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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

Would you take your Yr 7 out for 2 and a half days for a holiday?

27 replies

trottingon · 09/08/2011 10:57

As High School looms in September and we haven't been able to get a holiday during this 6 week summer break, we have been considering a 10 day holiday in Ocober.....

Would not wish to make waves but how would it be viewed if we request 2 and a half days authorised absence just prior to breaking up for the October half term?
Would you? Do the schools really mind for the sake of a couple of days?

Not sure what is seen as reasonable....all new to us this year, but would not have hesitated in primary....

OP posts:

cjbartlett · 09/08/2011 11:00

No
They'll be settling in, getting used to new classes, friends, teachers
Just go away for the week

Original poster

trottingon · 09/08/2011 11:07

Thanks cjbartlett however it would only be at the end of term just prior to them all finishing....

I just want to find out how the school might view it....I know they are required to say 'this will impact on the educational development of your child...blah blah' but do they really see this as such a negative thing?

Don't want to travel too far for a 1 week holiday as you spend two of those days actually getting there and back!!
Wouldn't take DS out for a week but thought 2 and a half days might be a reasonable compromise?

OP posts:

cjbartlett · 09/08/2011 11:21

Well al you can do is ask I guess
If they won't authorise it will you still go?
I'm just really strict about this sort of thing
I think it sends a poor message to the child to say 'hey don't worry about school today we're off on holiday'

DoMeDon · 09/08/2011 11:25

In a heartbeat - they will be missing nothing and holiday will offer just as much in terms of education/ life experience at that age. How can the school say no!?!

mummytime · 09/08/2011 12:14

My kids school would say no. They would miss a lot, in 2 days that is 10 different subject lessons to catch up on. In some schools I know they might not even have those subjects again for 2 weeks.
But then again I am in England, so it could be very different in Scotland.

mummytime · 09/08/2011 12:17

Oh actually in my kids school there is also no such thing as 1/2 a day. If they leave at 12 they miss 2 subjects and a bit of one, if they arrive back at 12 they only make 2 lessons because of the way the timetable works.
In primary its easier to catch up as you have the same teacher most of the time, and the pace of learning is less frenetic (sorry primary teachers but it certainly seems it in my experience).

DoMeDon · 09/08/2011 12:25

10 different subject lessons to catch up on does seem daunting but it's year 7 - even if they never catch up they won't have missed much IMHO.

We are taking DSD out for 2 weeks next year

mummytime · 09/08/2011 19:33

It depends on when you take them out and what for. The school can fine you if it wants.
At the end of term then they are missing less, but in the autumn term they will be missing quite a bit. It won't be fatal but I wouldn't do it, of course if your kids are super fit and won't miss another day all year its probably not worse than my kids sick days.

marriedinwhite · 10/08/2011 00:18

No. In three years your child's headteacher will be writing the report for secondary school and if you hope to have a choice and are aiming for anything selective you need every good word, every positive comment and the best report you possible hope to have.

mnistooaddictive · 10/08/2011 07:57

The school will almost certainly refuse permission. You have to decide if you will go anyway. There may be assesmebrs just before October half term which will be disruptive. It is not the worst thong in the world- but will be noticed. Don't ask the teachers to provide work though.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 10/08/2011 08:49

ours would say absolutely no. We've had to sign something to say that we understand this.

Original poster

trottingon · 10/08/2011 09:34

Many thanks all for your comments, they are all very useful.
This is a new stage for us and although I understand the official line re taking kids out I was wondering how it was viewed in general.....still not sure what to do but will consider all your opinions and thoughts. Wouldn't consider it as DS gets into year 9 but thought Yr 7 we might be ok. mmmmmm

OP posts:

crispyseaweed · 10/08/2011 09:37

Possible it doesnt look so good at a new school, and in yr 7....

Merlincat07 · 10/08/2011 09:51

As a secondary school teacher I would say very strongly do not take your child out of school during term time. Typically teachers are asked to comment on progress reports at some point during the first term (especially important for year 7) and in order to give relevant, useful feedback will be carrying out assessments which, depending on the length of the half-term and the amount of prep needed, may well be done in the last week and even the last few days if your subject has been timetabled to only fall on days towards the end of the week.

I also increasingly get irritated by the attitude of students that they expect to watch videos in the last couple of days leading up to any holiday (even just a half-term break) and it's clearly coming from the idea that they'll be nothing important going on! Drives me mad, frankly.

Don't take your child out - it is far too disruptive to their education.

mushroom3 · 10/08/2011 10:42

It would depend on the school and their regulations on this. I guess you mean 2.5 days as the last day before half term is a half day? I would check with the school and say that your child will liase with others to make up the missing notes. The other think to find out, when do they set in the school? Do they test and could these tests be when you plan to be away? We took our one out for one day at the end of the summer half term break. We got a official letter from the authorising the absence, but I don't know if they would have been OK with longer.

poppyknot · 10/08/2011 10:49

Has not come up as an issue with us but read this last week in the i.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/virginia-ironside-dilemmas-2330121.html

somersetmum · 10/08/2011 10:50

As ds's school, Year 7 meant flat out homework from day one - I'm talking an average of 8 hours a week, mainly project based things. There will be homeworks set for the half term holiday and if he is not there for the preceeding two and a half days he is likely to miss them - unless you can trust him to go and ask each and every one of his teachers (there will be about 14 of them) which, in secondary school, is a big ask.

Year 7 is full on; there will be no slack days before the holidays. I would advise you to just go on holiday for the week, sorry.

ZZZenAgain · 10/08/2011 10:56

I would I think.

The school will probably mind, yes.

marriedinwhite · 10/08/2011 13:10

Misread the OP's post as 7 Yr old being taken out for 2.5 days. October 1/2 term, first term at secondary, they are making up their minds about your child and your family. Don't be silly.

HarrietJones · 10/08/2011 13:29

No I wouldn't. Am currently arguing debating this with xh at the moment. We've been told we will be fined too.

redglow · 10/08/2011 20:45

I have always gone on holiday for a week in term time the school has always allowed this. I would take them out for two and a half days.

Original poster

trottingon · 10/08/2011 21:10

Some conflicting opinions, but great to hear from a teacher. We are certainly not trouble makers and we certainly do not wish to create unecessary hardship for DS or his teachers as they assess him...and we certainly do not wish to be silly MIW.
Most of you are warning against this for some very valid reasons so we will shelve our idea for now and see how we go for the first year....many thanks all!!

OP posts:

coccyx · 11/08/2011 18:22

my DD just finished year 7. i would take them out

spiderpig8 · 12/08/2011 16:52

Yes I would ,but I'd just ring in sick.Then everyone's happier!

redglow · 12/08/2011 23:16

Thats probably the sensible thing to do spiderpig. Wait to they strike again and do it then.

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