:30

My opinion for what it's worth. Yr 10 and 11 are far too important to miss school for a holiday. I understand why, but just no.

Maireas · 14/12/2023 22:30

whengodwasarabbit1 · 14/12/2023 22:20

I would let her go. She will learn more from the experience than she would at school. I would sit down with her though and explain she will have to work extra hard on her return back. Maybe get some after school tuition in place for a couple of months after?

How on earth will she learn more from a Disney theme park than three weeks' GCSE curriculum?!

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 14/12/2023 22:30

squidgybits · 14/12/2023 22:25

I took my son out of school at age 7 for a month to go to America, he says he is glad that I did.
He learned more from that holiday than the school work he missed and easily caught up with
It is a once in a lifetime experience for many, why not?

Easy to keep in touch these days also
I feel schools these days are not teaching kids life skills and a trip like this is so educational in every way
I have no regrets about doing it, and I hope you don't , either way

Oh for goodness sake, how is your son missing a month of school at the age of seven the same as someone missing three weeks of teaching for their GCSEs?

And schools aren’t teaching children life skills but Disneyland is educational?

There are no words 🤦🏻‍♀️

RampantIvy · 14/12/2023 22:31

Unless your dd is way behind or struggles with school work she can catch up on 3 weeks lessons & homework.

Who will teach her any new concepts covered during those three weeks?
The teachers won't.

Original poster

XMissPlacedX · 14/12/2023 22:31

It's once in a lifetime for her as she has wanted to go since she was little. Plus I'm a single mum ( work full time) and would never be able to afford to send her myself.

They are doing 10 days at Disney and then the rest of it they spend travelling elsewhere ( not sure of the plans yet) so it won't be 3 whole weeks at Disney.

I am aware of the possible effect on her studies, which is why I'm posting here saying I'm really torn. On the flip side I have seen it written on her Christmas list since she was 6.

Genuinely appreciative of the helpful comments here, Thankyou

OP posts:

Cantbeardarknights · 14/12/2023 22:32

Absolutely no way would I allow this especially not in year 10. If the aunt goes to Disney every couple of years she couod go another time. At a push I may let her go for a week, that’s more than enough time in Disney.

RampantIvy · 14/12/2023 22:32

If she goes there will be three weeks of fines to pay as well.

Elphamouche · 14/12/2023 22:32

Those saying 3 weeks is too long in Florida, are doing Florida wrong 😂.

I’d let her go. Life’s too bloody short, you never know what’s round the corner.

3 weeks over her exams, no. 3 weeks at the beginning of the year? Shit happens. She could get I’ll and be off for 3 weeks.

Maireas · 14/12/2023 22:34

If the aunt goes every couple of years, OP, ask her to take her on the next trip rather than this one.

cardibach · 14/12/2023 22:35

Itslookinggood · 14/12/2023 21:54

I’m pretty committed educationally and have 2 teens - one in year 11 now. Honestly, it’s a once in a lifetime chance and I would let her go.

would be asking for any catch up materials the school are prepared t9 give though.

In what way is it once in a lifetime? Seriously. I don’t get how people think it is.

WillowCraft · 14/12/2023 22:35

thefirstmrsrochester · 14/12/2023 20:49

After all the sacrifices young folk made these last few years I’d say to take the holiday and to ask if the school can provide the lesson plans for her subjects for the weeks she will be missing.

School are going to love that....huge amount of extra work for teachers, 5 lessons a day times 15 is 45 lessons. Usually catching up is done by borrowing a friend's book... Realistically she won't catch up. They will be halfway through a set text, have completed entire topics in maths or science.

Unless she's an extreme high flier I think you are risking lower GCSE grades of you do this.

BrimfulOfMash · 14/12/2023 22:35

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 14/12/2023 21:45

said no secondary school English teacher ever…

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Especially as ‘the week before she goes’ is the summer holidays!

disappearingfish · 14/12/2023 22:36

No, it's too much time off at a pretty crucial stage. That's a lot of work to catch up on.

Gingerbee · 14/12/2023 22:36

Sorry, I think missing three weeks at the beginning to term in her GCSE years is irresponsible.
It is the longest most intense term of the school year.
It could very well affect her education and employment for years to come.

I am amazed at your SIL will take her daughter out of school, considering she is a similar age and stage of education Especially, considering they go every two years. Does she not value education?

It is not about the cost of fine but the cost to both girls future.

I understand that she will be disappointed but maybe they could go after their GCSEs as that is not in peak time.

This would give her time to save. You could give her the money you would save from 'fines' as spending money.

roarrfeckingroar · 14/12/2023 22:36

Jesus, YABVU.

If this was like a tour of India or travelling to Antarctica then sure, but Disney ?! Three weeks off school for Disney?!

RampantIvy · 14/12/2023 22:38

It's clear that some posters don't really value education the way others do.

I have taken DD out of school for holidays but it was primary school and only for a week. Claiming that a Disney holiday is a "learning" experience, however is beyond ridiculous, and won't contribute anything towards GCSE work unless it is weather patterns for geography.

BrimfulOfMash · 14/12/2023 22:38

They are doing 10 days at Disney and then the rest of it they spend travelling elsewhere ( not sure of the plans yet) so it won't be 3 whole weeks at Disney.

At 14 she is old enough to come back on a plane on her own. She doesn’t have to be off for a whole 3 weeks.

Cantbeardarknights · 14/12/2023 22:39

cardibach · 14/12/2023 22:35

In what way is it once in a lifetime? Seriously. I don’t get how people think it is.

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Totally agree Disney at 14 really isn’t once in a lifetime.

sorry OP but 3 weeks of GCSE maths physics chemistry . She’ll either need to take up teachers tome to catch her up and they then build on those as they or along or she’ll need to put in an awful lot of effort teaching herself. History English etc prob easier to catch up on but no way is a trip to Florida more important than school at a time when the teachers want to hit the ground running and crack on with the GCSE syllabus

squidgybits · 14/12/2023 22:39

@RampantIvy Yes, he was at a school not teaching English till he got back from America so in many peoples eyes it was important that he stayed and missed out on literally the holiday of a lifetime. He caught up and excelled and I trusted that he would. What they learn in 3 weeks could be caught up in less than a week. I would do it again and for longer, his education did not suffer and he is very successful and sociable with very high profile people in his career, he did not earn this in a dingy classroom with lots of kids at different levels and the teacher struggling to move these levels forward
Life is for living
I say all those against are jealous or ignorant of opportunities in life

FiftyandUnfit · 14/12/2023 22:39

I've taken my kids out many times over the years but I didn't take either of them out in year 11 as it's such an important year. If your daughter is not academic at all and not expected to pass any exams then maybe I would feel differently.

cardibach · 14/12/2023 22:41

WhistPie · 14/12/2023 22:08

If your daughter isn't that bright but is on track for 4s or 5s then you might as well let her go, it won't make much difference in the long run.

It’s this sort of student it’ll make the most difference for. Those 4s and 5s open doors, and students struggling to get to them will not catch up.

Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic · 14/12/2023 22:42

RampantIvy · 14/12/2023 22:38

It's clear that some posters don't really value education the way others do.

I have taken DD out of school for holidays but it was primary school and only for a week. Claiming that a Disney holiday is a "learning" experience, however is beyond ridiculous, and won't contribute anything towards GCSE work unless it is weather patterns for geography.

Because I value education I never sent my kids to school.

Maireas · 14/12/2023 22:42

Cantbeardarknights · 14/12/2023 22:39

Totally agree Disney at 14 really isn’t once in a lifetime.

sorry OP but 3 weeks of GCSE maths physics chemistry . She’ll either need to take up teachers tome to catch her up and they then build on those as they or along or she’ll need to put in an awful lot of effort teaching herself. History English etc prob easier to catch up on but no way is a trip to Florida more important than school at a time when the teachers want to hit the ground running and crack on with the GCSE syllabus

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History and English are not easier to catch up on. There are skills being taught, and practising exam technique as well as content.