Mumsnet poll needed. If you had a year 7 child...

[seeker]

would you take him out of school for a week in June to go to a Tall Ships Festival in Rouen with his dad? Staying on a tall ship that's part of the festival- helping to manage the ship, show visitors round- and seeing Madness live......you would, wouldn't you? Even if you are massively against holidays in school time?

I don't see that it's particularly different from any other term time holiday.

Then again, I don't see why a child with a good attitude to learning and good attendance/punctuality should not be granted a term-time holiday on occasion.

I hate the fact that head teachers have had their 'discretion' taken away from them by politicians/civil servants.

I trust that OP is already well aware of assessment dates and other vital 'stuff' at school during that period.

I would, without any shadow of a doubt, go for it! It sounds like a fabulous opportunity. I would, however, not ask DS' teachers to sort out school work for him to 'do' while he is away (not sure if you were thinking of doing that).

I have also moaned many times on these threads about the 'educational' value of some 'educational visits' that pupils take part in. Most are very good, but I question whether any educational visit to Thorpe Park is much more than a day out. It annoys me some headteachers will refuse all term-time holidays as a matter of course and yet allow 'educational' trips to Disneyland Paris'.

I wouldn't take DS out of school for a holiday of the kind we take (a typical mix of relaxing leisure activities....beach, day at zoo, day at historical sort of place, a few walks) but I would for a one-off opportunity for an activity from which he would gain things in terms of personal development and education. I would take him out for the trip you describe, no question.

I took DS out of school for a day trip to CERN, but never for any other holiday. I think there is a difference. It isn't about being entitled or more worthy.

He is your child, stick with your own opinion, if you think this is a good opportunity, go for it.

I don't get why you care what others think really?

yes, I would!

Yes, I would. But I'm not particularly against term time holidays, we only don't take them because we both work and it would mean we'd have to pay more holiday childcare/organise more holiday entertainment, so it wouldn't actually save us any money.

Yes as a teacher i would be happy with a y7 taken out for that reason, i do think he will learn a lot, and yes i do think it sounds a lot more educationally valid than a week on a beach in Ibiza. (In general against term time holidays btw).