No, the rules have changed recently to reduce the amount of circumstances a Head can authorise but they are still allowed to. If I remember correctly the change was something like it used to be 'Special' circumstances but now they have to be 'Exceptional'.
Fined for taking kids on holiday..
- Thread starter Locky
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No, the rules have changed recently to reduce the amount of circumstances a Head can authorise but they are still allowed to. If I remember correctly the change was something like it used to be 'Special' circumstances but now they have to be 'Exceptional'.
It's exceedingly poor if the headmaster had already verbally said there would be no problem.
On the subject in general, my stance is simple, if the schools feel that it is detrimental in whatever way and the government have backed them on it with some 'rules' being applied, then I think its reasonable to expect people to follow those rules or pay the fine which is clearly a deterrent.
I would be happy if schools figured out how to accommodate parents taking their children out of school for reasonable periods of time during term time, I would certainly go on some 'cheaper' holidays, but only if it didn't affect their schooling in anyway.
On the subject in general, my stance is simple, if the schools feel that it is detrimental in whatever way and the government have backed them on it with some 'rules' being applied, then I think its reasonable to expect people to follow those rules or pay the fine which is clearly a deterrent.
I would be happy if schools figured out how to accommodate parents taking their children out of school for reasonable periods of time during term time, I would certainly go on some 'cheaper' holidays, but only if it didn't affect their schooling in anyway.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-27972651
It seems weddings are not good enough reason. I'm going to pay the fine in 240 pounds worth of 5 pence's.
It seems weddings are not good enough reason. I'm going to pay the fine in 240 pounds worth of 5 pence's.
Soldato
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Go to the head and request that he make some sort of phone call to someone. The information of their absence comes from the tutor which works for the school he runs, he can certainly take responsibility for it and assist with an appeal regardless of whether the people on the phone said an appeal is impossible. At the end of the day, the error is due to the school saying it was an unauthorised absence.
While i think it is ridiculous to fine parents for taking kids on holiday during term, i don't agree that pulling kids out of school should be the choice of the parents. I knew plenty of other kids who use to to just mess around and skive through school and college because their parents simply didn't care or couldn't handle them. Taking kids away on holiday at the end of the year for a few days is fine but i had mates who went away for 3 or 4 weeks when i went because it was cheaper during the school year. You gotta draw the line somewhere and its easier to say no altogether than it is to assess what is acceptable and what isn't. Lets face it, as ridiculous as it is, i bet the fine system forced a lot of 'don't care' parents to get up off their backside and made sure their brats weren't loitering outside kfc on a weekday harassing the elderly going past.
I think fining was introduced the same time as they increased the age for mandatory education to 18.
While i think it is ridiculous to fine parents for taking kids on holiday during term, i don't agree that pulling kids out of school should be the choice of the parents. I knew plenty of other kids who use to to just mess around and skive through school and college because their parents simply didn't care or couldn't handle them. Taking kids away on holiday at the end of the year for a few days is fine but i had mates who went away for 3 or 4 weeks when i went because it was cheaper during the school year. You gotta draw the line somewhere and its easier to say no altogether than it is to assess what is acceptable and what isn't. Lets face it, as ridiculous as it is, i bet the fine system forced a lot of 'don't care' parents to get up off their backside and made sure their brats weren't loitering outside kfc on a weekday harassing the elderly going past.
I think fining was introduced the same time as they increased the age for mandatory education to 18.
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Soldato
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This. Ignorance isn't an excuse. Whether or not the head said yes, you're not allowed to take them out. Fine 100% deserved.
Soldato
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If it was B&H who issued it then those rules state that it's up to the school to grant permission or not.
All schools wishing to issue penalty notices under this this Code of Conduct must evidence that all literature the team provided to parents, such as School Prospectus, Attendance and Behaviour Policies, Home School Agreements, Newsletters and website information including the warning that parents may be issued with a penalty notice if leave is taken without permission. Schools must also ensure that if a parent has had their request for leave during term time refused because of lack of evidence of exceptional circumstances, parents are issued with a warning letter.
Although the responsibility for authorising requests for leave of absence lies with the school, it is the Council’s Behaviour and Attendance Team who will make the decision on whether to issue a penalty notice based on the evidence supplied by the school.
I'd seek out the rules for your LEA if I were you, to see who has the decision making powers regarding authorised leave.
That is BS IMO - ok if you were taking the kids out for "weddings" 3 times a year or something but one off for a close family member should be a good enough reason.
EDIT: Looks like the big factor in that case was that they didn't give adequate notice to the school rather than the nature of the reason so much.
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Id argue against it as you had the Head Teachers authority. The law states that the child has to be in school regularly, that was what the IoW case was about wasnt it?
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What age are your kids?
I will be doing this next Christmas as our trip overlaps the last 2 days of term.
I will be doing this next Christmas as our trip overlaps the last 2 days of term.
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Do it.
Soldato
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I believe this applies all the way up till 18 now.
Get permission early with some form of writing showing the authorisation. preferably the same documentation they send off to the guys who authorise the fines.
Either that or do a shift of overtime or two and pretend that its an additional cost of holidaying.
Are they still allowed to suspend children?
If so, then get the kids to poo through a letterbox, guaranteed fine free suspension.
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Looks like it's just the three of us who think this then.
Probably telling why most of this country thinks it's against their human rights if they get a fine for parking on someone's private property.
Might go down that route as one of them is autistic and does have regular doctors appointments.
Not really as it isn't as black and white as that.
That's useful.