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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Taking Yr 7 out of school for a holiday? Would you?

23 replies

sogrownup · 04/07/2011 13:20

We have been invited on holiday by our family in Scotland. Their school holiday dates are different to the English which benefits us in two ways, one, it is significantly cheaper and two, it is significantly quieter. The best part of course will be sharing it with family.

DS starts Yr7 in September. We have never been concerned about taking him out of primary education for a holiday but we are not sure about High School. What do you all think? Would value lots of opinions and experiences before we make a decision...
Thanks all.

OP posts:

Scholes34 · 04/07/2011 13:32

Early in Year 7, no, but towards the end of Year 7 might be tempted, though I know secondary schools aren't keen on this. You may end up going opting for unauthorised absence.

Deaddei · 04/07/2011 13:34

I wouldn't.
Not sure if you mean for a week or fortnight, and when exactly in the summer term- there are yr 7 exams usually in JUne.
Also it's not like primary where they finish doing work weeks before.....they certainly do a lot of stuff in the summer term
I just think it sends the wrong message to your ds that education/school isn't important.

Zippylovesgeorge · 04/07/2011 13:35

I wouldn't take a child out of schoo at the beginning of a new school year especially if they were going to a new school. Those first few days set the dynamic for the school year. Even such things as who they sit next to in classes are set etc.

Also high school won't authorise absences for holidays - it gets classed as unauthorised and you run the risk of being fined - sorry.

Amaretti · 04/07/2011 13:37

Not near the beginning, when groups of friends are forming. And not at all if it is the kind of academic school where they do an end of year exam in each subject. Why can't you see family where there is overlap in holiday times?

Original poster

sogrownup · 04/07/2011 14:26

That is an option Amaretti, but I think it would be sooo much more expensive for them rather than sooo much cheaper for us...not sure they could afford to go in English holiday time due to the increased cost.

Re the other threads, we were considering the end of Yr 7 for 2 weeks just before the English summer holiday begins...we wouldn't consider it at the start of Yr 7 as we agree with you all that it is such an important time for getting to know your new peer group etc...

Didn't know it would be classed as an unauthorised absence so that would worry us!! Lots to consider.

OP posts:

Mabelface · 04/07/2011 14:29

Well, my year 7 children have finished their exams and are now winding down towards the end of term, so I would say that the last two weeks of term aren't going to be groundbreaking.

Kiggy · 04/07/2011 14:32

Would check the school plans for the end of year 7.
Lots of schools near me plan school trips post exam time. DS's took the whole year to France, and our local comp take the whole of year 7 on an adventure camp at the beginning of July. DS may not be happy to miss out!

Original poster

sogrownup · 04/07/2011 14:41

Thanks madlizzy Assuming you are a teacher, would your school authorise the last 2 weeks? Do parents tend to apply or is it unusual? Thanks

OP posts:

Amaretti · 04/07/2011 15:09

Pretty sure it would be unauthorised. But more to the point, he'd miss all the end of term fun stuff, trips and so on.

seeker · 04/07/2011 18:14

I RAELLY wouldn;t do this. I don;t think taking children out of school for holidays is a good idea anyway, but year 7 is so important, and the end of the year is when a lot of friendships get consolidated, and plans for the holidays are made. He might find himself having a lonely summer holiday if you do this.

GrungeBlobPrimpants · 04/07/2011 18:27

I have some Scottish friends who have this issue. They used to take a week off near end of primary but now at secondary they do a long weekend instead.

I'd be wary as missing a week in secondary is a different game to a week in primary - and in the summer term there are exams, residential trips and so on. No way would I take a child out in autumn or spring terms from academic point of view alone.

HarrietJones · 04/07/2011 19:13

Xh wants to take dd1 out of year 7. I don't agree with it especially as I know it will be unauthorised and if they were in the mood for fining etc( it is threatened) it would come back on me as he has nothing to do with school.

inthesticks · 04/07/2011 19:36

As someone who took them out of school every year in Primary I agree with those who say no to secondary.
I find they have lessons right up to the last day, there is no wind down and anything missed in a subject might cause a problem.
Our school often has parents evening right at the end of July. You wouldn't want to miss that five minutes a year that you get to speak to the teachers.

bubblesincoffee · 04/07/2011 21:13

I wouldn't do it, and I strongly disagree with anyone else doing it, especially in secondary.

Apart from the fact that you will be making your child miss valuable learning time, it is very unsupportive of the school, who get questioned by the LA if there is that much unauthorised leave. I could possibly understand you wanting to take a little but of time around one of the shorter holidays, but right before you get six weeks off is just silly.

Original poster

sogrownup · 04/07/2011 23:44

Silly I just wouldn't want to be, but thanks all for your vauable and balanced feedback. it's been a great help.

OP posts:

mummytime · 05/07/2011 06:32

At my DCs school it would not be authorised (they wouldn't authorise the last 1/2 day of term last year for a wedding). Also in DCs school, I'm not sure what they do for the last week (lessons leading into next year I think), but the week before is Activities week when most of the fun stuff of the school year happens.
Admittedly I maybe requesting some time off next year for a DC, but this will be a partly educational musical tour.

7Seas · 05/07/2011 18:37

i would do it at the end of year 7. no problem They won't be missing much.
We usually miss the first couple of days in the septmber term as still away, but never missed the very first day of a new school.

DilysPrice · 05/07/2011 18:51

2 weeks is a really long time and it will make a significant dent in the school's attendance stats, which will mark your son down as a trouble maker whose parents do not support the school, so honestly I wouldn't. One week, maybe.

Mabelface · 06/07/2011 14:29

No, not a teacher. I have triplets in Year 7. I did actually take them out for 10 days in Feb/March as we had the chance to work abroad and it was a great opportunity for all of us. The school were quite happy to authorise it.

putthehamsterbackinitscage · 06/07/2011 18:25

Be careful to check what ifs....

A friend of mine took her DS out for a week which was classed as unauthorised and both she and her DH have been fined so £100 each - reduced to £50 each if they pay promptly....

So extra £100 total on cost of holiday for quick payment or £200 if they pay after the deadline....

Oh and a warning that if they don't pay it could rise to £2500 and/or prison....

And he had good attendance it was just that the holiday wasn't authorised....

PrincessJenga · 06/07/2011 18:39

Our school would authorise a week (probably not two) so long as DS's attendance was good for the rest of the year. Personally, and I know I may get slated for this, I don't think taking him out for the last week of term would be too bad. He'll probably just miss watching a few DVDs

Original poster

sogrownup · 07/07/2011 08:10

Thanks all, after reading all your comments, think we might go for 1 week at the end of Yr 7...but we will see how we go during the year to get a flavour of attitudes at the new school first.
Would hate to get a fine or seem like like a trouble maker, not my style at all!!

OP posts:

seeker · 07/07/2011 08:49

It's not about the school's attitude or you being seen as a troublemaker. It's about your ds havingt eh best possible experience of his first year at Secondary school.

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