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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Authorised absence request denied (Y1) - have to go anyway. What can school do?

30 replies

cat71 · 02/03/2007 07:10

We recently submitted a request for authorised absence for my dd1 (Year 1) to miss 2 days of school following May/June half term. My dh's sister is getting married in France on Saturday at end of half term week. The request came back this week, was not approved by headteacher, as board of governors decided no absence will be authorised in May or June due to assessments. If she was in a SATs year, I wouldn't want her to miss school, but she is only in Year 1 and won't miss much in 2 days. We obviously can't miss the wedding and to change our flights to return the day after the wedding would incur a massive extra bill that we really can't afford, so we have to carry on as planned and go against the rules of the school. What can the school do? I read that they can charge a penalty, but even if they did, it would probably be less than the cost of changing our flights. Any advice would be welcome!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SouperciliousDragon · 02/03/2007 07:12

you go anyway and its marked down on school records (not dd's records but school's records) as an unauthorised absence

big doodly nothing

don't worry its an ofsted thing

brandnewhelsy · 02/03/2007 07:16

Ooh, - I would make an appointment to go in and see the headteacher. Explain (even if you have already) that its an unavoidable family commitment, that there's no way you can't miss school, but make it clear that you don't want to go against school regulations and want to know if there is any way time off can be granted in exceptional circumstances? And obviously state that your child is not involved in SATS and therefore won't be affected by them. I don't know what else to suggest, but maybe a teacher on here will have a better idea.

Kbear · 02/03/2007 07:16

go and don't give it another thought.

I once asked "so what are the consequences of taking a week off in term time". The answer was "there are no consequences, it's just on the school record".

They routinely deny absences because there are people that don't ensure their children get to school on a regular basis.

Hulababy · 02/03/2007 07:19

Go anyway. The unauthorised attendance record is more of a concern or worry for the school itself, rather than for your DD's record, especially as only 2 days.

marmiteontoast · 02/03/2007 07:36

I'd probably write a letter, explaining that the flights are already booked etc, that you do understand the school's viewpoint, and you won't take dd out of school during termtime again.

hannahsaunt · 02/03/2007 07:44

We were told that certain events are automatically approved and that included family weddings (my dh's sister got married recently and we had to take ds1 out of school for 2 days). Don't see how they can formally refuse it esp as she's not in a SATs year. Write to head.

mankyscotslass · 02/03/2007 07:52

Seems a bit unreasonable of the school. In our school the only ones ever refused are the ones who take the kids out on a regular basis and already had a bad attendance record. For something like a family wedding i would have thought they would have agreed! I would definetely write to or speak to the head! But overall there is not much they can do anyway, so go and enjoy the wedding!

Pixiefish · 02/03/2007 08:12

They probably HAVE to refuse as it's policy and if they agree to one then they have to agree to the others. I'd just go

pointydog · 02/03/2007 08:16

Just go. It'll be unauthorised absence which isn't a big deal.

coveredinbees · 02/03/2007 08:21

I think it is unreasonable of the school not to have any kind of discretion or flexibility about the application of such a policy - what about if it was for a funeral?
I would personally visit the head and explain the situation and gwhy you are going anyway.
fwiw I would go even if it were SATS year, because I don't really see the difference tbh

Beetrootccio · 02/03/2007 08:22

Oh just go - igore the ridiculous rule

Beetrootccio · 02/03/2007 08:22

I write saying

ds will not be at school on xxx

regards Mrs beetroot

swedishmum · 02/03/2007 10:47

As a teacher I'd say just go. I would probably write one of my polite but stroppy letters using some big words too and copy to the governors, adding that of course I value education and do not take this action regularly. Can't imagine many schools would be so inflexible.

hercules1 · 02/03/2007 10:50

Pretty surprised at that adnI'm also a teacher. I would just go for a wedding.

Piffle · 02/03/2007 10:54

if a sschool gets really narky about it, if that year has a waiting list they can offer your childs palce out.
But for two days I'm not sure they'd do it.

shimmy21 · 02/03/2007 10:54

stupid school.

Of course the cowards way out (which I would be tempted to take) is to phone up on the days dd is missing and say sorry she's ill so she wont be coming in.

The school will know it's a lie but frankly they wont care because it will mean they can write it as an authorised absence and it looks better on their records.

If you go down the path of trying to argue logic with the school you risk fines etc and more hassle for everyone.

Lazylou · 02/03/2007 11:11

I agree, I would personally call in sick for her and still go, rather than argue with the school.

Bumblelion · 02/03/2007 11:22

We went on holiday in December to Lapland and my children had to miss 3 days at school. My eldest daughter (high school) had authorised absence, my son (junior school) had authorised absence but my youngest daughter (reception) had unauthorised absence. When I asked for the holiday form, the office secretary told me that my youngest's would not be authorised because the school has a very bad absence record and therefore they could not give her authorised absence. We still all went and nothing was said. It just shows on the school records.

Piffle · 02/03/2007 11:24

we got turned down from ds request when he went to NZ over xmas.
But we did go back and beg and renegotiate and got a decent compromise
Worth appealing to their better side.

Original poster

cat71 · 02/03/2007 16:37

Thanks for the useful suggestions - it's good to know what others have done in a similar situation.

OP posts:

pointydog · 02/03/2007 17:02

in a similar situation I had it put down as unauthorised absence.

stargazeypie · 04/03/2007 08:53

As a teacher I'd say go. It's NOT the schools fault - this is a policy which is imposed on them and they find it as ridiculous as you. But unfortunately they are judged on various criteria, one of which is absences. So if there is a policy in your ed authority that they can't agree to this kind of absence, the schools just gotta go with it.

Ceolas · 04/03/2007 09:00

That's bonkers.

Write as beetroot says. That's what I do.

robinpud · 04/03/2007 09:23

Ridiculous situation but blame tony and his cronies for including unauthorised absence stats in all new reporting requirements.
Say no more about it and go. Send in letter saying child was unwell . School can record it whatever way they want. lose no sleep over it.

ipanemagirl · 06/03/2007 10:04

my chair of govs told me that schools can now charge 100 pounds per day unauthorised absence! I can't believe it! I don't know if anyone else has heard that. But schools are being given a harder and harder time about absence - what can they do? rock and hard place!

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