Time off school

[beckypv]

Looking for insight from any SLT. We are going to Australia at Christmas and my daughter will be missing the last week of school (year 9). Wondering how best to approach telling the school. Happy to deal with any consequences as we realise it is not ideal, but wondering what the school would actually prefer we say. If we say we are going on holiday, they are likely forced to then put it as unauthorised absence which I guess looks bad on their school figures. Would a school actually prefer me just to say she’s sick and then it doesn’t affect their attendance figures so much?

I’d just be honest. I really don’t think it will be a big issue. It’s the last week of school before Christmas so there won’t be much learning going on anyway! I personally couldn’t concern myself with a school’s attendance figures - they’re not your problem OP.

Sickness will affect the figures same as a holiday.

The focus is on persistent absence and children falling below 95%

Honesty is always best

The issue for schools is attendance, not whether it's authorised or not. Honesty with school is best.

Honesty is best, but obviously you'll most likely have to pay a fine. The truth usually comes out! I've had very helpful students say "oh jack? Yeah he's gone to Portugal" or whatever. Teenagers are not the most subtle or discreet 😂

Thanks all. That’s interesting and helpful to know. I had remembered in the past that one of the headline data for the school was unauthorised absence - but following reading PP advice, I’ve just looked on the government website and can see that it is now ‘overall absence’ and ‘persistent absence’ that is quoted. I weirdly do care about the schools data, but it looks like I can’t spin the absence such that it doesn’t affect the figures so I’ll go with the honest approach! She’s not going to add to the persistence figures and doesn’t have a great deal of time off for illness so it will be a drop in the ocean for the school stats!

Honesty is best. It won’t be authorised, but it won’t be a massive issue. I think schools are more concerned about the students who have a day or a couple of days off every week.

You just need to be honest. There's little point in lying, your daughter will be full of stories on her visit to Australia, when she comes back to school. The absence won't be authorised, the school have to notify the LEA legally, so any fines issued are out of the school's hands.