DS17 skipping school to go to Wireless festival

[TheGander]

He casually announced yesterday that he’s going as his girlfriend and her mates are going. I have explained that it’s an unauthorised absence, which his school is going to take very seriously and that I won’t lie for him. He’s still going. Looking at the website isn’t reassuring me, the mood seems to be very Gangsta ( so flame me). Would be interested to hear from other parents who have faced similar and I’ll update on how it works out, My concerns are 2 fold, security and the fallout from the school. We live in south London so it’s all doable on the tube.

So you dobbed him in to school so they know he wanted to be at the event anyway rather than school. He is 17,beyond compulsory school age (yes I know he has to be in education or training until 18,but he doesn't have to be in strict school conditions). Yes he has let his girl friend down. I hope you can deal with the fall out of your complete overreaction.

Ok to clarify, you have to bring the school to notify them of an absence and give the reason. I said he’s attending an event, and then I did email his firm tutor. I went iff to my allotment for an hour without my phone as it helps me unwind not to have it. Had no idea he’d need a passport, he wasn’t going abroad after all. He’s seeing his GF tomorrow at a BBQ so hopefully they’ll be all right.

We’ve all done it OP. As long as he’s not perpetually truanting, let him live a little

He is?17. Let it go. Is school want to tell him anything so be it. Dont get involved. He needs to learn to manage his time ready for uni. If is one off what is the big deal?

Why did he need a passport?

I really don’t know- I guess to prove his age/ to prove he bought the tickets? Anyway, thanks to everyone who posted it helps me get things in perspective.

Blimey. My mum used to let me have days (occasional, I must add) off with her to go on a shopping spree. I was at a grammar school and got good grades and went on to be a teacher.

It’s not the end of the world if a kid misses the odd day here and there.

As if you rang the school!

an hour without my phone

Convenient … 🤔

It was useful to have peoples views so I can gauge my attitude towards similar situations if they happen again.

Surely he will be 18 sometime soon?

It’s not that you shouldn’t have an opinion, but unless they’re doing something illegal, 17 / 18 year olds are entitled to a fair degree of freedom, and if you’re always stepping between them and what they want to do, you’ll soon find they spend very little time at home. And if he’s going to university you very soon won’t have a clue about his comings and goings anyway. Now is the time when he needs to build confidence in making his own (hopefully sensible) decisions …

cos he was really, running away to join the Foreign Legion, now his mum has ruined everything

OP, seriously, you will drive him away or into secrecy with this sort of over-worrying.

You are lucky he didn’t head off to Reading for 4 days as a post GCSE 16 yo. A day festival for 17 yos… really nothing to get concerned about.

Did you hide his passport? Good luck with him ever confiding in you again.

It was pretty shitty of you to call school.

Or his girlfriend liking you.

He probably could have got away with going to college in the morning or even the whole day given that you live in London, the festival is in London and most of the acts don’t really start till mid afternoon anyway. He deffo could have even gone up to 7pm this evening, which I think is last entry time, once you’d located his passport for him?

DS, who is 16 and finished his GCSE’s 3 weeks ago is there today and tomorrow, travelling home each evening. I think it’s likely to be full of teenagers and is finished by 10pm each day so I’m not too worried. DD (18) went to Reading festival after her GCSE’s which was 4 nights away. I think Wireless is tame in comparison regardless of the music genre.