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AIBU?

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Original poster

DS17 wants to skip school day for UCAT. AIBU to say no??

88 replies

PoisedTiger · 07/09/2026 21:58

DS17 has his UCAT coming up next week. He has asked to skip school this Wednesday so he can do some final preparation.

AIBU to refuse to lie to the school and call him in sick?

School attendance is important to me, and I don't want to set a bad example by lying.

I have absolutely no doubts about his time management, he is doing brilliantly academically and is currently predicted 4 As*.

Should I just support him and pull the sickie, or am I right to insist on the truth?

OP posts:
AnnaQuayRules · 07/09/2026 22:41

I'd let him take the day off school but I'd be honest and tell them why.

PleaseDontAsk · 07/09/2026 22:42

Your son is months or weeks away from being an adult and has aspirations to be a doctor and this is how you treat him - like a five year old.

He's being responsible you're being ridiculous.

ACynicalDad · 07/09/2026 22:43

It's not like a day off primary school to go to Alton Towers. Give him some autonomy on this.

JoWilkinsonsno1fan · 07/09/2026 22:47

You should absolutely support him, this is really important. Give the lad a break!!

BerryTwister · 07/09/2026 22:48

I wouldn’t lie and say he was ill. It’ll be obvious and embarrassing. I’d simply say he was sitting the UCAT exam, and wanted a day to prepare, and if they want to they can mark it as unauthorised, but he’s not going to school. I suspect the school will authorise the time off, as success in uni placements benefits them too.

Emma8888 · 07/09/2026 22:48

Absolutely let him take the day! I can’t believe this is even a question!

Denim4ever · 07/09/2026 22:52

So if he's in the sixth form, he surely only has to be in school for actual classes?

BlueMum16 · 07/09/2026 22:54

When is the UCAT? Why Wednesday?

He needs time to prepare but guess he's been doing loads already.

I wouldn't lie. At 17 he needs to organise this himself with college. It should be approved if the exam day, if it's just revision it might go as unauthorized.

Good luck on the test.

CrispySquid · 07/09/2026 22:55

UCAT is important and he needs it for his future. It’s absolutely fine to take him out of school for this! School won’t care and probably authorise it. It’s not like it’s for something frivolous. School won’t bat an eye and will be encouraging/supportive.

TheGrimSmile · 07/09/2026 22:56

Are you always this controlling and intense? He's 17, not 7! He's nearly an adult. It's got nothing to do with you if he feels that he needs a day to revise.

Berengariaoftheverylowcountries · 07/09/2026 22:56

Get a grip op, of course this is ok

Gealach · 07/09/2026 22:57

I don’t know why you’d be making this difficult for him. Tell the school the truth. Your son sounds diligent, hardworking and responsible. He’d nearly an adult, he seems to know what he’s doing so I’d just be supportive of him at this stage.

geoger · 07/09/2026 22:59

Of course he should stay home to prepare. If that were my dc I would tell them to take the Monday and Tuesday off if they felt they needed it. At this stage the UCAT is far more important than a few missed lessons

Papster · 07/09/2026 23:10

If he’s planning to be a doctor he can self diagnose and take sick leave

PressTheSwitch · 07/09/2026 23:27

@PoisedTiger ofcourse you should support him. He wants to do well and the preparation day will help him. He’ll blame you, if it goes wrong and you haven’t given him time to prepare.

EveryoneUsingOutro · 07/09/2026 23:30

Ucat Is hugely important, and some courses are ridiculously difficult to get into without a brilliant score (even with amazing A levels) so I would definitely encourage him to put his all into this.

Give him the respect that at his age he knows what he needs to prepare.

In a year he’ll be away to Uni (hopefully) and making ALL his own decisions. Time to take a breath and start stepping back a bit OP.

Friendlygingercat · 07/09/2026 23:33

He sounds like a very bright and focused young adult so I think you should back off and allow him to do what he thinks is best. Tell him to ring the school and say he wont be coming in. Then both turn off your phones or block school for 24 hours. Deal with any fall out afterwards.

KindlySurfiingPlatypus · 07/09/2026 23:39

He should be allowed the prep day and I would think the school probably agrees even if they aren't allowed to officially authorise it - they may be able to put it down as authorised. Schools are allowed to authorise absence for attending open days and interviews for the next stage of education and UCAT seems like the same category, or they could call it Study Leave which is also allowable. But even if it's unauthorised it's a sensible use of his time.

iwasyoungonce · 07/09/2026 23:39

Do you have no idea how important this exam is, and how much preparation is needed? Your son is very sensibly prioritising this exam, you should of COURSE be supporting him. A 100% attendance certificate won’t get him into medical school, don’t be so silly.

caringcarer · 07/09/2026 23:53

School will let him take day as working from home for exam. It's no different to exam leave. He should ask school for day to prepare for test. No need to lie.

BibbityBoppityTwo · 07/09/2026 23:59

With things like this I always ask myself if it’s the sort of decision any adult might responsibly make for themselves. If so (and in this case I would suggest it is) I agree without hesitation. Especially as he’s shown himself to be responsible with prioritising his studies and there’s no chance he’s just trying to skive off.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 08/09/2026 00:10

UCAT trumps school for 1 day. Of course he should prepare. It’s utterly vital.

Jc2001 · 08/09/2026 00:14

PoisedTiger · 07/09/2026 21:58

DS17 has his UCAT coming up next week. He has asked to skip school this Wednesday so he can do some final preparation.

AIBU to refuse to lie to the school and call him in sick?

School attendance is important to me, and I don't want to set a bad example by lying.

I have absolutely no doubts about his time management, he is doing brilliantly academically and is currently predicted 4 As*.

Should I just support him and pull the sickie, or am I right to insist on the truth?

Isn't it kind of the point of his education up to this point and everything that he's been working towards? Let him have the day off.

Hollowvoice · 08/09/2026 11:47

I wouldn't lie

Tobacco · 08/09/2026 11:59

I'd let him. It's not like he wants the day off to do gaming. It's important.