Taking kids out of school without being fined?

[HuggyHare]

Last year, we took our 2 kids to Glasto like we've done every year since they were babies. One's 8, the other's 10. We normally send a note of permission to their schools and they normally allow us to take them out for the week. Only last year they refused, we took them anyway and we were fined £60 per child and per parent!

So this year I want to write them a letter perhaps pointing out the benefits of the festival for the kids. Any ideas of persuading the powers that be?

[Mouseboy11]

I suppose you can't really get away with telling them their both ill as that seems a bit too coincidental. I must add I find it ridiculous you can't take primary school children out of school for a few days, absolute rubbish and they won't miss anything of worth.

[Amy Lawn]

I'm completely uninformed on this, but I seem to remember a similar thread where I think the conclusion was reach that "little Jimmy has a terrible pox and can't possibly attend school" is the only note that would realistically work.

Also, from a teacher's point of view, they've been told to fine you this money, they don't want to impose that fine, they weren't told to judge it by who is going on the most benefiting holiday. Who are they to fine Child A for going to Blackpool, but Child B gets away with it because Glastonbury is so much more worthwhile? A pen-pushing teacher that spends their time filing things and bollocking kids for not having their ties tied tight enough probably wont be most receptive to you telling them that what they see as a bunch of scallies getting rat-arsed in a field is more beneficial than their school. The teacher is probably not a Glastonbury fan like us on these boards.

Can they really say your kids weren't ill? If they're going to impose a fine on you then I imagine they'd have to have something solid to back it up, they might just grit their teeth, knowing you went, but not wanting the headache.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I think someone on here has already tried this approach and failed. Have you considered making up an imaginary death in the family with subsequent compulsory funeral attendance?

[Mouseboy11]

I think someone on here has already tried this approach and failed. Have you considered making up an imaginary death in the family with subsequent compulsory funeral attendance?

[Amy Lawn]

I think someone on here has already tried this approach and failed. Have you considered making up an imaginary death in the family with subsequent compulsory funeral attendance?

[Guest]

Aren't the teachers due to go on strike during Glastonbury week? The school might be shut so problem solved.

[Amy Lawn]

Aren't the teachers due to go on strike during Glastonbury week? The school might be shut so problem solved.

[jed123]

I attended the 2011 festival as a first year a-level student. Left later on the Wednesday as had my final exam of the year that morning. Returned on the Monday to find out one deputy-head teacher had attempted to get me expelled...

Every other teacher saw common sense that it is traditionally the end of year, relaxed environment and missing a couple of days of non-compulsory education wouldn't harm..

All depends on whether the teacher possesses some common sense..

[Memory Man]

the rules are stupid where good natured parents are involved. the rules are clearly an attempt to get parents that otherwise wouldnt give a shit to er... give a shit. typical really that the small minority spoil it for the majority such is life.

i think the answer is either lie or pay the fine, as a note of how much worth the event is probably wont cut the mustard.

on the other hand I feel for those who work in the teaching profession as they presumably can never go to the festival.

Edited May 1, 2014 by Memory Man

[smytho15]

Will just have to face up to the fine. It is a shocking situation we are in my mate has taken his 2 kids for 2 week in Florida, Disney and all that stuff got fined but ended up saving over 4k due to the cost of going in the holidays.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Or slightly less sombre a wedding that requires a few nights away?

[Amy Lawn]

I attended the 2011 festival as a first year a-level student. Left later on the Wednesday as had my final exam of the year that morning. Returned on the Monday to find out one deputy-head teacher had attempted to get me expelled...

Every other teacher saw common sense that it is traditionally the end of year, relaxed environment and missing a couple of days of non-compulsory education wouldn't harm..

All depends on whether the teacher possesses some common sense..

[jed123]

Either the teacher was completely psychotic, or you did something else to upset him.

Did you sleep with his missus?

[Memory Man]

power trip much? probably jealous they couldnt get down to the farm themselves

[smytho15]

Also my mate wrote this letter when the teachers last went on strike after being fined. He also got a massive see me from the head

[MagicalGlitterBunny]

There is an educational concept called 'curriculum mapping'.

You need to map what they will see at the festival to what they are supposed to learn about in school.

Ie show them Glastonbury is educational by using their own curriculum as evidence.

Message me if you want a hand with it.

[Memory Man]

There is an educational concept called 'curriculum mapping'.

You need to map what they will see at the festival to what they are supposed to learn about in school.

Ie show them Glastonbury is educational by using their own curriculum as evidence.

Message me if you want a hand with it.

[Scotdy]

Imagery brother died 200+ miles away, the "family" needs to attend the funeral... I've had 4 sisters and two brothers die in the last 4 years. Last going off they asked for proof. Took me 30min to knock up a order of service... A few days off are not going to inpact on 12 years of education

[stardustjunkie]

As someone else has mentioned, there's meant to be a strike that week so it's worth finding out about that before you start paying up fines.

[rainbow girl]

The schools have no discretion these days, unless you can show that there are "exceptional circumstances". You could argue that Glastonbury is the annual family holiday, and its dates are fixed, but if you do this and are not given permission, then you're stuck. The punishment can only be issued to parents who "fail to secure the regular attendance" of their child, so if your child's attendance throughout the rest of the term has been excellent, you can probably argue that you have secured the "regular" attendance. A short bout of Glasto-enteritis may be the only answer...

[UEF]

I cant imagine that lying to the school is good for you or a good example to set for your children.

Either pay up or take holidays in holiday time

[russycarps]

Report a death in the family. It's macabre but so what? Your kids are old enough to blag it if quizzed.

Or you could listen to little pissy-pants dullards like the fellow above me, who thinks all rules must be strictly obeyed without question

[GeoHall]

say they've both caught an illness

[slamdunkdafunk]

I'm a relatively new parent, my daughter is soon to turn two. Come school age I'm hell bent on taking her to Glastonbury with me and these fines absolutely baffle me, particularly during primary school ages.

A friend of mine at work took his lad out of school for their annual holiday purely because of costs. If they had to go in school holidays, he wouldn't have been able to afford it given the price increases.

Who can say that going abroad, experiencing different cultures, partaking in activities that aren't available to the child in this country, and interacting with people of different backgrounds can't be beneficial to a child's whole life experience. Surely that is better than making a papermache (SP) volcano?

While my daughter's education will be of utmost importance to me and my Mrs, so will her development as a well rounded human being who has a varied life experience.