Can I take my daughter out of school to watch her sister play at the Royal Albert Hall

[Moodymmai1]

My eldest daughter is playing at the Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. I'm going and was going to go with my parents. Unfortunately they can't go now as my Dad is having an operation so they have two spare tickets. I can't find anyone to give them to, so I thought of taking my daughter, who is in Year 6. Would school authorise it? Should I take her anyway? What would you do?

No, school won't authorise it. Just make it a sick day

Call in sick. Tell her she tells anyone and she won't make it to yr 7

Have a fab time. Well done to your older dd!!

Just take her. The orchestra at DD's old primary school played there a few years ago. It was a wonderful experience and may well be a one off.

The teacher who gat the orchestra through also won Primary School Music Teacher of the Year award from Classic FM, and received a well deserved MBE for services to education.

Call in sick.

Put a request in to the school. If they say yes, great. If they say no, take her anyway and call her in sick on that day.

I'd always ask first, but they can't realistically stop you.

Take her and tell the school why. It will be probably unauthorised but so what? Are school going to refer you to the LEA who are then going to fine you? Nah. Better than lying imo. She could share her experience with the class afterwards. Schools should welcome pupils having and sharing these enrichments. Congratulations to your DD.

Depending on the school, they might authorise it. Personally, I'd take her, whether or not I had an authorised absence. It's not a regular event, and it's something worthy of time off.

Agree, just quietly take a sick day. They almost certainly won’t authorise it if you ask.

How wonderful for your older Dd

They won't fine you for one day of unauthorised absence if she has an otherwise unblemished attendance record. I'd be honest. If they don't authorise it, so what? Take her anyway.

For something like that I wouldn’t hesitate.

My school would authorise. It comes under the heading of exceptional circumstances.

Some heads would authorise it, especially the musical ones. Just ask and if they say no then go anyway and have it unauthorised. I can't imagine that school would really mind unless it's a really critical week or she's got the lead role in the Christmas production!

Our school would have authorised it.

I'd take mine regardless tbh.

Do ask the school. Some would authorise that but if they don’t, just tell them that you are taking it anyway and live with the unauthorised absence on her record. Don’t ask her to lie to the school though.

I asked permission for my DD to go to her brother's graduation day - and they refused!! Bloody ridiculous, what could be better than seeing a sibling graduate, meet all his female friends who were studying all different subjects etc. We went anyway, of course.

Be honest. Write to school explaining what you are doing and that you understand that school may not be able to authorise the absence. Be clear that this is what you are doing and why you feel it's beneficial for your DD to support her sister.

Don't phone in sick, that just encourages your DD to lie.

I would take her. School probably won't authorise it, but so what? Nothing will happen.

Well done on your dd. That's amazing. Definitely take her and have a lovely time.

My dc got authorised leave to go to their half brothers graduation. They were out of school for 3 days (& had a fab time!)

The head said it qualified as exceptional circumstances.

I think it is disgusting that wonderful family events like this might be refused permission. Definitely go anyway.

I would request permission and take her regardless. In my school she'd get it authorised, but if not, I wouldn't care about an unauthorised absence.

I'd never call in sick. That sends a bad message.

My Dc have left school in the last few years, but I wouldn't have hesitated to take them for events like that. I wouldn't have to ask permission, just let the school know. Mind you, we're in Scotland and Scottish schools are much more relaxed about lots of things than English schools are.

Wow!! Her sister playing at the Royal Albert Hall? When is that going to happen again. Definitely take her. Tell the school afterwards. Apart from an amazing important family occasion it is an education experience. Bet the school would take her out of normal lessons to see Macbeth or similar. Kids miss lessons through school for sports occasions and all sorts or reasons. Definitely take her. You can either tell the school the truth afterwards and argue the case if they try to fine you or just take a sick day. Enjoy. You must be so proud of your elder daughter. Her sister should see her. She might never get the opportunity again.

Thank you, everyone ♥️

In fact I spoke to the Headteacher this morning and they have actually authorised it!