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Secondary education

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Original poster

What would you do about taking dd out of school for holiday?

63 replies

mosschops30 · 21/02/2009 20:35

WE have booked a holiday in May, basically because I expected to be pregnant by now, but Im not!

So we were taking dd out of school for one week anyway.

We are now thinking that its going to be too early and want to go for the first two weeks in June where it will be a bit later and probably a bit warmer too. We have looked at changing it to August but a £1700 holiday turns into a £4000 holiday

What would you do? Providing dd hasnt got any important tests or exams would you do it? The school frown on this sort of thing and the absence would be unauthorised

OP posts:
nkf · 21/02/2009 23:00

Which year is she? And, how clever is she? Two weeks is a lot of catching up to do. It's missing about a third of one unit of work. In every subject.

piscesmoon · 21/02/2009 23:01

Neither can we-lots of people can't.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 21/02/2009 23:07

shes in year 8. And I will expect her to take any allocated work with her to do whilst we're away

Think I will write to the head and see what response i get

OP posts:
nkf · 21/02/2009 23:09

The head probably won't authorise it. And worksheets aren't the same as school unfortunately. Otherwise the British education system would cost the taxpayers a lot less. Still, it's your call. Don't bother the headmistress though. She's a busy womann.

Oovavu · 21/02/2009 23:12

again, don't want to sound arsey, but who's going to set the work your dd is going to do? You're asking each subject teacher to prepare extra work for your dd (and it is extra as she'll need instructions that would normally be given in class, which need sorting out and typing up etc.)

From a teacher's pov, it's a pita having kids absent for such a long time.

But, tbh, I wouldn't spend time defending yourself too much as you'll probably get wound up. I'd just accept it will be tutted at, forget about making comments about the snow, etc and just go ahead with your plans with as little comment as poss.

piscesmoon · 22/02/2009 08:15

I wouldn't bother the Head, in our area they have instructions that they can't authorise holiday. I also think that it is a cheek to ask the teacher to do extra in setting work and then mark it when they get back! It is also extremely difficult to set work for someone who as missed all the introduction, discussion, instructions etc.
If you are set on going I would just go - fill in a form but accept that it is likely to be unauthorised.

MrsBartlet · 22/02/2009 11:08

I wouldn't think a holiday would be much fun if your dd has to take a load of work with her. Wouldn't a holiday during the school holidays be more relaxing? There are plenty of things you could do for £1700 in August.

piscesmoon · 22/02/2009 11:53

I can't see the point of a holiday if you take work! I thought the whole point was to get away from everything. If you badly need a break yourself why not leave the DCs with someone and have a relaxing break and do something cheap and self catering in the school holiday?

sarah293 · 22/02/2009 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
mosschops30 · 22/02/2009 12:03

Im not going to bother the head but think its right to send a letter explaining what Im doing and that if they want dd to take work then thats fine, she can either do it the weekend before we go or take some with her.
As for doing something in August for £1700, its not that easy, we want to stay where we would like to rather than do cheap (and we're not going particularly upmarket in May/June but it is nice looking and 4*).
And FWIW I have sometimes taken Uni work on holiday with me when I had my first year finals on my return, sitting on the balcony in the sun with a beer is much better than doing it at home

OP posts:
LIZS · 22/02/2009 17:19

If this is the same dd as you;ve recently had issues with I 'd be inclined not to take her out or at very least get some homework for and make her do it. Mind you that might just compromise the relaxed atmosphere of the holiday! Wouldn't she have exams around then ? Earlier time is less likely to conflict.

TheFallenMadonna · 22/02/2009 17:27

Extra work for children who go on holiday is a pain in the arse frankly. Get a revision guide, find out what she's missed and go over it with her.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 22/02/2009 19:42

Having spoken to a friend today who teached in a Catholic high school nearby I dont feel so bad. Shes says parents at her school take kids out for 'shopping' days WTF?????

She also said that her school have a policy that 10 days absence is authorised up to Year 9, then no absence in term time for years 10-12.
She also said there are no exams or tests anymore in year 7-9

OP posts:
ellingwoman · 22/02/2009 19:43

Each school is different. Ours have no authorised absences.

compo · 22/02/2009 19:46

I wouldn't
your dd will have to catch up when she comes back, does she mind?

kiddiz · 22/02/2009 20:06

It very much depends on the school. My dd is at a Catholic high school and they do have exams in each year. Dd sat her first lot just after Christmas. They use the results to decide which sets the children are placed in and whether or not to move them up and down.
They most certainly don't do authorised absences for holidays or shopping. We were told they would only consider it for serious illness or bereavement within a family.
Dd was recently off school with tonsilitus. I had taken her to the doctors and because of the wait there didn't get round to phoning the school till we got home at 9.30 am. There was already a message on our phone wanting to know where dd was and why she wasn't in school.

choochoochaboogie · 22/02/2009 20:39

I have 2 teenagers at sec school and can't/wouldn't take them out just for a family holiday - holidays are very important to us too - to everyone I guess. We can't afford the stupidly inflated prices that travel companies charge for school holiday breaks either, so we just have to find alternative "cheaper" holidays, which always end up just as much fun - it's all in the attitude. My DC's education is more important than a cheap sunny holiday.

CrackerNut · 22/02/2009 20:43

I'd have to say no don't take her aswell, especially not for 2 weks, she will miss too much.

I have taken my children out of primary school, but won't be taking them out of secondary school. I'm not saying that primary is less important but that they will miss more work that they will then need to catch up on when in secondary school.

poopscoop · 22/02/2009 20:54

my dc absence on the school report is from september to May. not sure why but it never goes down on the report with the annual percentage of attendance thingy. so you may not even have it on her school reportif you go at that time of year.

In any case, I am of the camp which says, go and enjoy your holiday. I take dc out every year, but cannot be bothered to get into all the arguments about it again on here!!.

ten10 · 22/02/2009 21:13

take them out of school and don't worry about it,
in fact don't tell the school they are going on holiday.

my parents took me and my three other siblings out of school for a whole year when I was seven and it did not harm my schooling at all. All four of us went on to University, and two of us are educated to post-graduate level.
therefore I can't imagine that a couple of weeks is ever going to be a problem.

poopscoop · 22/02/2009 21:18

you wait ten10 - this will kick off now! I have been on several of these threads prior to recent namechange and they can get really heated

Original poster
mosschops30 · 22/02/2009 22:07

i am in the process of writing to the head of year to tell her my intentions, then they have the chance to discuss it with me

OP posts:
unavailable · 22/02/2009 22:32

You seem to have made up your mind before posting, so am not sure why you did.

Fair enough, but do remember you have chosen to absent your child for 2 weeks next time you want to complain about teacher absence or anything else that you think may adversely affect your child's education.

piscesmoon · 22/02/2009 22:51

I took mine out of primary school occasionally because I thought that the holiday was more beneficial.I have never done it in secondary school because there is too much that has to be caught up with when they get back-I just don't think it fair on the child.

edam · 22/02/2009 23:01

In answer to your OP, no, I wouldn't do it.
Your report card from the Dutch Academy for Genteel Cheeses would read 'excuses lack originality - must try harder'

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