£60 each parent fine for sisters wedding

[Luckz66]

Desperate for advice please!!!!
Before the six weeks holiday I asked the head teacher of my sons school for permission to take him out of school for 5 days to attend my sisters wedding in Turkey. She verbally said if it was put into writing she couldn’t see any reason why this wouldn’t be granted as he has good attendance and in greater depth in his SATS.
I put this in writing the beginning of the new school year and had no reply. I wrote in again towards the end of September stating I had booked the flights etc and being as I hadn’t heard anything, permission had been granted. In the meantime the school has had a new headteacher and I have been issued with a fine for taking my son out.
Since 7th November I have been trying to get a reply from the head but only today after emailing the schools trust head have I been contacted stating that the fine still stands and I’ll have to pay it!
Any ideas on what I can do?
Thanks

bubbles I don't mean that all policies are renewed every year. I mean that each year, the governors each have to sign a code of conduct saying that they, as governors, agree to abide by all school policies. In our LA, it's part of the LA approved pack of documents that governors sign each year (along with business interest form etc). Maybe it's a regional thing though? If I can be arsed later I'll look up to see exactly what it says.

Obviously all parents are supposed to abide by the school policies, and the implications for the governor as a parent would be the same as for any parent if they breached the policy, but the code of conduct means that governors can be asked to step down from the GB if they don't abide by policies.

phr47bridge thanks, I suspect it's exactly as you describe. And to be fair the LA do make their procedure fair, we just messed it up

but what is the policy - that you should take unauthorised absence (in which case yes untenable) or that unauthorised absences would be fined (in which case can pay the fine and move on)

I would be amazed if the policy wasn't that leave may not be taken in term time except in exceptional circumstances, and if you take it anyway then it's unauthorised. And if its unauthorised then you can be fined. Just because you're paying a fine doesn't then mean it's OK to take the absence.

"My cousin is a teacher in the same school her kids attend and she was granted 6 days at the beginning of sept for a family holiday in Spain! She and her two children were granted the time off"

And now there is a new Head you say...one who does not authorise governor, family and staff term time holidays.

Do you not think it might look bad, a Head turning a blind eye to staff and governors taking term-time holiday when they clearly do not meet the stringent circumstances under which Heads are allowed to authorise time out of school?

I can't begin to think how you imagine it is acceptable for a Governor to protest under these circumstances.

Oh, sorry - I see your cousin is a teacher in a different school, not your school.

So two heads risking being seen to operate favouritism.

It's the way it is now, blame the awful government we have.
Private schools don't see a problem with kids taking time out for family occasions.
Looks like you'll just have to pay up.
I'm sure kids will learn more from a visit to Turkey than they would in school, anyway.

No, they won’t learn more in Turkey for s family wedding. It’s not a history or culture trip one assumes. If it’s a big Turkish family wedding that might be different.

No. I still have never signed such a document. We have a code of conduct for our meetings though, which we agree. Therefore it’s a local thing. However a governor cannot be removed for breach of it. By whom? There are rules about who can be a governor but no rules regarding removal for a breach of a policy. That wouldn’t be a legal position to take in my view. However a breach of some policies would make it extremely difficult for a governor to continue.

You’re lucky they haven’t charged £60 per parent per day

No she isn't lucky at all. It's per period of absence, not per day. Why does this nonsense get wheeled out on every thread about holidays in term time?

Just pay it OP. It's the easiest thing to do. Don't fight it. You won't win.

bubbles Found it! It's not a local document, it's the NGA Model Code of Conduct for Governors, and I'm surprised you don't have to sign it (or something similar). It says, among loads of other stuff about upholding the school's ethos and not doing anything to embarrass the school - "We agree to adhere to the school’s rules and polices and the procedures of the governing board as set out by the relevant governing documents and law." It then later says: "If we believe this code has been breached, we will raise this issue with the chair and the chair will investigate; the governing board will only use suspension/removal as a last resort after seeking to resolve any difficulties or disputes in more constructive ways." Implying that suspension or removal could in theory be used, even if it's a last resort.

Private schools don't see a problem with kids taking time out for family occasions.

Oh they do. They really do. However, they fear risking the parent taking their child and money away, much much more.

I don't think it can be waived now, you'd need to go to court and fight your case.
I'd be annoyed as well OP, especially when permission was given verbally.

Personally I'd just be a very difficult governor for the rest of your term and make it known that you're not donating to the Christmas fair etc.

Those of you saying the la gives the fine. That is correct-but only because the school asks them to-the la don’t do it under their own steam.

Re: private schools - yes lots of private secondaries have open mornings and taster days and exams and interviews during the school day, and children at prep schools attend these no bother. I’d imagine any child at a state primary looking to go to a private secondary would also be allowed to attend such events, much like they would a music exam or similar. It would go down as ‘educational activity’ or something rather than holiday or unauthorised absence.

As a private school teacher I can tell you that kids taking term time holidays is a pain. However, if parents are paying to be there, you can’t really fine them for not being there 😂 and as someone else said, numbers at most schools aren’t great and we wouldn’t want to lose a pupil over a week’s holiday. My head approves all requests I believe, but it is ‘discouraged’.

Where is this school that let a teacher have a holiday to spain in term time?! I want a job!

OP - pay up. It’s £60. The holiday presumably cost you far more than that. Plus, you wouldn’t have not gone if you knew it hadn’t been approved would you?

NGA suggestions are not a mandatory policy. The government dictates mandatory policies. We have no suspension or removal but there are some policies where, if a governor breached them, there might well be serious repercussions. However the things that disqualify a governor are set out by the govt, not the NGA. The NGA advice is optional and my LA doesn’t necessarily follow it and many of the schools wouldn’t be members either. We have first class advice available from the LA which we pay for and that’s sufficient.

As far as the op is concerned though, I would still play by the rules that have been adopted by the school/LA.

No, the NGA stuff isn't mandatory, but lots of schools use it. The point I'm making is that the OP might well have signed up to it (or to a similar code of conduct agreeing to abide by school policies).

Pay it. It's not that much compared to a holiday in the school holidays. It's how it is now. I don't personally agree with it. Not everything is doable and affordable in the holidays. It does feel like school take our children away from us. It's also important for children to experience life and holidays away from school. I do understand education is important too. Sorry they have made you feel irresponsible it's over the top x