Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

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:

RockinCara · 08/09/2026 16:13

UCAT is really important and he needs to feel prepared/confident about it. My stepson got three A*s but didn’t get onto his medicine course the first time he applied because of his UCAT score. He ended up taking the year out and reapplying.

Zanatdy · 08/09/2026 16:14

At this point UCAT is more important.

BlueMum16 · 08/09/2026 16:52

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 08/09/2026 12:56

You book a slot at a test centre. Often little choice but a Wednesday seems very sensible as it’s usually a half day in sixth form (sport fixtures in afternoon)

My DD’s grammar sixth form were ridiculous about attendance. She sat LNAT and I called out of courtesy to let them know and they didn’t know what it was and were really awkward. Another time they rang me to say she was absent and she was on an educational day trip abroad arranged through school. My fave was conversation late one afternoon. I said she’s told me she’s filled out the pink slip to notify you of uni open day attendance. Oh yes she has but it says open day is 9am tomorrow. I had to explain Queens Belfast was in NI and that it needed a flight to get there from England so yes that’s why not in her late afternoon lesson day before.

Show quote history

I get the UCAT can be midweek. My DS did it

The OP said his is next week but the OP DC wants this Wednesday off to revise. That's why I asked why this Wednesday? Why not this Thursday, Friday or weekend?

JemimaTiggywinkles · 08/09/2026 17:11

Let him stay off but tell the truth.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 08/09/2026 17:17

UCAT is more important.

EveryoneUsingOutro · 09/09/2026 00:48

No reply OP? @PoisedTiger

JustMeSimply · 09/09/2026 00:58

No wouldn't be lying or expecting my children to lie, tell the truth it would come out somehow anyway and of it's like our oldest who recently took a day to study the teachers were fine

Justonemorecoffeeplease · 10/09/2026 11:00

Don't lie, tell them it's for UCAT prep or test. It is important and I imagine he's already prepared for some time and this is the last push.

Mapletreelane · 10/09/2026 11:08

School gave my son the day off for his TMUA . Was their suggestion we didn't ask. Normal state school.

iPreferBooks · 10/09/2026 11:27

Let him stay off and tell sixthform/college the truth (personally I would say two days before).

If you say no, he could still just go to the library to revise instead.

Gengha · 10/09/2026 11:32

noblegiraffe · 07/09/2026 22:35

You don't need to phone him in sick, you tell them that he is preparing for an external exam. This is a reasonable excuse for absence!

This! Getting a good mark is critical to his career plans!

TeenLifeMum · 10/09/2026 11:33

I would support this but be honest with school. Sounds sensible to me. It’s not like he is bunking off for a concert and in the work place you’d book a day off before. Dd1’s school would have be fine with this.

WildClover · 10/09/2026 12:01

I would definitely let him have the time off. Missing one day of school is neither here or there

Flip

1 2 3 4