Educational benefits from attending a music festival???

**RealGoneKid** · 16-06-2012, 09:26am

I would normally say take it as unauthorised absence without blinking, but has she still got 100% attendance? If so, she will miss out on whatever fuss they make of children with full attendance for the sake of attending the festival, so I'd speak to her about that first.

**fifitrix** · 16-06-2012, 09:34am

Originally Posted by RealGoneKid

I would normally say take it as unauthorised absence without blinking, but has she still got 100% attendance? If so, she will miss out on whatever fuss they make of children with full attendance for the sake of attending the festival, so I'd speak to her about that first.

Yes, this would be my worry. We have a completely different system which is very much based on every circumstance being different, but I know that J and some of her friends would be mortified if they were going to get a metaphorical black mark!

**Northern Angel** · 16-06-2012, 09:54am

Depends on the child as to whether they would be bothered about the attendance award.

All I was going to say was (as someone who works closely with attendance officers in the local authority) is that no-one will blink an eye at your DD missing one day. They are more concerned about young people who have less than 20% attendance from year 8 onwards

. My colleague (and friend) has told me off the record that to take a child on holiday during term time will not really make a difference in primary school, yet to miss even a week in secondary school will mean an awful lot of catching up.

Go for it

**Oana** · 16-06-2012, 09:57am

Originally Posted by bubblewrap

No, I'm just in a shitty mood and that was the first post I saw.

Sorry Oana

No worries

Scatterbrain, hope you come to a decision soon!

**scatterbrain** · 18-06-2012, 11:03am

Just back from the meeting with the head. He said he can't authorise any days unless they relate to the forces, seasonal workers or severe health. He said any schools with other policies are breaking the rules as it changed a couple of years ago (in the past they were legally able to authorise up to 10 discretionary days). But unofficially to have a good time & he'll see us in the family camping area from the Fri night after school

.

PMSL - can you imagine if we had called in sick then run into the head teacher

. So all out in the open and he agrees that the activities at the festival will be more educationally beneficial to her than attending school on a Friday near the end of term.

**Lady Leah** · 18-06-2012, 11:41am

Ahh thats great news, just shows honesty is the best policy! Have a wonderful time!

**Samba** · 18-06-2012, 11:47am

Good stuff. I think its a shame Heads aren't allowed to just come right out and say things like that in the first place. It would save a lot of unwarranted resentment and bad feeling toward school practice/policy. I'm all for a bit of give 'n take myself

**Rosa** · 18-06-2012, 11:55am

brilliant, definitely worth going through the right channels in thus case!

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2

**claireh** · 18-06-2012, 11:58am

That is fantastic news! I hope you have a wonderful time xxx

**scatterbrain** · 18-06-2012, 12:59pm

It'll still be unauthorised of course, but at least we can go with a clear conscience & without encouraging E to lie.

**Cymber** · 18-06-2012, 03:01pm

Originally Posted by Samba

Good stuff. I think its a shame Heads aren't allowed to just come right out and say things like that in the first place. It would save a lot of unwarranted resentment and bad feeling toward school practice/policy. I'm all for a bit of give 'n take myself

WSS

**Sam** · 18-06-2012, 04:44pm

Originally Posted by Samba

Good stuff. I think its a shame Heads aren't allowed to just come right out and say things like that in the first place. It would save a lot of unwarranted resentment and bad feeling toward school practice/policy. I'm all for a bit of give 'n take myself

Absolutely! Hope you all have a good time

**Bettie May** · 18-06-2012, 05:54pm

Originally Posted by scatterbrain

Just back from the meeting with the head. He said he can't authorise any days unless they relate to the forces, seasonal workers or severe health. He said any schools with other policies are breaking the rules as it changed a couple of years ago (in the past they were legally able to authorise up to 10 discretionary days).

Really? I am sure they still have the power to grant "educational" days. DD had about 8 days off last year to attend all her auditions and usually has about a week off before Christmas for panto rehearsals... all authorised!