Advice re unauthorised days absence in year 10

[kizzie]

DC twins have very good attendance records and they've never taken off time for holidays before but we have a special family trip planned for October half term and the only way we could get the flights to work was to go on the friday before half term.
There were only a few seats left so booked during summer hols. Put the absence request in first day back.
(Its actually not for full day - they would go in for first two lessons and then leave after first break. DC1 normally leaves at 1 on a friday anyway. DC2 has lessons till 3)
Anyway had a letter today to say no exceptions to rule in year 10 so not authorised.
Problem is that I dont actually know what this means (Ive led a sheltered 10 years !!! - theyve usually just turned up on the days they were meant to...)

So does it mean cancel the flights you cant go, a fine, prison, go ahead but we dont like it ???

Thanks

Phone up on the day and say the twins are ill. They can't fine you for that and won't even bother following it up. It is only one day and I wouldn't be saying it if it were for a week but one day, jeez.

I think an "illness" on a day you have requested absence will be absolutely blatant to the school, and it's not fair for the DC to lie either.

If you are unwilling to reschedule flights, then just go. The absence will be marked as unauthorised, but if it's really just one day in an otherwise complete attendance record it's unlikely to go further. The worst that could happen would be a fine. But unless it's a lengthy absence or a whole series of short absences (like every Friday afternoon), it's pretty unlikely they'd do that.

Thanks for replies. Id feel very uncomfortable ringing in as ill after having it turned down as they'd 'know'. Such a good two shoes !!!

Ps we can't reschedule the flights otherwise we'd end up needing time off at the other end of the holidays. It's either a cancel completely or go situation.

I'm not a fan of term time holidays especially for Secondary school pupils, however we are talking about 1 day (or part of a day) at the end of the term, which is in my mind acceptable.
I had to do his last year at Easter, mine only do a half day on the last day of term and the only flights I could get were on that day, I didn't ask the school for permission, I wrote to them and told them.

As you have already asked and been defined all I would do is to go on holiday and enjoy.

Just go, they aren't even missing the whole day, I would probably have signed them out early saying they had a medical appointment or something, but you can't do that now.

Our school has said our holiday will be marked as unauthorized but we won't be fined.

If their attendence is generally fine it shouldn't be a problem.

Go, but take whole day off

They will have an unauthorised absence on attendance

If the rest of their attendance is fine nothing will happen

Go, school will have to mark it down as unauthorised but 1 half day in a year is not going to affect anything.
You may get fined if you're very unlucky but nothing else should happen.
Will you take the whole day off or make them go in for 2 periods? If they do go in the morning, what reason will you give for them leaving early? Keep it low key, just give them a note saying they are being picked up for family reasons. If questioned, they can tell the truth, most staff will be sympathetic especially if your twins have normally good attendance. Remember its not the school that has enforced this ruling. (not that i disagree with it in principle - just that a blanket rule makes life difficult for situations like this)

I'd just write back and say that you understand the school's position, but that you will be going anyway and they DCs won't be in school that day.

It's a lot of paperwork to fine people, they are likely to only pursue repeat offenders. I would just go.

Don't lie.
Just inform the school that they will be taking unauthorised absence for part of the day.

The rules now are that you will be fined. £60 per child per parent per day. So as long as you can absorb the £240 fine just go.

I think they should take the whole day off, as it won't be possible (or will be difficult) to get them out of school once they've got there in the morning.
Learn by your mistakes! Next time - don't ask, just call in sick (but don't tell DCs, as will set the wrong expectation).

BTW, I would never condone this at any other time other than the day before a holiday, when nothing ever happens in school anyway. From experience, they just watch DVDs in most lessons, on subjects loosely connected to the lesson they are in.

I don't normally condone holidays in term time but in your case you've done the right thing, asked and been told it will be unauthorised so afaik you still go ahead but face the consequences of a possible fine

As your children will be there are morning registration it's only 1/2 a day each so max £120 surely.

At my childrens school I'm pretty sure they do actually do work on the day before half term, I don't think they'd be watching videos in year 10 would they?