Private school refusing to authorise leave

[Springhare76]

DS2 is 15 and just started year 11 at a private school. He has just been offered an 8 week trial at a premier league football academy which would involve him missing 2 mornings of school a week. I have emailed the school for approval. Not heard back yet but I think they are going to decline it which means that he will miss out on a massive opportunity. He lives and breathes football so this is huge for him. What are my options if they do refuse leave?

I'm really shocked by the school's response and that would mean a complete breakdown in relationship with the school for me I'm afraid. I have never heard of a school refusing leave for something like this, especially one you are paying for! Once your son is out of that school I would leave them a very honest review and name and shame the school to warn other parents because I don't know of any parents who would be happy with this.

It looks to me like the head knows that you won’t give up this opp, and so he is basically getting your son out of his school the easy way.

The revised schedule is actually more than it was before

before it was 2 mornings, so one day in total
now it’s 1.5 days.

all very last minute and what the explanation of the club for at the very last minute increasing the schedule

I've read the thread.
Others have alluded to other threads where op children have behaviour/attendance issues. And that makes total sense of the schools stance.
If this was a child who was working hard behaving well and on track for stellar grades school would be bending over backwards to keep them

You clearly have NOT read the OP's posts where she explained that this boy is a good student and has no attendance issues.

Oh I have, but I am just looking at the whole picture

"Others" were so stupid they couldn't read properly.

He doesn't have any attendance issues. Maybe 2 sick days in the last year. Not that that has anything to do with it. Better not to comment than to make moronic comments.

If anyone is every considering sending their kids to private school then don't bother! This situation is a perfect example of how you get screwed over. 10k a term from the salary that has been taxed at 45% to have a headteacher kill off a massive opportunity for my son, against the parents wishing. Fuming. I actually don't think I can let him continue at this school after this.

OP it’s absolutely rubbish for your son ! Would the school feel differently if it was Rugby , Cricket and opportunity to be in a West End Show? Is snobbery involved because it’s football? That is what I would be asking!

Of course you can get him continue OP, getting his gcses is the most important thing. Honestly, if he's talented enough to get offered the trial he'll get offered other opportunities.

Are you? Are you an expert?

I have one child who can’t set foot in a school and has to be educated online, and one who loves school and can’t wait to be there every day. What’s my ‘whole picture’?

How does he feel though @Springhare76 is this truly worth going nuclear over and potentially disrupting his future with his friends and when he takes his GCSEs

because I went to DD year 12 information evening and was told that gcse grades are more and more being looked at now for apprenticeship and university applications as the are getting more competitive

I know we have clashed on this but I do agree the headteacher is wrong to block and where it not for the fact that the school have to sign off on it my recommendation would just be to have unauthorised absence and accept any fine etc that came with that

But it does come down to what your son wants and for his future and what is worth sacrificing

Plus given that most expect a terms notice and you potentially owe fees for next term.

so talk to your son with a honest assessment of what the risks and consequences are. My advice see it through the GCSEs and look at options beyond that there are sixth form programmes out there Fulham/Man City/Sunderland in a quick search all offer something I am sure you could narrow it down geographically and see what is there

What does your son want to do?

I think it’s unfortunate there’s a head like this, but could have been state or private. Some people in the world are just like that.

But at a state school you're not paying for the privilege.

@XelaMtrue

So within 24/48 hours of the training commencing, the club have increased the time from 2 mornings to 1 full day and a 1 morning? bit shitty of them.

OP, start looking for online schooling option. This head isn’t going to budge, and the club hasn’t exactly helped matters by increasing the training commitment at such short notice

to be fair OP, as referred to upthread, you have posted in the past about concern about your son being allowed to return to the school this school year for year 11? So not totally unreasonable for posters to speculate that the head may be looking for a way out

I have two at private
and I’d climb over broken glass to keep them there. Superb experience, education, facilities, pastoral care and…. Head.

This. And what anout the work he will miss - are you expecting teachers to help him catch up? Why is he attending the school anyway if you want him to miss 25% of it?

Sorry 20%

Pure speculation I know, but I do wonder if the club concerned may be a factor in the head's decision. If he has a football club he follows, the club for your son is a rival or some existing hatred by their fans.

Unprofessional were that the case.

I speak from a place of some experience. I’m no expert but my brother was with a premiership club until he was 18 and made a career out of lower league football. I know he did not miss any school - and nor would my parents have let him.

Homeschool needs sign off from the LA and online school still will have attendance things - looked at it once it is as strict about attending as any other school and would still need to sign off if the club requires a signature
you (rightly) can’t just pull your child out of school in year 11 unnoticed

if the head doesn’t sign off then the opportunity has gone and any leaving is a knee jerk reaction - presumably the child has friends etc.

loads of clubs now do great 16-18 opportunities designed to see you into a career in football in some way (which I think the OP indicated was the realistix future plan) and get to see how it works in a premier league club plus get an education that is what they should be looking at now

Online schools though are far far more flexible about how you learn - lessons can be recorded, timetables moved around. And they are set up to work around other things like this. So long as they know why you aren’t in a live lesson it’s fine.

A sociable, sporty, popular 15 year old boy (I have one!) suddenly doing online home schooling…. Shit. Show. It would be AWFUL for my boy, me and the family

Has anyone suggested he should?