Reqeust for term-time absence refused - what happens if we go anyway?

[MonkeyBear]

ds1 is 5 and in reception. Dh's grandmother will be 100 in May and we have asked for permission to remove ds1 from school for 3 days to allow us to travel to Ireland to celebrate her birthday with the whole family. It's not a very big family and the five of us (me, dh and 3 ds's) represent almost half of her living relatives, so we are very keen to go and had thought that, given the special circumstances, we would be given permission to do so by the school.

However, we have just got a letter back from the headmistress saying that it is the school's policy not to authorise absence during term 5 because that it the term in which assessments are carried out.

Dh is adamant that we should go anyway. Would this have any consequences?

that's absolutely ridiculous. i would take them out of school and write a letter of complaint to the LEA.

...maybe not- they might tell the EWO

i got seven days authorised for may 08 during assessment time with no problems and even three days for start of next school year. do they assess reception kids. dd is in reception
Some schools are really strict

Not much that hasn't been said. My dc's school is normally really strict about leave of absence - and I can see why given some of the spurious reasons that it is asked for! However, when we had my dh's Grandmother's 100th birthday I spoke to the Head and was granted authorised absence for the 2 dc's - Years 2 and 5 at that point. It might have helped that I started with 'I know you aren't supposed to agree these sorts of things...' which prompted her to assert her authority with an 'It's my school, I'll authorise what I like - you must go!' Both dc's were asked to take in photos and talk about the day on their return.
If she'd said no - I'd still have gone!

i'm surprised they can refuse you.unless the rules are different where i am (wales).
I took my 3 kids out of school for a fortnights holiday in September of last year(which apparently is the limit per every 12 months-10 days).Anyway,as my friends were all organising a holiday this year they invited us to come-in July. I was convinced we wouldn't be granted permission.However,headmaster said he wasn't allowed to refuse holidays but all they asked was that the children took photos and maybe kept a diary of their holiday...!?(mine are 9,8 and 7).