2 questions about private schools and taking children on holidays during the term.

[Dorange]

I am asking on behalf oh a friend who hasn't got a profile here.

1- How much roughly is a "cheap" private school in SW London and what are the requirements to enrol a child at reception? I mean, do all schools do tests?

2- What happens if the parents take children out of school (state or private) few weeks (2 or 3, not consequently) a year? (they both travel abroad sometimes for their careers and don't have family in the country, can't afford living in nanny). I know the child will miss out on lessons and have the risk to get behind, but a part from that, what else?

up

Is there anything wrong with my question?

My kids are at prep in that area, we take 2 weeks extra every year to go to Australia. I think independents make their own rules.

1. central SW London and you're looking at upwards of £12k pa.

2. in a private school,if the head doesn't approve he'll make life uncomfortable for you (snide pressure). But as the hols are longer in the first place, and the fees are high, term time holidays aren't a big deal (usually). In a state school, the maximum a head can authorise is 10 days (and it's solely at head's discretion, no right to time off). Parents can be fined for unauthorised absences.

Thanks speedos, so you take the 2 weeks extra that suits you or is it extra school holiday? Also do you mind telling me how much roughly you per per year per head?
Oh and is it prep same as reception?

Private schools do have the same obligations to monitor attendance as state schools. In DD's school they actively discourage term time holidays and only authorise absence in exceptional circumstances. The attendance forms part of the formal educational record which will go forward for senior schools to see at application. So of the very selective seniors will take attendance in to account when offering places so could limit senior options.
I suspect attitudes to term time holidays will be influenced on where a particular prep has ambitions for it's pupil to attend.

Mr Gove just took away the right for State schools to allow ten days for holiday.

Most private schools I know would frown heavily on regular time out, it would be better to try to arrange travel for the more generous holidays.

I know of one private preponderance SW London which is about 9k per year and another which is 15k. Most are between the two but nearer the upper end I would say.

Not sure about absences but in state it is increasingly difficult unless you are prepared to pay fines. In Private you should n't have the fines but as the previous poster said it could go one your school record (although frankly I'd be gobsmacked if a school did this for a good candidate if it were to prevent them going on to a good senior school since it would impact their exit data; however I can imagine them including it on assessment for a less successful candidate iyswim).

Preponderance???? If only I had used such a wonderful word!!

Prep school

Our pre-prep was very relaxed about time out, but prep and senior schools were not at all happy about any absence outside official school holidays - taking the view that these are quite long enough already and parents should be able to organize themselves around them. I suspect in general the more academic the school the less likely they are to look kindly on removing a child during term time.

Pre-prep (up to Y3) pretty relaxed but prefer it to be at home beginning /end of term to minimise disruption. Prep (Y3/4 - 8) frown on even dentists appointments during term time.

If I understand the OP right they are considering DC travelling with them when they go for work? Depends on the work, but that doesn't sound practicable to me. It might be easier to look for a school where DC could board if they need to - there are schools that do flexible boarding from Y4.

Savoir a lot of the more selective seniors specifically ask for attendance figures so the preps don't necessarily have a choice.

Plus a lot of schools are moving to academic record being a paper free item so very difficult to remove attendance figures from that record.
Academic record single on line item here containing reports (no paper ones now) and attendance figures etc. At senior school adminision have to give school permission for potential senior school to access this.

1. Anything up to about 12k in Pre Prep but may qualify for EY funding for a term or more during Reception. Not all are selective as such but most will assess in some way.
2. Varies but dc one disapproved , officially at least.

In answer to your first question, second part, some schools test, some don't. Some demand you register the child early, others may have places at the last minute. I think you friend would need to speak to the school about term time absences and explain the situation, most wouldn't like it much.

Yes, they can take the child with them, they say.
they work on the entertainment industry and child will be backstage

All they can do is talk to schools. Some might be fine with it, provide work for the child to take with them, etc, and explain the circumstances to future senior schools, others would not. I know my DC's school wouldn't, but that is at least in part because it is a mostly boarding school (nowhere near London) so their view would be that boarding would be the logical solution. Day schools would be more likely to consider it, I would imagine.

I realise the immense financial savings achieved by taking holiday in term time, however, the children really do miss out on important activities when they miss school...especially when you are paying for the privilege of attending. I am a teacher and we have increasing numbers of children disappearing up to two weeks before the actual school break...it is so sad to see how disappointed they are to realise all the activities they are missing out on (even though half of them are all off on holidays I would almost do anything to go on and to incredible places that are well worth visiting!). If it was absolutely necessary to take them out, then needs must but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone really.

We usually take the extra 2 weeks tagged around either the 3 weeks at Xmas or Easter so 5 weeks away total. Our school is very multinational with approx. half the parents born abroad so lots of people take extra time off (approved). But my kids are still in pre-prep (up to Y2) so not sure what will happen in the upper school.

Fees are 9k approx to Y2 then go up a bit.