Really angry with the school

**Abbie** · 17-05-2012, 09:29am

At the moment our school authorise it on a discretionary basis.

They were fine when we took our 2 out in January for 4 days as their attendance for the year had been above a certain % (100% for DD1)

We had out Ofsted inspection in October and it wasn't marked down.

**S-J** · 17-05-2012, 10:23am

My son has had 3 days off school for holidays in his time there and they have all been "unauthorized".

**Biba** · 17-05-2012, 11:00am

Originally Posted by Chocolate Lips

I guess the real beef here is that the school were a bit slack with their information. Authorised or not, Biba handed the form in time, they could have got back to her before the date on it which would have been common sense and courteous, plus it doesn't seems she was aware of the circumstances in which children could be taken out which clearly would have been explained if they'd pulled their finger out of their arse.

This is it exactly CL, we may have decided not to go during term time if I was fully aware of the procedure. I know whatever I say to the school it will not change what goes on his record. I don't understand why they have to do it like that though regardless of it being authorised or not parents will take their children out of school during term time as it is just so bloody expensive to go on holiday during the holidays. There is no way we could afford the same holiday we had (4 nights at Haven) during 1/2 term or the summer holiday but I guess is a whole new thread!

**January** · 17-05-2012, 11:20am

Originally Posted by Chocolate Lips

I guess the real beef here is that the school were a bit slack with their information. Authorised or not, Biba handed the form in time, they could have got back to her before the date on it which would have been common sense and courteous, plus it doesn't seems she was aware of the circumstances in which children could be taken out which clearly would have been explained if they'd pulled their finger out of their arse.

ITA.

If you're (generic) not in the habit of yanking them out and the school haven't seen fit either to make their policy clear or make absolutely sure they have words when you've followed the procedure, I can understand feeling aggrieved.

Schools sometimes seem to assume a level of familiarity with their 'system' that doesn't necessarily exist.

**Biba** · 17-05-2012, 02:47pm

Well I have been in and spoken the the deputy head as we were cut off and he did try and call back as I didn't want him to think that I was ignoring him and I didn't want the conversation left hanging. I did tell him apprciate that that is the policy but it would have been nice if they had managed to sort their side of things before the holiday not after.

**Rowan Tree** · 17-05-2012, 04:23pm

Last year on DDs report card there was an unauthorized absence marked, which I am pretty cross about. IMO it was an exceptional circumstance....
we have our house rented out (unable to sell it), and we had to go up and empty it of all the junk the tenants had left behind. It took two days of van-hire and 4 trips to the tip/re-cycling centre

so quite a big job. DH and I went up for the weekend, and DD went to her stay at her granny's. There was no way we could practically get her to school for the monday morning (grandparents live half-way between old house and school) so I informed the school she would be absent. So I was surprised and a bit cross they had it down as Unauthorized. She is only 8. What were we meantto do? It's not as if she was staying at her granny's for a "holiday", it would have been really upsetting for her to see the house in the state it was, so we couldn't take her with us. IMO we had no option but keep her off school for that one day.
No biggies, but it did annoy me.

**scatterbrain** · 17-05-2012, 06:09pm

It really does depend on the school policy. Ours clearly states they will only allow authorised absences during term time due to exceptional circumstances and a family holiday is not exceptional. They have to cover their rear ends, especially if they have been warned by ofsted (as our school have). Also, if any other parents heard you were authorised time out for a family holiday he will have set a presidence (sp?) & will demand the same.

Yes, they mucked up and yes if they have no clear policy you were right to assume they had agreed and are right to be annoyed (IYSWIM).

S