Taking a 16, almost 17 year old on holiday in "term time"?

[alisonbestford]

DD, now 15, takes her GCSEs next year.
We'd love to go to WDW in Oct 2015 but not sure whether she will be at 6th form/college or somewhere totally obscure.....
My question is, does anyone know whether there are any legal requirements regarding us taking a few days either side of October half term?
I know the rules change all the time but would like to be able to think about what to do.
Thanks for any help

 

[wilma-bride]

If your daughter was born on or before 31 August 1997 (which I assume she was) then legally she only has to stay in full time education until the last Friday in June 2015 (assuming she'll be 16 by then) or until her 16th Birthday.

So there are no legal implications to you taking her out of school. However, bear in mind that A-Levels are a LOT harder than GCSEs and missed work can be more difficult to catch up on. However, if she is happy and doing well and her tutors are happy, then there should be no issues.

FWIW, I took my daughters when they were 16 and 17. One was just finishing GCSEs and one was just finishing 1st year of A-Levels - however, they both did extra work beforehand to get ahead of their fellow pupils (with the school's grace). The request for absence for the daughter in Year 11 was denied but the one in Year 12 had the absence approved.

 

[BudgieMama]

I think the biggest problem will be that your daughter doesn't know how she'll take to whatever course of study she is doing. I work in a secondary school, and spend a lot of time supporting a huge number of Year 12 students who completely underestimating how much of a step up the level would be between GCSE and A-Level...

Obviously, your daughter won't know how she's going to cope with whatever she'll be doing until she tries it, and you'll need to book much earlier than that. Personally, I wouldn't risk it if it were my child, but that might be because I spend a lot of time dealing with stressed out Sixth Formers... I know there are some I work with who could easily miss a few days without it being a problem, and some for whom it would be a really nasty set back...

Good luck at figuring out what works best. I hope you can make it work!

 

[alisonbestford]

She was born Dec 1998 Wilma Bride
It's a tough one as she is dyslexic, and a worrier so, as you say Budgie Mama, I have no idea how things will pan out
As a nurse I'm struggling to take non term time holidays as my colleagues have all got children too....!
I've managed to get 2 weeks this August but the theory is, if you get Aug one year you probably don't get the next..........
Anyway, keeping our options open for now but thanks for any thoughts

 

[scoobydooby]

Statutory school age changes twice in the next two years. I assume, but don't know, the taking out of school issue relates to those of statutory school age. I have copied the link for you below.

https://www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school

 

[wilma-bride]

She was born Dec 1998 Wilma Bride
It's a tough one as she is dyslexic, and a worrier so, as you say Budgie Mama, I have no idea how things will pan out
As a nurse I'm struggling to take non term time holidays as my colleagues have all got children too....!
I've managed to get 2 weeks this August but the theory is, if you get Aug one year you probably don't get the next..........
Anyway, keeping our options open for now but thanks for any thoughts

In that case, she will legally have to stay on in some form of education or apprenticeship until she is 18 so you may find that they don't actually give permission for you to take her out during term time.

With the added factor of not knowing what she will be doing, is it not worth going away either at the end of June (once she's finished her GCSEs) or over the school holidays before she starts her next steps in education.

 

[alisonbestford]

Thank you.....
At the moment she would like to be a child psychologist - which will require uni.........
We will think....and I am not a forward planner so will be happy to wait until we have some sort of plan / school curriculum

 

[cheryl.UK]

Although she will have to stay in some form of education/training until she is 18, the rules are different after Y11. Each college/training provider sets its own rules on time off. School sixth forms tend not to allow it but they can't actually fine you. They can, however, throw her off the course. There are lots of colleges who will do this, especially if you take time off in the first half term. That's when the cut off is for their league tables. (They take it as a sign of things to come). But, it's entirely up to the establishment.

 

[alisonbestford]

Thank you all once again
It's a while away yet but I was looking to take 2 or 3 days on the side of Oct half term....I will think again nearer the time

 

[alisonbestford]

1st week in July was initially my first choice Wilma Bride...... Just that we've been lucky enough to "do" Xmas and I thought Halloweenish might be fun
Unfortunately I might not be able to take time off in the Summer holidays due to staff levels but "hey, ho".........

 

[mackay_j]

I would say the best time to sneak a few days off is pre xmas - as long as they are not going straight back after the holiday into prelims (mocks) or unit tests- Most schools have many pupils missing some lessons the last week of this term due to shows/ concerts etc. Not sure of the system in England but here in Scotland to be allowed to sit the main exam the children have to pass mini exams on route - NABS - one of those is usually straight after oct hols - so she may feel under pressure to study over those hols.

We really couldn't find any time in our girls 5th year of school to go on holiday as Xmas - mocks straight after - Easter- main exams started in April - needed to study. Oct - first set of Nabs straight after so again studding. So we found that year was the perfect year for my DH and I to have a holiday on our own. Since then we have continued this habit

In my eldest 6th year she already had uni places lined up so we managed Xmas. Even when they are at uni we have found it hard to do anything other than xmas (luckly glasgow uni exams are pre xmas most are January) and Summer- but next year they will both be at uni (fingers crossed) so we will be able to go early September.- Already planning - BUT NOT FLORIDA- this will be our first big main holiday not over there in 15 years- We are planning a 12 night MED cruise to celebrate the eldest graduation and the youngest 18th. However I think we will have to add a few days at port adventure - just for a park fix and to lighten what will be a very culture based cruise.

 

[alisonbestford]

It's all a bit of a mine field trying to plan a family holiday!

DD is at Uni, DS works in a Special School, youngest DD will be sitting GCSEs next year, my work team consists of all women with school age children and DH is self employed and has to take time off when the foundries he does environmental monitoring for are quiet.......

The Orlando trip will be just DD and I as DH isn't a Disney fan

We may try and sneak a day or two at the beginning of Oct half term - Xmas won't be possible as both DH and myself have elderly parents who will be on their own if we go away...............
Saying that I might not be able to get Oct half term off anyway......

 

[scoobydooby]

Why don't you go immediately after her GCSEs. This is earlier than the actual schools break up and there will be no issues about missing school work.

 

[alisonbestford]

Thanks all
I've got a few thoughts - straight after GCSEs was my first thought and that would hopefully be easier for me to get time off work too