Are you asking people to provide you with plausible lies?

Use the power of prayer...

We were allowed to take our eldest daughter out of School for a holiday. My wife would have been heavily pregnant had we gone in late July or August and our daughter's headteacher allowed us to tack a week on the end of the Spring Bank holiday week. She was only in year R at the time though.

I don't throw sickies at work so I wouldn't use that tactic to take my children on holiday out of season. I recommend telling them the truth, you never know as it is an important milestone/occasion they might actually say yes.

Since when has a Darts player been able to educate kids ?

Depends on the type of holiday, but the life experience the child will encounter assuming your not just lying on a beach all day but rather doing something a little more meaningful, will out way missing five day's of school. Particularly if the absence is properly prepared for before hand.

Many things disrupt the education of a class, including various proper inclusion policies, teaching strikes, lack of proper funding etc.

I personally find "teacher training days" that are not taken during school holidays very disruptive to my kids education, not to mention my families childcare plans.

I think the 4 days before next May's half term that I've decided to take my daughter on holiday, with the head's consent, during term time, are fairly low down on the list of what will cause the most classroom disruption. Particularly when those days lead up to half term and games are played and movies are watched etc.

I also took my son on holiday during his preparation for GCSEs. he took some work with him and he flew back early. He got fantastic results and starts University in September.

Parents play a large role in the education of their children. Some parents are able to instill proper values into their children about the importance of education and schoolwork away from the class. If they do and they take holidays at a time they can afford then good for them.

Play the game, make the request and i it's denied pay any fine. It will be cheaper anyway.

I completely agree.
As I said earlier, we chose to take our 6 year old out of school during term time for a holiday.
My husband is self employed & works away Monday to Friday, we arranged the holiday to fit in with a quieter time in his work schedule.
I honestly believe the disruption to his education was minimal at that time, he's in all the top groups within his year & his overall attendance even after the holiday was 95.9%.
Yes, we did save money & yes we told the truth & paid the fine, but I do believe that both our sons benefited from spending some much needed quality time with both of their parents. TBH, that's all I'm concerned about.

Quite. Not seeking sympathy votes here but as full time bread winner in the house I get to see my 8 year old about an hour a day. Weekends are tough with various things to be fit it.

That full week or two we spend together as a family is irreplaceable in my eyes. I am sure it is for other families. If that can only be afforded in term time then I think it's fairly important that it's taken.

Nobody suggested that all schools are perfect, but that's hardly a justification for additional disruption.


I can tell you right now that you're the exception and not the rule. The vast majority of parents who want to take their kids on holiday during term time have no plans and no intention of compensating the way you did. And the timing is important as you mention. Which is why each request should be dealt with individually.


It's not just about the kids that go, as mentioned earlier.


Education is not a game.

There are other ways to afford a holiday. Going somewhere cheaper, for instance. All a matter of priorities.