Time off school

[bibblebub]

http://www.swindonadv...s_in_dad_s_footsteps/

A 16 year old girl is going to take 2 weeks skiing to the North Pole later this month; the 2 weeks might just be the trek itself so the whole exercise could be longer.

Are 16yo's allowed to take time off school for such a pointless activity? Or does the family name make it ok?

[sara3]

depends when she was born.. legally, she could have left school.

[ummmm]

Like Sara says...16 year olds, at the moment, can leave school. If she's 16 now then she's already taken her GCSE's...

[bibblebub]

The other daughter, Alicia Hempleman Adams, trekked to the North Pole during school term time when just 15, so age doesn't matter for this family.

[NOX]

Who cares, it's her time, her future and I don't see it as pointless anyway tbh, there are more ways of learning about things generally and certainly life than going to school everyday. We home educated our kids at home so we didn't have to jump through other people's hoops every time we wanted to do something we considered to be constructive, I really can't see this is a harmful thing, it's fine with her and fine with her parents- end of story.

[ummmm]

Sorry, that's wrong. If she was born before Sep...

Either way...she can leave at 16 as long as turns up for her exams.

[cazzz1975]

at my daughters school if attendence drops below 90% they issue fines

[ABerrant]

AS student Alicia has been given coursework to be completed during the three weeks (16 school days) excursion.

http://www.priorparkc...llege-news.asp?id=384

[pastafreak]

The school may well see this as being just as-or more-educational and worthy,as her more traditional school coursework.

[ummmm]

I certainly would. Imagine the discipline and dedication it takes. Great on your CV as well...

[pastafreak]

Same here...more schools should encourage such adventures and independent activities.

[factor-fiction]

I've been a teacher and I'm not aware that 16 year olds can simply leave school as long a sthey turn up for exams. Year 11 (5th form in old money)students will reach age 16 at any time between 1st September and the following summer

Schools can give permission if they think it mayof beefit. For example I'm sure some schools would give students time off to represent their country at sport or appear in a west end show, and students are sometimes given time off to go Asian countries with their family. If it's just a holiday though (and I haven't read the article) then I'd need a lot of convincing.

[cathfromsaron]

not really pointless ... it will be a fantastic opportunity, if you like that sort of thing! and yes, she can leave school anyway!

[zebo]

A bit more useful that sitting by a pool for two weeks, avoiding all the schoolwork the parents have insisted on being set, which will never leave the suitcase, if indeed it made the journey! Then of course they will "insist" that the teacher devotes extra time away from other pupils to help their darling catch up! Break, lunchtime and after school are out of the question as it's "their right" to be helped!

[boxtops]

If she's at a private school (which she may be) the rules may be different.

[DTCwordfan]

Isnt it called leadership......

we used to have such trips, to eastern Turkey for example into the Kurd area. And the school had a mountain rescue unit, working alongside the adult ones, survival and medical skills and all that - I would also add that a trip to the North Pole is no doddle and will also test a lot of non-physical skills, - like navigation......

[bibblebub]

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