Prom - he’s upset he’s going to miss it!

[RochfordRuby]

Help! We’ve booked a holiday for next Summer and just found out the yr 11 school prom is when we’re away. Son is so upset he’s going to miss it. Inconsolable. Can’t move the holiday as it’s all booked but don’t know what to say to try and appease him. Advice please

Can he not stay at home by himself and the rest of you go?

He'll be what 16?

Let him choose

Did you check that you haven't booked over the GCSE Contingency day too? That is normally on the same week as prom (most schools do this so parents don't book holidays that week) and a much bigger issue.

Options for your scenario is DS misses all or part of the holiday he could be dropped off at the airport and fly out to meet you or just stay at a friend or family member.

This.

Prom is a big deal to year 11's - can you definitely not change your holiday dates? As a pp said check the GCSE contingency dates too

I think one of you should stay behind and then fly out later with him.

Can't you move the dates? I know it's all booked but you could ask?

How did you manage to do this though? Y11 has so much going on at the end of the year??

Can he stay at home with a relative?

As someone else said Prom is often the day after GCSE contingency day so its not a good idea to go before then anyway but in your shoes I would move the holiday anyway. I knowyou said you can't but are you sure? Is it really that you can't or that is difficult and/or expensive?

Year 11 prom is a big deal, especially if there’s not a sixth form or lots of friends aren’t staying. This was poor planning on your part. Please say that you checked the exam contingency dates are are home for those?

Have you actually checked if the holiday can be moved?

If it really can’t one if you either stays home with him or he stays by himself, possibly with a friend / family.

You really need to try your best to get him to prom. It's a really big deal.

Why can't it be changed? Money? Work?

Could he stay with a friend or family member?

You are going to have to suck up the cost of moving the holiday. You will be saving on term time holidays anyway, are you sure you just 'don't want to' move the dates?.

I have a son in Y11. I am baffled as to how you have missed this tbh as others have said, the GCSE contingency day is usually around then and our school have told us not to book holidays that week (appreciate your school may not have done this but still, it is well documented)

Yes sorry I am going to agree with most others here. Prom is a massive big deal. It signals the end of an era and there is no way either of my girls would have missed it. We have amazing memories of the build up to it, outfit shopping and the evening itself. Both my DD's had a fabulous time and I could never imagine them not being able to go. Could you imagine having to miss out on something so big yourself that everyone you know is going to be attending? Something that signifies the end of your school days and will be something to remember forever.

Please don't let him miss it. There must be a way for him to still go and it may well be you have to sacrifice something yourself as you are the one that made the error in booking it this close to the end of school term. Why should he miss out??

It's tough on you really. You'll have to move your holiday back a week.

His prom, and GCSE contingency day are much more important.

Aren't GSCE's around prom as well?

Missing year 11 prom is massive.

are you missing school? This is something that you should have checked before booking the holiday.

I don't think I could live with the resentment from my kid for making them miss prom. At 16 he doesn't need to be forced to go on a family holiday. Let him choose.

I couldn't let him miss it. There must be a work around. Change the holiday dates or arrange for him to stay with someone else. Or he flies out later / flies back earlier.

He can't miss prom, it's one the most important events of the teenage years. Can he stay at home (maybe stay with a friend) and go while the rest of you are away? Perhaps join you later?

I'd rather he missed a holiday than his prom. Just let him stay at home. Although, as a parent I also would have wanted to be there for that. It's kind of a milestone whereas a holiday is less important.

As well as the GCSE contingency day our school has a morning for those moving into 6th form. The local college does a day there too.

Are there friends he could stay with? Could he join your holiday later?

I’d do everything to move the holiday or cancel it. Dd left school last July and prom is really important for most dc. She’s an introvert but even for her it was a core memory moment. I don’t understand why a parent wouldn’t check exam period and key dates before booking a holiday.

I have a son in Year 12. There's just no waaaaay he would have missed Prom for the world! It's huge deal and he still talks about it now. I'm afraid you must find a way he can attend.

unless your school is having prom weeks after GCSEs finish then I agree with posters you shouldn't have booked without checking the dates for the contingency days. These are really important if your child is ill for one of their exams or if for some reason a school wasn't able to sit an entire exam eg flood or power cut or something.
No-one should be booking holiday in June.

Prom is such a big deal nowadays. Even my ND eldest who is in year 13 went to his prom - granted he came home early because the music was too loud! but he stayed long enough to get an award etc.

im a travel agent, there arent many holidays that cant be amended for a small fee, just move the holiday