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Secondary education

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

Original poster

need honest advice from senior school teachers about yr 10 ..travel dilemma

40 replies

ggirl · 14/08/2017 10:33

son going into yr 10 , he's average bright but lazy
my family live in Canada and my parents are old , think this could be last xmas etc
so I have a new job and finally am able to take holiday at xmas so have decided we are going to spend xmas with my family for first time in 22 yrs..so excited !

I have just booked flights for adult daughter and myself leaving on 18th dec which is the Monday before the school breaks up on Thursday .

The plan was for husband and son to come on the Thursday so son wouldn't have to miss any school

But ..the flights leaving on the friday are £200 more ..ouch!

Shall I suck it up and pay the extra ? How important will that last 4 days be ?

OP posts:
Original poster
ggirl · 14/08/2017 10:35

correction- son and husband would fly out on the Friday 22nd

OP posts:
BossWitch · 14/08/2017 10:38

Oh just go. Contact subject teachers directly and ask if there plate any mocks / assessments / coursework deadlines in the last 4 days which will be impacted. Be prepared to do whatever they want to catch up missed stuff. But it's unlikely- I am on my last legs in the final week and while we are still doing work we aren't doing anything drastically important!

Ktown · 14/08/2017 10:38

For 200 quid I would suck it up. It is important he stays focused.
If it was 2k perhaps a different response!

Original poster
ggirl · 14/08/2017 10:39

thanks for your reply , will they know the plans for that week as soon as we go back in September ?

OP posts:
sn1ce · 14/08/2017 10:42

Have you checked whether there are any inset days at the end of term?

Original poster
ggirl · 14/08/2017 10:52

Yes I've checked school calendar , actually he may have to miss the Friday , no idea where i read that the friday was an inset day as can't find it now Confused

OP posts:
tiggytape · 14/08/2017 11:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ggirl · 14/08/2017 11:09

thanks Tiggy , I don't want him to miss important stuff or get a fine . Will suck up the extra expense

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Hulababy · 14/08/2017 11:12

Our LEA doesn't fine until day 5.

Often, even at secondary, ime the last week is less hectic. No teacher will start something new with a class - it would be madness. So, although they are likely to still have proper lessons and do work, it is most likely to be covering work previously done - and in some cases setting homework for the holidays. Though many schools also set the homework online, or at the very least a friend can send it on.

Although not ideal to miss school, even at Y10 its possible to miss a few days with no real issue for the vast majority of pupils.

Littlelouse · 14/08/2017 11:24

English teacher here. Why don't you just request permission from the head/ attendance officer to take him out of school for those four days? Will make it a more 'formal' arrangement and then work can be arranged by his head of year or form tutor.

Unless there's a reason you think this might not be granted? Has he had low attendance in the past?

In all honestly I think it will be fine. I teach a core subject and could easily catch a Year 10 up after missing 3/4 lessons, especially if I had prior warning and could give them work to take away at Christmas. Just follow the school's absence request procedure.

FennyBridges · 14/08/2017 11:33

Definitely go. Those 4 days will be 'fun' lessons mostly and very little learning will be missed. I've taught for 17 years and have 17 'week before Christmases' under my belt.

Family is far more precious. You could contact head of year/English teacher, or whoever is appropriate and ask for a novel which needs to be read, or a revision guide in the weakest subject only, for the plane ride.

Lucky you - you can save on flights 😁

FennyBridges · 14/08/2017 11:35

Also, if you outline your concerns about grandparents maybe it could deflect from a fine? My county only fines repeated absences. The school are hot on lying and will look at FB pages (very sly I know - this is not my job) so do follow absence procedures as littlelouse said xx

Littlelouse · 14/08/2017 11:37

Why lie though? Why not just request the absence?

Original poster
ggirl · 14/08/2017 11:46

I wouldn't lie , I would request due to family issues.
In yr 8 I had to take him to Canada on two days notice as my mum had a stroke , that was all done in a bit of a panic .
He hasn't had any other holiday in term time in senior school other than that and attendance last yr was 98%.
Hmm I'm really flummoxed now..was hoping to buy the flights for him and dh this week but will probably wait now until school starts so I can discuss with his teachers.

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ASauvingnonADay · 14/08/2017 11:49

If you really want to go, request the leave of absence but be prepared to pay the £120 fine. If I was in your shoes, I'd fly on the Friday and suck up the £200 (only £80 diff). I disagree that the last week before Christmas is just fun stuff - definitely isn't at our school and certainly not for Y10!

BlueCowWonders · 14/08/2017 11:53

When are your school's gcse mocks?
My dc school does them right before the end of term, and some go into that final week.

Littlelouse · 14/08/2017 11:53

@ggirl I think with such good attendance last year, you'll almost certainly have this approved. It would be unreasonable for the school not to grant it!

Explain the situation, request work for him to do while you're away and he'll not miss out. Have a lovely holiday!

ASauvingnonADay · 14/08/2017 11:54

@ggirl I think with such good attendance last year, you'll almost certainly have this approved. It would be unreasonable for the school not to grant it!
I don't think we would approve it, but it would depend on the school!

Littlelouse · 14/08/2017 12:43

@ASauvingnonADay we'd definitely approve it. Wouldn't if it was in the middle of summer mocks or something but definitely at the end of Christmas term. The only reason we wouldn't is if the child had poor attendance historically.

Original poster
ggirl · 14/08/2017 12:58

I don't know when the mocks are , I think I'll hope that the prices don't go up any more and wait until I speak to the school.

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thesandwich · 14/08/2017 14:05

Some staff will be in later this week and next for results- might be worth a phone call? Not on results days themselves.

GreenTulips · 14/08/2017 14:12

Mocks are usually November
Book it and go - he'll get more out of the holiday than a few days missed work

Tw1nsetAndPearls · 14/08/2017 14:27

Definitely go. Those 4 days will be 'fun' lessons mostly and very little learning will be missed

I am not saying don't go but I would be surprised if a school allows a week of fun lessons in Year 10 or 11.

Original poster
ggirl · 14/08/2017 15:54

would an email to his head of year in the summer hols be ok?

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Hulababy · 14/08/2017 17:07

They don't usually have mocks in Y10 - especially not in Autumn term. They'll have officially only been doing the courses for 3 months.
May have som end of term test, but less likely on the final week of term before Christmas ime.