Work missed due to week long school trip

[mummyflood]

My DS (Yr10) is doing a course which involves various educational trips. He is going on one on Monday which is residential until Friday.

Obviously he will be missing a full weeks worth of lessons, two doubles in the subject in question but lots more besides. The school have not given the students any guidance/advice whatsoever regarding the best way to catch up with the work missed, and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for the best way to do this. Is it best to ask the teachers individually - he has asked some but not all this week if they will save work for him, is it better to try and copy up from classmates, or should in fact the teachers from the course in question be assisting in some way? This lesson/course is far and away DS's favourite, and I am worried that he will lose sight of his other subjects if given half a chance.

Dilemma - what to do for best??!

We were supposed to have a parents evening before September regarding all this, but it never materialised. Several other meetings have been arranged and cancelled since, and I have been unable to speak to the Head of Subject on the phone. I am concerned in general about the communication or lack of, but am wondering what is the best way to approach this, if at all. Should I intervene and express my concerns (DS is trying to dissuade me from this) or should I just leave him to it to organise himself at age 15??

Bumping for you.

Are there many others in his classes who will be away on the course?

At our school there is a big ski trip out this week and next week teachers will bear that in mind with their classes, and help pupils catch up.

Generally for absences of up to 1 week I think the most effective action is for your ds to ask a friend in each of his subjects to collect copies of any handouts for him, and then also to photocopy any notes, plus planner for homework missed.

Obviously this is easiest if he has one friend who does all the same subjects/sets as him except the trip one!

DS went on a trip in October for a week that not many of his Yr group went on (he missed it last year to to illness).

Before he went he emailed all teachers for advice/homework. Most said don't worry, others told him which pages of Textbook to read etc. TBH at 15 I would let him take the responsibility.

Thanks for the replies.

He assures me that he has done a mixture really of all your advice. The teachers he remembered to speak to about it have said they will let him know when he comes back what he has missed if anything, and he has identified a couple of mates who will cover the rest, i.e. let him copy up work, etc.

Just been out to buy him some snacks, smellies, new wash bag etc to take - it's a week spent in army barracks, learning about life as a soldier as true to life as is age-appropriate, but not quite Bad Lads Army apparently. Hopefully he will learn plenty of skills which a classroom environment cannot provide

My DD had same prob with optional school trips - she had a folder and gave to it to trustworthy friend to put sheets and homework in, then when she got back she had to borrow books, copy and photocopy what she had missed. The teachers expected her to catch up on all work and homework herself - it was hell for a couple of weeks but she did it - but then she is a girl - DS would have fallen by the wayside I think.

Good job the trips were fun - made it worthwhile - think she will think carefully before she goes on another one though.

ChampagneDahling, thanks for that.

This trip though, is not exactly optional - it is more or less a vital part of the course. Which is why I am still a little that the school didnt at least suggest how the kids may go about catching up.

As you said, girls are probably more organised, I know I will have to check with him a few times that he has done the necessary when he gets back. However, he sounds like he is having a brilliant time, and he does want to go into the forces so it is fantastic experience for him. I am just anxious for him to keep up and achieve well in all other subjects so he has a 'plan B' if for any reason he is not accepted into the RAF.

Sounds like you're on the case! Hope he has fun !