Digsy   10 #97 Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Education Secretary Michael Gove is to crack down on parents who take children out of school to go on holiday. Headteachers will lose the ability to sanction up to two weeks a year of "authorised absence" during term time, in a new drive to improve attendance rates, according to The Sunday Telegraph.  The discretionary absence is intended to cover illness, bad weather and bereavements, but many heads come under pressure to grant it so that children can be taken on holidays at times when it is cheaper.  The move, to be accompanied by tougher fines for parents of children who regularly play truant, follows a review of school discipline and attendance by teacher and behaviour expert Charlie Taylor.  It is thought that 4.5 million days of schooling are missed by pupils going on holidays, which are often significantly more expensive during school breaks.  Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders representing secondary school heads, said: "The discretionary 10 days has become a bit of a cultural expectation with parents viewing it as a right in some cases. It is not.  "Children only have one chance to get their education right and for schools to do their best for pupils, it is essential that children have good attendance. Parents taking children out to go on holiday just to get a good deal is disruptive and makes life very difficult for teachers."  A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "This is a leak and we are not commenting on a leak." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/michael-gove-to-ban-termtime-holidays-7196952.html  Yeah just read up on it, so let me get this right. Michael Gove is removing the Headteachers power to grant authorised absence "intended to cover illness, bad weather and bereavements". And Issuing fines to parents who "regularly play truant".  So in English, he's planning on making money out of the cheap holiday industry by charging for the privilege of turning the children into Unauthorised Absentees.  It's the asbo effect all over again. Not to mention kids will use this new found power (more than likely against their parents) and play truant just so that Mary the virgin teenage mother of three can't play bingo with gran on a Friday night. Just 'cos' they can innit. Edited February 21, 2012 by Digsy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Cyclone   10 #98 Posted February 21, 2012 Polarisation can be useful in casting the debate.  So,  Parent A: takes children out of school during term for a holiday. Parent B: sends children to school during term.  If forced to guess,  Q1: Which parent would take the most educational holiday? Q2: Which parent would take the least educational holiday?     (Sub parent with carer, grandparent, social worker as required)  The polarization ought to be based on something other than prejudice though, maybe some evidence for example... At the moment it doesn't appear that it is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Cyclone   10 #99 Posted February 21, 2012 What did you learn on holiday that will be more useful in later life than the schooling that you missed?  What schooling was missed?  Do you remember being at primary school in the week before the summer holidays. I remember helping to tidy the classroom, taking down displays, sports days and very little (if any) new material being covered. You wouldn't leave any new material to the last week of term before a 6 week break as you'll never have the chance to reinforce it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Cyclone   10 #100 Posted February 21, 2012 Yeah just read up on it, so let me get this right. Michael Gove is removing the Headteachers power to grant authorised absence "intended to cover illness, bad weather and bereavements". And Issuing fines to parents who "regularly play truant".  So in English, he's planning on making money out of the cheap holiday industry by charging for the privilege of turning the children into Unauthorised Absentees.  It's the asbo effect all over again. Not to mention kids will use this new found power (more than likely against their parents) and play truant just so that Mary the virgin teenage mother of three can't play bingo with gran on a Friday night. Just 'cos' they can innit.  If it's as you suggest then it will have little effect will it. One week of at the start of the summer holidays is not regular truancy and parents don't require the authority of the head teacher to keep their child out of school anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
sjwilliams   10 #101 Posted June 2, 2013 http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/49640  please sign and share Emma needs 100'000 signatures by August 2013 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
francypants   441 #102 Posted June 2, 2013 Petition signed.  Surely hard working parents have a ' right ' to take their children on holiday when they can. Not all working parents are able to take holidays during the school holidays, and lets face it most working parents are responsible people who don't abuse the present system. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
SatanInHeels   10 #103 Posted June 3, 2013 then the school would have to have a temporary teacher in place. problem solved  Affecting the child's education at all? Surely schools would also need Additional funding to pay for this? Tax rises ok to support it?  Teachers especially those in the first years of teaching don't get paid enough to go on holiday every year during the school holidays. Their kids don't get to go on holiday during school time just because it's cheaper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
froger   10 #104 Posted June 3, 2013 My brother has two kids of school age. If they bring this ban in they would never go on holiday as he is only allowed holidays in term time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Bonzo77 Â Â 13 #105 Posted June 3, 2013 The Department For Education is proposing a ban on taking the children out of school in term time. Headteachers will no longer be able to authorise absence. Â "Ultimately, a child's education is more important than a holiday" says the general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers in today's Times. Â Do you agree? Â What a stupid comment!! Of cause a child's.education is more important than a holiday. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a moron! Â However, If I.want to take my child on holiday during.g term time, that's up to me! As long as they don't miss exams or coursework deadlines. Â Removing a child from school for 1/2 weeks a year isn't going to make or break their education! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
sheffieldliz   10 #106 Posted June 3, 2013 Why not do it on a sort of grading system of they are keeping their grades up they can go if not they can't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
francypants   441 #107 Posted June 3, 2013 Why not do it on a sort of grading system of they are keeping their grades up they can go if not they can't.  Can you imagine if there are several children in a family and all but one does OK? How are you going to tell the others that they aren't going away !!! Just wouldn't work at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
sheffieldliz   10 #108 Posted June 3, 2013 Then that can be their punishment they're stopping the rest of them going on holiday so they will have them on at them all year long and do better next year!!!! Ha ha  ---------- Post added 03-06-2013 at 19:08 ----------  Just read this on government website while looking at absences didn't know that when we were at school your parent didn't pay so you didn't go!  School trips Your child’s school can ask you for a voluntary contribution to the cost of activities like school trips. They can’t stop your child from attending if you don’t pay, but they should cancel the activity if there isn’t enough money to cover the cost of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...