School Absence Applications with a Grumpy Headmaster

[ellethel]

Hi, Long story short- I have to fill school absence forms in for my kids for Glasto and I need a clever and sensible reason why I have to take my kids out of school (apart from the festival only being on in june). I know there is a thread on here somewhere but I can't find it. My son has a new headmaster who is a bit of a misery. Even if I get a no I will still be taking them but I would like something good to write on the forms.

Cheers

[Matt - Ed Banger Records]

We had to do one for me in '98, I was lucky in that my mum and her friends had managed to get a spot in the Greenfields running a tent where the entertainment was powered using sustainable energy resources. When se wrote to my headmaster she used this and said something along the lines of 'going to Glastonbury festival will give Matt a good opportunity to see and understand the practical usage of sustainable energy resources, whilst also gaining an understanding of the arts and culture' and they accepted that! So I would try and go along that route, arts, alternative energy, craft making etc, good luck!!

[The_Amazing_Oblong]

Tried 'good for their education' previously and it didn't go down well. After several communications with the school both prior and post event I had to tell her in the end that as a parent it was my decision and she could take a running jump if she didn't like it.

Easiest is to file the absence as sickness.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I'd go for the there's been a death in the family approach. Tell them that you have to go to Ireland for the funeral which will allow you the freedom to go down to Glasto on the Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

[mrbossed]

This seems to be one of those things which is very school specific - we have never had any trouble with our daughters' primary school, they are happy for her to miss the last couple of days of term to go to Glastonbury ( we are in Scotland so the holidays start earlier than in England). if your headteacher is intransigent then just use one of the ruses suggested above!

[StoneCircle]

Hi, Long story short- I have to fill school absence forms in for my kids for Glasto and I need a clever and sensible reason why I have to take my kids out of school (apart from the festival only being on in june). I know there is a thread on here somewhere but I can't find it. My son has a new headmaster who is a bit of a misery. Even if I get a no I will still be taking them but I would like something good to write on the forms.

Cheers

[ellethel]

Thanks for the comments and StoneCircle that's the thread I was looking for, Cheers : D

Fingers crossed I get some joy

[AnnaGrant]

We had to get permission for our then 14 year old to have time off for Glastonbury 2011. We used the 'contemporary music and arts' experience argument, and as our child is very musical that was not unreasonable. The main thing that swung it for us was that the school exams had finished, and it was a quiet time at school.

Permission was granted on the understanding it was a one off and that in future it wouldn't necessarily be given.

Child is now 16 and has a ticket for this year, but as he will have just finished his GCSEs-the day before- I don't anticipate a problem. There won't be lessons scheduled I think.

Like other posters have said, it is largely dependant on the school policy and the reasonableness (?) of the Head.

In my sister's local education area they fine parents for taking their children out of school during term time, and schools seem quite happy just to take the money, and parents just treat the fine as an additional cost of going on holiday.

[neilloggie]

We have never had a problem getting time off as we never take any other holidays during term time and Matthew has had 100% attendance just about every year he has been at school.

No point making up any excuses,just tell the truth and hope for the best. If all else fails then try excuses.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

No point making up any excuses,just tell the truth and hope for the best. If all else fails then try excuses.

[Mr_Grump]

Child is now 16 and has a ticket for this year, but as he will have just finished his GCSEs-the day before- I don't anticipate a problem. There won't be lessons scheduled I think.

[neilloggie]

Not too sure I'd agree with you there. If you ask permission to take them out on the dates of Glasto by using honesty and are refused, you can hardly then take them out on those dates using another excuse. Death is the best option by far. A fake death that is.

PS - I would normally advocate honesty but with Glasto I really think you can't take unnecessary risks!

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

You could always say you had a family member who attended Glastonbury every year and his final wish was to have his ashes spread while the festival was on.

[citrine]

I think it is school specific, I have never had any problems taking my two out of school.

I've always been honest and have used the educational/cultural excuse for them to go, this works well with my son doing a BTEC in music.

I also have arrangements with school that if they don't hit their targets then they don't go, school is happy enough to go along with this.

[neilloggie]

We had a letter last Friday from my son's primary School which said the children will only be allowed a maximum of 10 days holiday in any school year and authorised leave will only be given to children with over 90% attendance. Anyone caught flouting these rules will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

We are generally lucky as Glastonbury is usually the only time we take off.

[lea7784]

When i told the school i was taking my sons 2011 the school seemed pretty cool about it I did have a back up this is an educational trip and they will provide scrap books of the trip letter just incase (thanks to a thread i read on here ) but never needed it

However I will take them with or without the schools say so as there my children lol

[pyramidsong]

the first time i went in 08 when i was 12, my mum mentioned nothing about the festival and just told the school that i was going for an "illuminating trip to a dairy farm in the south west, that would help me appreciate the unique heritage of the area" or something to that respect.

other years i've just gone without telling them and said i'm ill. i couldn't get there till friday in 2010, a day on which the rest of the school had to do a sponsored walk through richmond, and as i'm setting up my tent i get a call from the deputy head asking me where i was. thankfully i managed to splutter out an "uuuuhh i'm illl and in bed" without somebody shouting alan in the background.

Edited January 21, 2013 by pyramidsong

[ellethel]

Whoooop i take it all back, great headmaster that obviously appreciates the education and life experience that my child will gain at Glastonbury festival. Holiday request authorised- get in

[Ruwise]

Glad to hear. I would think a child would get exposed to more culture and education at Glastonbury than they would in the equivalent time at school.

I also wish when I was a kid I'd had parent cool enough to take me.

[the wonderwhy]

Whenever anyone in my school wants time off for a fest we make sure we check with the deputy head because he always says yes He goes to Latitude every year and so I guess he's sympathetic with us. I think it usually always falls the weekend after the last week of summer term. He only teaches A levels, and because we finish at half 11 anyway, he usually cancels his classes for the day and bombs down the motorway to catch most of Fridays acts

[ellethel]

I consider myself lucky- I have the cool Dad that took us when we were kids, he's 60 and still comes with us. I take my kids now and it's great to see that they love it and look forward to it as much as I do. Roll on June!!

[Ruwise]

I consider myself lucky- I have the cool Dad that took us when we were kids, he's 60 and still comes with us. I take my kids now and it's great to see that they love it and look forward to it as much as I do. Roll on June!!

[beodeejay]

Good luck with this - all three of ours were taken between ages 5 - 16, and my initial letter to the head was a bit tongue in cheeek, but worked and he still refers to it over a decade later.

I described the festival as a festival of performing arts and contemporary culture, and I listed the various specific areas. I also included a promise (which was kept) that they would keep a little daily logbook, detailing what they did, and what they learned about ecology etc. I did admit it was glastonbury.... but only after a flowery description. He took it in good humour, and he agreed :-)

After the eldest brought back a scrapbook with him seen in various places around the site tghe following years were fine.

Nowadays, you could include links about the charitable causes, the different causes that have dedicated areas on-site - there is loads on the website about them.

[Nattoo]

As a teacher & someone who has worked at Glastonbury for a few years (I had a very understanding boss/head teacher) I still find it really annoying that schools can make parents feel guilty for taking their children to the festival. If your child has a good attendance the rest of the year what difference will a few days off make? ;as long as its not just before/ during exams, admittedly) The experiences kids have at Glasto & the things they learn can have just as big an impact as what happens in a classroom; I know it did on me & I was in my 30s when I first went. Ultimately, you are the parent, & if you want to take your child it is your right. Don't be bullied by some head teacher who's probably dull as ditch water & a jobs-worth.

[piltonpoppet]

I went to a school in Glastonbury (town) and they were so used to students (and staff) skiving off the week of the festival that they usually had inset days or brought the summer holidays forward.

The only problem was GCSE exams, but we pre planned this and organised a mini bus to collect us from the festival site to the school, wait the two (or whatever) hours and then take us back.

For actual advice, we had to deal with this with my nieces, as long as you tell the school well in advance, and there is no exams you should be okay. Or just call in sick for a week...its not the end of the world and you probably won't get social services knocking on the door as long as kids have good attendance the rest of the year.