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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Are we likely to be prosecuted for taking our 17yr 6th former out of school term time for a family holiday?

46 replies

joloho35 · 21/03/2016 18:15

Hi asking for advice thanks in advance. We haven't ever had a family holiday abroad as a family, an opportunity has come up where we could go for two weeks at the end of June. Our 17 yr old will have finished her exams and will be starting year 13 (upper sixth). Are we likely to face criminal prosecution? Has anyone else done this? Thanks

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 21/03/2016 19:05

Penalty noticed for attendance can only be applied to children of compulsory school age.

LaurieFairyCake · 21/03/2016 19:06

Are you quite sure she's not starting next years work?

My dh works sixth form and they have 3 full weeks of A2 lessons after exams

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 21/03/2016 19:07

No idea about prosecution but it would be a terrible time for her to be out of school. Lots of schools/subjects use that time to start c/wk or a key exam unit, so it could prove v hard to catch up.

Original poster
joloho35 · 21/03/2016 20:11

Yea she will be starting year 13 then. She knows that she will have to work hard to catch up.

Would honesty be the best policy with the school, out of courtesy tell them we will be taking her on holiday?

OP posts:
Original poster
joloho35 · 21/03/2016 20:13

Her exams all end early May so she will have started year 13 by the time we go at the end of june

OP posts:
SouthWestmom · 21/03/2016 20:14

I've responded on your other thread.

andsoimback · 21/03/2016 20:16

Don't do it. 2 weeks worth of a levels- not a good idea.

bigTillyMint · 22/03/2016 07:04

DD (in Y12) finishes her AS's before May half-term. She then has a week (or more?) off whilst others are still doing theirs. Could you go over those 2 weeks, then she won't miss anything?

Chocolatteaddict1 · 22/03/2016 07:09

Honestly life is for living.

I took my dd1 out of school every year in September to go abroad. I wouldn't have been able to afford it other wise as a SP. she caught up soon enough.

I think if you pay the fine if there is one there is no conviction.

LynetteScavo · 22/03/2016 08:28

I don't think you'd get a fine. I base this in 17 DS refusing to go to school and the school not being the least bit bothered.

I think you have to weigh up what us more important, travelling it lessons.

Stillunexpected · 22/03/2016 13:15

How does your DD feel about it? DS1 (bright but lazy) would have hesitated about missing two weeks and having to catch up on that much work. It really is a huge gap at that point, not like GCSE years where things move at a slower pace and everything seems to be repeated.

Floggingmolly · 22/03/2016 13:21

Dad's brilliant response? Dad is an ignorant, arrogant arsehole Hmm

meditrina · 22/03/2016 13:33

It's a bad time educationally, because the amount of time for the rest of an A2 course is quite short.

You won't be prosecuted, but because participation age has been raised, you might be hit with a penalty notice for the standard fine (can you check your LA's policy on this, it varies depending on where you are). You can expect to be prosecuted if you don't pay the fine (same underpinnings as things like parking and speeding tickets).

CamboricumMinor · 25/03/2016 09:36

DD's school do a school residential in June after the exams have finished but only for the year 13s; the year 12s can't go because they have started year 13 work. I wouldn't recommend it.

SouthWestmom · 25/03/2016 09:58

Yeah, god what an embarrassing arse that bloke is

SanityClause · 25/03/2016 10:35

I think it's a big mistake.

DD1 is in the lower sixth, and swapped subjects at October half term. She has found the amount of work involved to catch up very challenging. We went away in the February half term, and she has said she wouldn't want to even do that next year.

CamboricumMinor · 25/03/2016 11:06

He's an idiot, more money than sense if a two day holiday in Dubai is an option.

Washediris · 25/03/2016 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HSMMaCM · 26/03/2016 14:45

DD's college don't fine but do expel for less than a certain percentage attendance.

Bunbaker · 26/03/2016 14:58

Missing two weeks of year 13 is a big deal. Your daughter might enjoy the break, but will struggle to catch up with two weeks worth of work. The teachers probably won't set the work that has been missed. Why should they? It isn't their fault your daughter will be off school.

scotsgirl64 · 29/03/2016 16:45

Not worth it for a lot of reasons,not least of all they will have started A leve topics by then.....why not wait and go after A levels next year when you'll have most of June and then all July Aug and most of September to go somewhere

NynaevesSister · 29/03/2016 16:55

You will get fined if your child misses 8 or more consecutive sessions - there are two a day so that's 4 days. However they also have to show that this is part of persistent unauthorised absences. If attendance is otherwise good then they may not be able to fine.

If they do fine you then it is £60 per child, per parent. And this covers the whole absence not per day. So it is possible the total fine would be £120. Would that be OK?

I would be upfront about it myself. I would first put in an application for authorised leave. You never know. And maybe talk to the teacher beforehand and find out if there are weeks that are better than others.

meditrina · 29/03/2016 18:14

Whether and when you get fined varies between LEAs. OP should be able to find hers on their website, if she could email to ask.

Bunbaker · 29/03/2016 22:29

" I would first put in an application for authorised leave. You never know."

I seriously doubt that this would be authorised. Our LA will not authorise any holidays during term time now.