Unauthorised Absence Year 10 (science module) HELP PLEASE

[19forever]

As a family we have always made sure our children never had any unnecessary absence from schools ie Holidays etc. Attendance on average has been about 99%." However, we have always wanted to attend Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts and this has obviously conflicted with school dates. Our eldest child is in Y12 and our youngest in Y10 so this year we assumed we would be clear of exams as Y10 traditionally have not had exams during this period. We investigated this thoroughly before applying and getting tickets. However, the exam timetable has shown that a science GCSE module is set. We would like to approach the school with a view to resitting the module in January. We know the school will not authorise the absence due to the exam but we have made the choice that we are going to the festival and we wondered what the consequences would be regarding school. I appreciate that the overwhelmingly majority will find our actions wrong,however, we firmly believe that resitting the exam will not be detrimental to our child's attainment. Both our children are very keen musicians and wish to pursue a career in this field. I don't want lie to school and say he is ill but if I inform them about our trip (3 days leave)and they refuse to authorise it and we take him anyway what would happen?

If the children's school is a popular one, might you risk your younger child's sixth form place - knowing the child's parents prioritise going to a music festival over sitting a public exam. Know my son's school would have taken a very, very dim view of this. Think the worse thing you are doing is teaching your children that study and work is not that important; just don't come back on mumsnet moaning if the Head declines the younger one for the sixth form, they have to retake or miss getting into uni. Surely one of you can miss the first evening's acts for the sake of your child's education?
I did take my son our of school once for a long weekend when he was about nine, with the school's permission and with all the class work and prep completed prior to going away.

I think going down on the Friday would be the best, if you had the car all packed etc. and went straight from school.

BUT if you do go and don't do the exam, I would imagine an awful lot will be re-sitting in January anyway, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

I also don't agree with whoever said he was bound to get a lower mark in January. If that were true, nobody would ever take a resit!

I'd come back early for the exam.

Your DC is likely to get a lower grade in January, and most schools will charge you for entry.

It's really not an acceptable example to show to your DCs that exams can be missed for a festival!

Scatterchase- the vast majority of retakes DO get lower marks.

Regales without tuition almost always get lower marks.

The science exam bored is OCR and the paper begins at 2pm and lasts 40 minutes. The option to travel down after the exam is not viable due to distance etc. The decision to resit has not been taken lightly and we are now aware of what the impact maybe. Our DC is an able student and target grade is B but is currently working at A. I would be surprised if come 6th Form a very able student who just knuckles down and gets on with the set work and consistently achieves good grades would be rejected due to one blot on the copy book. Missing an exam should not be condoned but I believe in this instance the impact would be minimal and the life experience and bonding with the family would be worth it. I feel privileged that my teenagers want to spend quality time with us and are keenly planning our trip. How many parents of teenagers can say that? For many parents 5 nights in a tent with two teenagers would be a living hell this is our family holiday and this will be a lifelong memory.

You mean that the impact on you would be minimal, and that's the important thing eh?

It will be a royal pain in the arse for the school who have to organise the resit (oh, but there will probably be kids who genuinely need to resit and didn't just bunk off, so that makes it ok), and for his teacher who would quite like to have that module result for all sorts of planning.

It will be a pain in the arse for your kid who will have to study for the resit without the extra support he would have got when the whole class were taking it, and the fact that he will probably be slacking off when the rest of the class are studying because hey, he hasn't got an exam coming up so will miss out there too.

Not to mention the implicit lesson that GCSE modules aren't all that important.

You're coming across a bit pompous to be honest. '...festival of performing arts...' and this bit :

'Missing an exam should not be condoned but I believe in this instance the impact would be minimal and the life experience and bonding with the family would be worth it. I feel privileged that my teenagers want to spend quality time with us and are keenly planning our trip. How many parents of teenagers can say that? For many parents 5 nights in a tent with two teenagers would be a living hell this is our family holiday and this will be a lifelong memory.'

I'd have more respect for you if you just said 'sod it, we're going to Glastonbury, I know we're shouldn't but he's quite bright and he should do OK in the resit'. You're really trying hard to justify it to yourself though, aren't you?

agree totally abbierhodes. There are after all lots of music festivals over the summer that you could go to as a family - you have made your decision and now are trying to big it up - just be honest - you don't give a flying f* about this module and you are looking forward to the glastonbury line up. (Leeds fest/Reading are in the school hols btw for anyone else wondering about wrecking their kids exam results)

I have just read this thread. I think sitting the exam is much more important then going to Glatonbury. You don't have to miss the whole event but just go down late.
Yes I know you said distance is a problem but teenagers should be fine travelling long distances.

I really didn't know that mnistooaddictive. I remember us being urged to resit if we got under a certain mark, so the staff obviously thought we'd do better, and I'm pretty sure most people did do better the second time around.

Perhaps it's depends on whether you could have had a higher mark the first time, by revising better for example.