I see Michael Gove, Schools Minister, decided to make a pronouncement this week. apparently there is to be a clampdown on Head Teachers who let children have time out during term time for holidays. I have news for him. It's already in place and has been for some time.
If a parent asks to take their child out of school during term time they will be refused. If they then choose to take the child out of school, or if they do so without asking, the school writes to them informing the parents that an entry has been made against their child's name for unauthorised absence. What happens then is up to the local education department. Usually nothing, but it isn't the schools fault.
There can of course be times when children have to miss school due to perhaps a death in the extended family which might mean travelling away and it would be a hard head teacher who clamped down on that, unless of course we are talking about their 7th Grandparent to die!
There is one thing that annoys teachers more than any other absence though. When a parent says they are taking their child out of school in term time because it's cheaper to go on holiday then. Unfortunately teachers don't have a choice. Whilst everyone complains about the wonderful holidays teachers get, and that will be a rant for another occasion, they still have to pay more because it's school holidays. And not only that, wherever they go, there are going to be kids cos they are on holiday. How would the parents like it if they turned up at the school one day to be told they need to take their child home because the teacher had decided to have a fortnight off! And usually it's the kids who can least afford to have any time off if they are going to stand a chance of getting their SATS at the right level.
So Michael, instead of laying into teachers yet again, check your facts and then do something about the parents!
2 comments:
I'd never twigged that bit about the school holidays, but yes, you're right: every holiday they have will be much more expensive.
Having said that though, I daresay most teachers probably have kids of their own and would be forced into taking their holidays during half term, etc, anyway.
One of my neighbours frequently goes away with her daughter during term time and whilst I have never discussed it with her, I sort of assumed that the restriction had been lifted. You live and learn.
Post a Comment