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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Dd's school refusing time off

77 replies

Susiesue61 · 27/05/2016 18:19

I may be being precious here but would welcome some advice!
Dd is 14 and plays her sport at county U15 level. She has really impressed over winter training and made her full women's county debut this month 😀
We have always asked school to authorise he days off to play, and in the past 2 years it hasn't been a problem. This year, her head of year emailed to say they would only authorise the days if she made more effort in lessons, and I have been into school and we have improved things greatly. I also had an email from the attendance officer saying the head had approved the dates subject to how many.

The week after half term is school exam week, and the way it falls, there are 3 games. I asked school to allow her to play some if not all, but they have refused point blank to let her play any. At the moment, she wants to make this sport her career, in some way, and school is just an inconvenience! I do make sure that she does all her homework and revises for exams.
If I let her play and she has it as an unauthorised absence, what are the consequences for that? I don't want to ruin our relationship with school - Dd has never been on the head's radar, and I don't want her to be marked out as a nuisance.

She plays for lots of the school's teams, often when she doesn't really want to, and I feel there should be a bit of give and take.

OP posts:
AugustaFinkNottle · 28/05/2016 09:06

And why on earth did they choose to schedule three matches in the week after half term week?

GeorgeTheThird · 28/05/2016 09:08

I think it's not at all surprising they don't want her out of school during exam week. I think it ridiculous the sport has arranged the fixtures during that week. I think she needs to find a bit more discipline generally if she wants to do well in her chosen sport. And finally, I think you need to have a chat with someone at school and accept their view in the end - you and she will need to cooperate with them for a while and you daughters sporting career is highly unlikely to go down the pan at this stage.

OurBlanche · 28/05/2016 09:09

Take her out, let her pay the matches. The governing body arranges matches around exams at that age, school are being obstructive.

As a teacher, a sport science teacher, I have had these arguments with SMT before. They need to acknowledge your DDs out of school activities... they have to, it is part and parcel of supporting Every Student's growth and maturity.

If she is still achieving highly in maths and they have not mentioned any behavioural issues then they are BVVU to refuse at such short notice.

Make a fuss, take it to the Board of Governors if the HT won't talk sensibly. Point out that a student with sporting skills is usually seen by HTs as clear evidence of their supporting the DIVERSITY of their students... any HT who refuses does so for personal issues, e.g. not being in any way sporty!!

Have fun!

OurBlanche · 28/05/2016 09:12

Oh, as for the exams... it is school exam week, not National exams... so school has the same opportunities as every other school... set up an exam sitting for her as and when. Having done this for A level mocks for almost 20 years I know it can be a bit of a pain, but, if the HT is supportive, there is always a teacher or 10 who appreciates that sport - or any non academic pursuit - can be just as important for many students.

TwoLeftSocks · 28/05/2016 09:17

I think I'd be more annoyed at the county organisers than the school.

dodobookends · 28/05/2016 09:22

"Dear School,

I am sure that you will be pleased to know that DC has been selected to play/audition for/perform in x and will therefore be absent from school on ...date(s). It is extremely important that they attend because of .... and we are delighted that they have been given this marvellous opportunity.

Would you therefore please arrange authorised absence on that date.

Kind regards

Parent of DC"

BoGrainger · 28/05/2016 09:23

Every student taking part is missing school. I can't see how these organisers get away with it! There are two days every week when there is no school. There are swathes of holidays when there is no school. And there is 4.30 onwards every day!

dodobookends · 28/05/2016 09:31

Augusta they aren't pushing parents into breaking the law - sporting activities and performing are activities which are allowed and absence can be authorised.

LIZS · 28/05/2016 09:37

School aren't obliged to. Imho it should be down to you to take a stand and tell the team manager that your dd is unavailable that week due to exams. This also sends a clear message to your dd that she needs to take time out to focus on schoolwork and that both go hand in hand no matter what her current ambitions. Many schools will have had exams before half term so the team manager may not be fully aware of the clash but expecting that availability of secondary age players will be patchy. If she is that good missing the occasional game won't be an issue.

lljkk · 28/05/2016 09:43

Meh, tell them she'll be out of school on X date to attend the match. If they (unlikely) want to go thru the major hassle of chasing you for a fine b/c of one day, then sobeit.

dodobookends · 28/05/2016 09:45

Every student taking part is missing school

Sporting competitions, West End shows and film/tv recordings take place all year round, they can't be rescheduled to take account of school hours/terms. There are (quite rightly) laws governing child participation, and they are a genuine reason to miss school.

There will be under 18's who are currently competing abroad, on a film set, in the cast of a big show, in training for the Olympic Games, whatever. They will be absent from school on occasion. It is unavoidable, and it is lawful.

bigTillyMint · 28/05/2016 09:45

Challenge them. Although it's not ideal to have 3 sports events in one week, she is "only" in Y9 and she should be able to get any notes/homework from the teacher or a friend if necessary.

If she was at my DC's school (normal state comp), she would be given time off - they are proud and supportive of teens who excel at sport. The boys who are signed to pro footy academies have weekly release to go to training.

ohnoppp · 28/05/2016 09:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AugustaFinkNottle · 28/05/2016 09:56

Augusta they aren't pushing parents into breaking the law - sporting activities and performing are activities which are allowed and absence can be authorised.

Yes, they can be authorised. But the point is that they don't have to be. Frankly, I can see exactly why this school isn't keen on authorising three absences in the week after half term when any sporting body with half a brain could have organised at least some of the matches for half term week.

Does anyone else have a sneaky suspicion that they didn't choose half term week because they reckoned that people would be going away - i.e. they put more value on that than on participants' need for education?

AugustaFinkNottle · 28/05/2016 09:57

The governing body arranges matches around exams at that age, school are being obstructive.

The governing body has nothing whatsoever to do with this issue.

ohnoppp · 28/05/2016 09:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoGrainger · 28/05/2016 10:02

If extra-curricular activities only involve students (e.g. Under-15s etc) then the school day SHOULD be taken into account before arranging timetables and booking facilities because everyone taking part is affected. My opinion anyway.

dodobookends · 28/05/2016 10:15

My dd's school was very accommodating. At one point she was due to miss a mock GCSE, and they said no problem, she can take it afterwards in a separate room, and with the others who missed it because they were off sick that day or had some other clash.

Unless they are missing actual official exams the school can easily make alternative arrangements.

Schools very often can't get their heads around the idea that kids who are talented in extra-curricular activities need their help and support in order to fulfil their career ambitions. Surely that is what schools are for at the end of the day - to help kids achieve their full potential in life - not to stand in their way and prevent them from participating in what they are best at.

superram · 28/05/2016 10:44

I would authorise it. Take her out.

dodobookends · 28/05/2016 11:11

They didn't make all 8 Harry Potter films at the weekends and in school holidays, did they?

AugustaFinkNottle · 28/05/2016 11:13

The child actors in the Harry Potter films had teachers on set.

dodobookends · 28/05/2016 11:15

Yes I know. They were there for months at a time.

BoGrainger · 28/05/2016 11:20

Harry Potter films and the like don't just involve students so they wouldn't be expected to work around a school timetable. A production using JUST students, yes, I would expect the school timetable to be taken into consideration.

dodobookends · 28/05/2016 11:38

Not always possible when different neighbouring counties have different term dates.

LIZS · 28/05/2016 11:47

Performing children are licensed under strict rules including limiting their working hours and how their education must be supported while away from school with provision made for tutors, chaperones etc. Most child actors will state how important this is long term as that career path can be so fickle, just like you might get injuries in sport which prevent achieving a consistently high enough level.