Has anyone got any advise when it comes to approaching heads about taking time out of school. Ds has a weeks filming at the beginning of this term which is his last year of GCSE. I sent an email saying the schedule had run on. They have reluctantly agreed to this but want us to go in and discuss ds's commitments. Just heard that Ds has been offered part in a TV series which means shooting in Prague on three dates in October and one week in November.
Any idea on the best policy to adopt? Ds is 16 now.
Thanks
Asking permission for time off from Head
Moderator: busybusybusy
Re: Asking permission for time off from Head
perhaps that this is his career choice so therefore as important as GCSE to him that you will ensure he is up to speed with all course work and that you will limit auditions for things that would take place between Jan and June when the exams revision will be important and overall that if it was sport you doubt the school would even be seeing you -
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Re: Asking permission for time off from Head
is he legally 16?
The law applies to all children from birth until completion of schooling (last Friday in June, during the school year in which the child attains the age of 16.
if he's a summer birthday, i'm not sure how this applies
good luck!
The law applies to all children from birth until completion of schooling (last Friday in June, during the school year in which the child attains the age of 16.
if he's a summer birthday, i'm not sure how this applies
good luck!
Life is complex - some of it is real, some of it is imaginary.
Re: Asking permission for time off from Head
Oh didnt think of that! Actually he was held back years ago when he was 4 as he had August birthday, so don't quite know what that means. He should really be in the year above.Going to see Head tomorrow!
Re: Asking permission for time off from Head
If he should officially be in the year above, then he has already done the school year in which he turned 16, so it would seem the licensing thing isn't your issue. That said, I sympathise with you - it's tricky enough with an understanding head and a DD only in Year 8, so I can't even begin to think how I'd approach it in your circumstances.
So, nothing helpful to offer other than that I hope you manage to sort it to everyone's satisfaction!
So, nothing helpful to offer other than that I hope you manage to sort it to everyone's satisfaction!
Re: Asking permission for time off from Head
Had the meeting yesterday, and the Head agreed to the time off, although we had a very long discussion about how important this year is and how even two weeks off will impact on his work and how he should be aiming for A Stars. We agreed he should not do anything else between January and June and that we might look in to getting a tutor. (Ds is not the best at study anyway, as he seems to always have a facebook window open in the background or you tube or playstation (at the moment its Red Dead Redemption!) and usually leaves everything until the last minute. He'll need to spend 2 hours after school each day on his studies and more at weekend. However, I did inform the Head that ds had recently auditioned for roles such as Neverland and others which would mean a few months off, which would effectively mean it would be very difficult to do the GCSEs. The Head said in that case he needed to make a choice between acting and possible University, and should maybe consider stage school. Ds does not actually know what he wants to do in the long run. He is keen on architecture, but also on acting, and likes the idea of University. He also loves his school and his friends. Anyway I guess the best thing is to wait and see if any other parts do come up and then decide. Its hard to know whats the best route to take here and what to advise ds. He seemed a bit stressed after the meeting as he respects the Head, and said he would not do any more auditions. The Head seemed to be implying acting could wait, and that he had seen this before ie people wanting to pursue acting and then it comes to nothing, but it was more important to concentrate on GCSEs and A levels and put them first. Straight after that discussion, agent called with a casting for next week! Any opinions?
Re: Asking permission for time off from Head
It's a difficult one. If your son was dead set for an acting career, then it would be more straightforward. Butif he thinks he may want to go to university then the qualifications become even more important. Of course, one does not exclude the other -- there are loads of examples of actors who have done uni first.
However, getting into uni has become much more difficult - and I cannot foresee this changing for LONG time. Certinly all the evidence suggests that the next 5 years are going to be very tough for those wanting higher education. Architechture is VERY competitive to get into. If he thinks this may be an option I would concentrate on GCSE's this year. Strangely these exams are far more onerous to do later in life that A levels - most FE colleges do lots of A level evening classes but fewer GCSEs.
The thing is, if he gets good GCSE results this year, he can always use them later, or use them to go and do A levels. In other words, delay the acting decision. However, poor GCSE results will definitely mean he would find it much harder to get the A levels and uni places should he decide then to go down that route.
Not sure if any of this helps.
However, getting into uni has become much more difficult - and I cannot foresee this changing for LONG time. Certinly all the evidence suggests that the next 5 years are going to be very tough for those wanting higher education. Architechture is VERY competitive to get into. If he thinks this may be an option I would concentrate on GCSE's this year. Strangely these exams are far more onerous to do later in life that A levels - most FE colleges do lots of A level evening classes but fewer GCSEs.
The thing is, if he gets good GCSE results this year, he can always use them later, or use them to go and do A levels. In other words, delay the acting decision. However, poor GCSE results will definitely mean he would find it much harder to get the A levels and uni places should he decide then to go down that route.
Not sure if any of this helps.
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francescasmum
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Re: Asking permission for time off from Head
As your son turned 16 in this academic year, ie September 1st 2009 to 31st August 2010 he can officially leave compulsory education even though he has not completed his GCSEs . The June date that people quote is not when he has to be 16 by, but when compulsary schooling finishes, even if he has not had his 16th birthday before that date in June as long as his 16th birthday falls before the 1st September of that year. He will also not need a licence to perform even though he is going in to year 11. So your son is actually quite lucky because he shouldn't really need to ask for time off school as he doesn't officially have to be there! And you don't have to go through the licencing rigmarole!
The real problem lies when children are advanced up a year at school and are in the academic year above those born the same year. They may have done their GCSEs this year but can not officially leave compulsary education until next June (if they didn't want to do A levels etc)! If they do want to continue with their education some 6th form colleges will not take 15 year olds, so they are stuck in limbo if their school does not offer tertiary education (as is the case in my local city where only private schools and the one catholic secondary have their own 6th form).
My older DD had a friend who went to a private school and was bumped up a year so did her GCSE a year early (she was actually only 14 as her birthday is in July) and wanted to go to a local college for A levels as the school she attended could not offer her the combination of A levels she wanted to study. None of them would accept her even though she got 8A*s and 4As, her option was to do some more GCSEs for a year, study A levels she didn't really want to do or stay at home and be 'home schooled' until the following June, which is very silly. I know other local Authorities are more accommodating in such cases but it does happen.
The real problem lies when children are advanced up a year at school and are in the academic year above those born the same year. They may have done their GCSEs this year but can not officially leave compulsary education until next June (if they didn't want to do A levels etc)! If they do want to continue with their education some 6th form colleges will not take 15 year olds, so they are stuck in limbo if their school does not offer tertiary education (as is the case in my local city where only private schools and the one catholic secondary have their own 6th form).
My older DD had a friend who went to a private school and was bumped up a year so did her GCSE a year early (she was actually only 14 as her birthday is in July) and wanted to go to a local college for A levels as the school she attended could not offer her the combination of A levels she wanted to study. None of them would accept her even though she got 8A*s and 4As, her option was to do some more GCSEs for a year, study A levels she didn't really want to do or stay at home and be 'home schooled' until the following June, which is very silly. I know other local Authorities are more accommodating in such cases but it does happen.