Educational benefits from attending a music festival???

**scatterbrain** · 11-05-2012, 10:42am

OH suprised us by buying family camping tickets for a music festival. Completely unlike him as he doesn't tend to do 'family' things

.

But one of the days falls on a school day. I'm not usually one for taking children out of school for holidays, but on a Friday all she'll be missing is assembly and golden time (usually watching a dvd!).

The school are relatively strict as they've been criticised for poor attendance levels in the past and so only allow children time out of class for genuine reasons or where you can prove the educational benefit (so for example she has had one day out for a family funeral and one day for a ballet exam). They do, however, have a form for authorised non-attendance due to holiday so I'm guessing it's not completely unheard of.

So I have the form here & am trying to think of educational benefits from attending music festival on a school day. Any thoughts?

BTW - I know I'm kind-a taking the pee a bit & they will probably turn us down (in which case we'll miss the first day). But I thought it worth a try, if only to see the face of the office ladies when I hand the form in

**January** · 11-05-2012, 10:47am

Personally I'd just chuck a sickie

**scatterbrain** · 11-05-2012, 11:26am

No. She's too honest

and I don't want to have to put her in the position of telling her she should lie to her teacher.

**One Sock** · 11-05-2012, 11:40am

On R's school website they have a load of info about each subject area. Of yours has similar could you steal some guff from the bit about music/drama?

Otherwise something about learning about music and dance, access to other cultures, erm good social development.

**Lilybett** · 11-05-2012, 11:51am

12 benefits of music education

Some stuff there that might help you pad out your form!

**scatterbrain** · 11-05-2012, 12:45pm

ooh, I wonder if I can say that she's showing a real interest in music at the moment & we feel it would be a good environment for her to learn about different types of music and different instuments. They've recently introduced extra curricular instrument lessons at the school (for a price) so maybe I could hint that she may be interested in developing her interest into learning an instrument.

Dance & cultures are good points too. I'll do a bit of research about what exactly will be at the festival :-)

**scatterbrain** · 12-05-2012, 07:34pm

anyone else have any ideas?

WWYD? We could set up on the Friday & drive back to collect her I guess. It's not that far & she'd only miss one day of the festival...

**lazymummy** · 12-05-2012, 07:37pm

We used to go to The Big Session festival every year and take the boys out of school on the Friday. The headteacher was always happy for us to do it, but in the last few years they've cracked down on attendance and they have turned us down.

**mrsdunny207** · 12-05-2012, 07:41pm

Even if the school call it an 'unauthorised' adsence it doesn't really matter (not for 1 day) and you have advised them that she will be out of school. I'd explain that it was a surprise family trip and the only way for you all to go is to leave on the Friday. I know it's not ideal but we took DD out for 3 days to go on holiday and it wasn't a problem - I think the school had to count it as unauthorised for their ofsted figures...

**cheeky_biscuit** · 12-05-2012, 07:54pm

I suppose it depends on your LEA and school policy. Our LEA trialled and then introduced fining parents for un-authorised absences. Then it's down to the heads if they refer it back for a fine. Our head won't authorise an absence for a family wedding. He has referred an unauthorised absence of a yr1 pupil who went in holiday a couple of days early - the rumour mill said it was £200 (£50 per parent per missed registration (2 a day)).
Also the school secretary is a neighbour! So in our situation i'd take get to school, set up camp and collect her later.