Unauthorised absence from school
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dst87
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Falkirk, UK
[QUOTE 3764865, member: 76"]Am I being overly touchy and should leave it, or do I stand my ground and get them to change it? Oh, and one last nugget, apparently it can't be changed because it is on the computer now![/QUOTE]
That's ridiculous. I mean one unauthorised absence isn't going to do any harm I wouldn't have thought, but the principle of it would cause me to fight it (because I'm a stubborn bastard).
I always enjoy the argument that it can't be changed because 'computer says no'. What a load of crap.
That's ridiculous. I mean one unauthorised absence isn't going to do any harm I wouldn't have thought, but the principle of it would cause me to fight it (because I'm a stubborn bastard).
I always enjoy the argument that it can't be changed because 'computer says no'. What a load of crap.
twentysix by twentyfive
Clinging on tightly
- Location
- Over the Hill
ScotiaLass
Guru
- Location
- Middle Earth
[QUOTE 3764865, member: 76"]I have been a totally supportive parent all the way through my kids schooling. I have backed teachers decisions and sent the kids to school, maybe sometimes when they were too ill.
Then yesterday I got a message saying MiniUser76 is being marked as 'Unathorised absence' on Monday. He was off, I phoned in, all proper. Now what has happened apparently is that lots of other Year 10 children were tired after the DofE expedition, so the Academy Leadership Team decided everyone in Year 10 who was off on Monday was swinging the lead. I had a call with the Head of Year, and she said the only way out of this is a Doctors note or a prescription!
The tricky bit is that MiniUser76 also did the DofE walk, although when they went to the Olympics, they got back 1.45am and he was in on time the next day, they got back from a German trip at 2, he was in the next day at 9, he had 5 stitches in head, and 30 hours later was sitting a geography exam, so the school know he has plenty of form in not skiving off because he is tired.
Am I being overly touchy and should leave it, or do I stand my ground and get them to change it? Oh, and one last nugget, apparently it can't be changed because it is on the computer now![/QUOTE]
Stand your ground!
My son has Autism and I have had to fight the system for years! They treat the pupils all the same, as it's too much hard work for them to treat people as individuals, but they should!
Then yesterday I got a message saying MiniUser76 is being marked as 'Unathorised absence' on Monday. He was off, I phoned in, all proper. Now what has happened apparently is that lots of other Year 10 children were tired after the DofE expedition, so the Academy Leadership Team decided everyone in Year 10 who was off on Monday was swinging the lead. I had a call with the Head of Year, and she said the only way out of this is a Doctors note or a prescription!
The tricky bit is that MiniUser76 also did the DofE walk, although when they went to the Olympics, they got back 1.45am and he was in on time the next day, they got back from a German trip at 2, he was in the next day at 9, he had 5 stitches in head, and 30 hours later was sitting a geography exam, so the school know he has plenty of form in not skiving off because he is tired.
Am I being overly touchy and should leave it, or do I stand my ground and get them to change it? Oh, and one last nugget, apparently it can't be changed because it is on the computer now![/QUOTE]
Stand your ground!
My son has Autism and I have had to fight the system for years! They treat the pupils all the same, as it's too much hard work for them to treat people as individuals, but they should!
w00hoo_kent
One of the 64K
- Location
- Maidstone or Greenwich
I've asked my wife about the computer side of thing she was network manager (read computer department) for a Kent primary school for 10+ years. I'd stand my ground, tell them you're not paying for a doctors certificate (assuming they'd even give you one, mine wouldn't if I was off a single day).
Update, if they are using SIMS then its overwriting a letter on the register screen. Dead easy. Surprised they've done this as they, Kent anyway, have targets to stay under and a big hit to absences (of any kind) reflects badly on them. I guess if for some reason they want to drop DoE...
Update, if they are using SIMS then its overwriting a letter on the register screen. Dead easy. Surprised they've done this as they, Kent anyway, have targets to stay under and a big hit to absences (of any kind) reflects badly on them. I guess if for some reason they want to drop DoE...
If they hold data, surely the Data Protection Act would place a requirement that it must be accurate (https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/principle-4-accuracy/). Therefore, saying that it can't be changed on the computer would be unacceptable.
twentysix by twentyfive
Clinging on tightly
- Location
- Over the Hill
Yes I wondered that.
Jayaly
Senior Member
- Location
- Hertfordshire
I would feel compelled to write a sh*tty letter to the school on that one. As one of the other posters has said, doctors won't normally issue a note on day one.
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
A single day unauthorised absence is of no consequence so why bother wasting your time on it?
Option 1 : Follow the advice of several posters and start communicating with the school
Result is you waste your time. You might get the absence removed but the result of that is nothing. And you might end up with an antagonistic relationship with the school which will not help your child in the long run
Option 2 : Do nothing
You don't waste your time. Child has a one day unauthorised absence that is of no consequence. No effect on relationship with the school
Option 1 : Follow the advice of several posters and start communicating with the school
Result is you waste your time. You might get the absence removed but the result of that is nothing. And you might end up with an antagonistic relationship with the school which will not help your child in the long run
Option 2 : Do nothing
You don't waste your time. Child has a one day unauthorised absence that is of no consequence. No effect on relationship with the school
I don't see at as a big deal, my daughter recently returned home with a certificate for having achieved 100% attendance, that wasn't a big deal either.......
It'll be another rule for the staff though, I have no doubts about that. I've posted this before but when my lad was younger I asked the head to take him out of term a couple of days early prior to the summer hols, I got a refusal and a really snotty reply. Karma.
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/2196236.flight_row_teacher_guilty/
It'll be another rule for the staff though, I have no doubts about that. I've posted this before but when my lad was younger I asked the head to take him out of term a couple of days early prior to the summer hols, I got a refusal and a really snotty reply. Karma.
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/2196236.flight_row_teacher_guilty/
Broadside
Guru
- Location
- Fleet, Hants
Incredibly short sighted of the school. This will lead to ill feeling amongst the families impacted and will negatively impact the schools unauthorised absence figures during Ofsted reviews.
KneesUp
Guru
As you all know anyway, the computer record can be changed because that's how computers work. It's one of the differences between them and stone tablets. But as a former teacher I can confirm that register entries can be changed.
I would ask the school to state in writing how a blanket mark of 'unauthorised absence' for all of year 10 fits with their Inclusion Policies.
I would ask the school to state in writing how a blanket mark of 'unauthorised absence' for all of year 10 fits with their Inclusion Policies.
