Football day release

[JAltru]

DD plays for an elite football academy, from this year onwards academy is offering day release once a week. Academy has sent an authorisation request to form head teacher but they declined it. We personally spoke with head teacher he also declined hiding behind a policy that authorised requests are for short periods. It's a selective grammar school.
The total sessions would be between 15-17 in the year. And we know in the past some other kids have taken longer absence due to playing at elite level but he doesn't want to talk about.
She is the only one in squad of 21 who will miss training and most likely will not get picked for game day squad or potentially not renew after the 2 year.
I don't know how to challenge school decision as she loves there. Is the only option now is change the school? Dd is in Year 10

If you really want her to do the day release I’d suggest you find a school that will allow it, or home educate. I can see why the school won’t allow it, that’s a lot of absence.

You e tried to challenge the head’s decision, by asking him to reconsider. He’s said he won’t, so there’s probably no point in pursuing that route.

You could look at changing schools, but are there other local schools that offer the GCSEs she’s doing and can offer a place?

Are any of the sessions during school holidays?

You may have to make a decision ultimately, about whether the school or the football has priority.

Surprised you actually posted this. It's really a no brainer that she shouldn't be missing that much sccool, while studying for her GCSEs.

I'm not surprised and these posts are common this time of year. Does the football academy offer tuition?

Surprised you actually posted this. It's really a no brainer that she shouldn't be missing that much sccool, while studying for her GCSEs.

But all professional footballers have done this, and some of them have very good GCSE results. Not saying that OP’s daughter is on that journey, just pointing out that it’s not unheard of.

Pocketpairs, We are doing private tutoring, for last 2 years so she keeps pace with course work and has decent grades. Her 3 evenings in a week are busy training and school even it is a grammar one, the tutoring in certain subjects not great.
Also in past school have authorised for other sports like swimming and badminton. One of those plays for national badminton and a year older. She had to be away to play training and international matches. Now self/home study as have been invited to train with senior squad who doesn't every day of the week.
So it is not just football but other supports. And their are numerous kids who have managed good gcse grades even playing sports and elite level

Foxandsquirrels, Morning session at academy is booked for studies to catchup with home work, there are people to help but not specialists like teaching poetry.

Yeah don’t worry. My son plays for a Cat 1, is doing his GCSEs and getting 7’s/8’s.

i can’t see this situation changing with the head so you may have to make a difficult decision about changing schools or football.

In the last two weeks he has had to leave school early three times - normal and school
is fine with it. In fact some Academies(Category 1 so premier league)take kids out for a day a week to be at the Academy and have a tutor to support their learning.

Your academy will also require positive attendance and grades so this may conflict further in future.

Good luck.

Why? Because some kids are elite athletes and getting extremely good grades in GCSE’s so shouldn’t miss school for their sport?

I guess all school teams need to have all their games played out of school hours then 😂.

Some academies have links with specific schools, e.g. Crystal Palace does, and there is an agreement in place for time at the academy. A non linked school wouldn't have to agree to this.

17 days is almost 10% of her schooling over the year. I'm not surprised the head has refused to authorize it, especially in GCSE years.

You can still pull her out, just be prepared for the fines. Oh, and she'll have to catch up with her school work or face the consequences eg missed homework detentions etc.

My niece had this. Her school refused to accept it so SIL rang in sick each time. Then when niece was asked to play for county schools teams, her school acknowledged the kudos it would bring them and allow it. She’s now just started medicine at uni and plays for her uni team.

What does DD want to do? She can either change schools or sacrifice the football. It's not really surprising that a school you, presumably, chose for academic achievement doesn't want to lose a student on a regular basis during their GCSE years.

That said, if you're sure of your facts about other students having similar arrangements granted, especially if they were boys, challenge it formally using the complaints policy.

Missing school to play football is going to have an impact especially when doing her gcse.

So Sorry OP I accidentally responded to this thread rather than start my own 🤦. I’ve asked mumsnet to delete. So sorry!

No it really won’t and frankly unless you are in that world you wouldn’t know.

Premier league academies (Category 1) have quarterly feedback and progress reports from school. If school or grades slip this can have real consequences on the academy place. Academies also provide tutors and help if needed.

And just for fun, if your kid is dedicated and you are clear that academics are important then you’ll be fine. It’s about time management and making sure schoolwork is done. My kid is in a Cat 1 getting 7/8/9’s. I say this to prove a point that kids can do well in school and still play elite sport.

All the best to your daughter. I hope she has great success in her footie career!!!!

Not football, but have a child who has needed to miss school at times for performances - we get licenced by the council who can over-ride the school.

I did find when I was looking at secondaries that there was a wide range of responses when I asked about time out for professional work. Some it was a flat no, some thought a couple of days a year would be fine and a couple were incredibly enthusiastic and had had children out for months at a time and were able to describe what they had put in place to facilitate.

We opted for one of the latter and they have bent over backwards to facilitate. They do the same for their elite sports students as well.

Unfortunately you may have to look at a change of school, unless you can persuade the head to take advice from someone who can explain how to make it work. Very short sighted of them.

FWIW, yes, you may not end up with the same results, but by being careful and perhaps targeting a smaller work load you can end up with a balance that leaves all options on the table.

My child has been in football academy system and has loads of mates in it. Day release is normal at U16 up.
I think the boys often do it at U14
Some U16 are almost ready to play first team football.
The ones likely to be doing day release are likely to have a career in it.
No easy solution but all the academy kids I know do it at Yr11 up

The flip side is that the academies do tell the DC that they'll. be dropped if they don't keep up with studies.
It's no different from the very top of any sport. The kids on day release are

Check the school's complaints process. You should have the option of appealing to the governors. You may succeed, particularly if the school has authorised similar amounts of time off for other sports.

If that doesn't succeed, your options are to find another school, home educate or pay the fines (with the risk that it may end up with you being prosecuted).

Westofeasttoday
Of course it will have an impact. She will miss lessons on that day every week. How can that not have an impact? Yes she can look at a school friend's book but she will miss the teaching. In my subject that would be a significant disadvantage. What you mean is that the child did OK from thir perspective and the school never complained about the child's work. That does not mean that the child did not miss out on teaching nor does it mean it didn't have an impact. A child missing one full day of school every week undoubtedly has some impact.

Is she likely to make it pro?
Is she looking for a career in football?
Is she self motivated to study to make up for the day release?
Is she bright enough to catch up on own?
Can you afford a tutor?
At Year10 in academies you can generally tell who are the ones who will make a career of it.. girls will be in the England pathway, playing for county or equivalent etc
That's the hard questions to ask yourselves. In any academy team ( boys & girls ) there are generally only a couple they think will make 1sf team

I think they usually have competing at international level to get that,sort of time off.DS had an olympian in a mainstream sport in his class a d he was at training camps and Competitions at least 50% of the time.
I don't think k women's football for a premiership club is really in the same league.Shame on the academy expecting kids,at this critical stage in their education to miss so much school

If you’re not in it you don’t know. The impact doesn’t have to be negative. I understand what you are saying but I’m afraid I don’t think unless you have first hand knowledge you know how it works.

And I think things have moved on significantly from looking at someone’s notebook for the work. In fact, my son has a notebook and school
laptop because well in 2024 a lot of things are digital now including lessons, homework, totorong etc. Most schools do this - I wonder if your views are a little outdated otherwise.