If I need to take my dd (year 9)out of school next May June time, when would be best ?

[Lardlizard]

When would be the best tome
That would effect her schooling the least ?

Need to go for two weeks she will have a weeks school holidays w/c 31st May
So could go a week before or week after so one of the weeks will be school hols so she will only loss one week of school

Sorry I should clarify she will be year 9 next year when I’m planning on taking her out for. A week

I wouldn't have a secondary age child miss any school for the next however many years until their GCSEs, they are all going to have such a hard time when they get back to school never mind the poor teachers trying to get everyone caught up

It's unlikely the school would run Year 9 mocks at that time as it's during proper exam season. Honestly, I'd ask the year team assuming it's a legit reason.

Depends on your school.

At DC's school Year 9 is in KS4, so they are working on GCSE options. Whenever you chose to take a week off they would be losing a week of GCSE work.

You need to find out about exams. DD’s are always the week before half term, but DS’s are later.

Thank you for taking the tome to reply to me How is it losing a week of gcse work ? As I didn’t think that started till year 10 ?

She will need to take her options around feb

Some school start some GCSE work in Y9 especially in subjects like science, sometimes just in the final term but some schools do 3 year GCSE courses

Why would you need to take her out?
Year 9 is ks4 so gcse preparation. Very important.

I didn’t know that

That would be missing a week of GCSE study at my DCs school, which starts them after Easter Y9, as soon as all the options have been finalised.

Omg how do I not any of this 🙈

There is so much content in GCSEs now, that is why some work is done in Y9. This is why there is also so much concern about the current Y10s missing so much work, as there is very little spare time to catch up before the actual exams next year.

Sciences were all started in yr9, maths I think they started at the end of yr8. Fortunately it means they are not too far behind in yr10 with covid.

Honestly, I would avoid missing any schooling next year unless absolutely necessary.

As far as I can work out the schools will be playing 'catch up', there will be a focus on making up any gaps from the last six months and it's going to be a tough year for both teachers and children.

No one can predict what might happen over the winter but the possibility of localised lockdowns and a second wave of Covid-19 could result in even more school being missed.

Thanks so mich for the benefit of your advice, you guys on this section are always so helpful more helpful than my dd school

Shes my eldest so I have no idea about GCSEs and teen stuff etc
One good thing is she’s actually worked really hard through lockdown, so I’m hoping she won’t have too much to catch up on , although I suppose if the teachers are focusing on catch ups perhaps they will all suffer when the ones that have workered so hard during lockdown
The standard of work she produces for year 8 has been fab

If there is a legitimate reason for her to miss a week then discuss it with the school. They may be able to give her work to do. But to be honest if she is a diligent student she may be fine. My daughter missed a month in Y8 (due to illness) with no issues.

One thing to be aware of, is that for 2021 the government is considering moving GCSEs to after half term.
So what you might say, my DD is y9.
But if for example they normally do some formal end y9 exams in the end of June/early July, then next year they might still be doing GCSEs. Therefore they might move the y9 exams to before half term.

I think that if you do need to go, I'd book the week after half term, as GCSEs will be happening then so y9 exams unlikely. personally I'd try not to miss school from the second half of y9, but if she is a good student she'll catch up.

No way I'd plan time off this year (assuming it's for a holiday or similar). Who knows how much time kids are already going to miss through local lockdown, possible repeated self-isolation due to cough/cold symptoms etc? I wouldn't be adding to that, regardless of the child's year group.

To be totally honest it’s for a trip to Florida, alreadycaway at Easter but I could try n swap those dates and try N go at Easter, don’t really want to go July and August as it rains and thunders so much
And didn’t want to go in Oct 2021 and make her miss a week then as she will be in year 10 then

I’m just aware she’s just turned 13 and I feel like her childhood is disappearing fast so I’m trying to pack loads of things in

At the moment she’s v v diligent and hard working
So I really hope she’s able to keep the good attitude up over the next few vital years

I have been to Florida in the summer holidays and the rain/thunder was awesome! Didn’t ruin the holiday at all. It was always short sharp rainfall and you just planned around it. It was over 25 years ago and I still remember it! I wouldn’t let it put you off.

I’ve been in aug and Oct and when we went in aug. The thunder caused a few thjngs to close amd ruined the last day so I wanted to avoid that again if poss

Everything has changed. We do not know when exams will be next year - to be honest we do not know when school terms will be next year.

Would bear in mind that covid is on the up in the US. Florida is counting over 10,000 new cases every day at the moment. Travel is unlikely this year. Next year will be very busy.

We went to Florida every other year - but did not take the kids out of school in secondary school. Easter was our time of choice. Would leave it a year though.

Next year is Disney's 50th celebrations (Covid-19 allowing) so expect it might be extra busy/booked up. Not to mention all the people with cancelled holidays from this year.

The last 2 weeks of the summer holiday are a good time to go (lots of American schools are back, so it's a bit quieter).

My DD missed a week due to appendicitis and honestly she is a hard worker and she found keeping on top of the new work and catching up hard. Science and Maths had started autumn term of year 9 and English and MFL term three of year 9. Art, Textiles and Photography all started term 3 with particular reference of the course work.

Drama started working in their small groups on their divised pieces, dance start their choreography.
Classics and history were about the only subjects that didn't start in some way.