Hi
I am over in Wirral, so you are not far away - Easter is very early next year.
Depending on what year your son is in and the fact that the 'school have moved the goal posts' I think you have a very good case for approved absence - unapproved is usually when it is below 95% you will know how often your son has been absent.
Hope all works out well for you.
Irene

Thanks Irene,

The best is----------he goes to " Bluecoat"!!!!!!!!!!!

He's only in Yr8 and this year he had an attendance of 98.8 so can't see them objecting Well we'll wait and see-because that school is a law unto themselves!!!!!!

But seriously think that schools should stick to the LEA dates!! Then everyone would know where they are!

Hi
Just realised his school attendance will be taken into account from September onwards as we are talking Ester 2008
I know all schooling is important and that is what you will be told by the Head but you know your own son best and I would suggest before the school suggests to you that your son could take some work with him!!! Only joking on that one - I always took our sons out of Primary school (I of course didn't work in a school then), usually June and to be honest I think they don't always have to be at school to 'learn' a holiday can be very informative.
My parents had to take me out of school as my dad got his holidays allocated - as I say it didn't do me any harm - others may disagree and I believe that school children work much harder these days.
Still say you have a strong case for approved absence.
Irene

I agree. Take the holiday. The school will still be there when you get back.

Has anyone else had KS3 SATS brought forward by a year?????????? My sons school has announced they are doing them in Yr 8 instead of Yr 9?????????

OK that doesn't affect us-hols wise------but it might effect others????? we've already had the problem of them changing the school hols next year???

There's a meeting at the school next week , so I'm going to bring all these points up!!!!!!

As everyone knows Sats aren't the same week as school exams!!!!!!! My son has only just finished his school exams this week whereas the Sats were in May!!!!!

Has anyone else had KS3 SATS brought forward by a year?????????? My sons school has announced they are doing them in Yr 8 instead of Yr 9?????????

I've never heard of anything like that - the KS3 SATs are nationwide tests taken by all Year 9 kids all over the country all at the same time in order to compile statistics on children specifically of that age.
At my daughter's school they choose their GCSE "options" at the end of Year 8 and begin GCSE work in those subjects in Year 9 instead of Year 10, but they still work at KS3 in Maths, English and Science until after the SATs in Year 9. Daughter is in Year 9 now and has just begun GCSE work in Maths, English and Science following the SATs in May, but has been working at GCSE level in her "options" since last September. This means holidays during term time are completely out of the question for us now, as some GCSE coursework has to be completed and handed in throughout the year - but I wouldn't do that anyway - I'm currently looking for a job in a school, so I have to set a good example

Many schools now accellerate their kids through Key Stage 3 in two years taking the SATs in the May of year 8. Then they start the GCSE in year 9 and probably do something else such as AS or BTECs in yr 11.

Our schools does not mainly because of the opposition of the staff to it. But with the changes to KS3 in the pipeline for 2008 don't be surprised if most schools find they will be able to cover the new work in 2 years instead of 3!

Hi Cyberspacekadette
Just reading through the school hol posts - of interest to me as I work in a school, you mention you would like to do this - what positions are you looking at. Depending on your area - I live in Wirral, maybe I could pass on any info/tips/ideas. Feel free to PM me or post on her.
Irene

Thanks Irene PM sent.
At least when I do finally get the school job I want, I shouldn't have any problems with my holidays clashing - as a parent who is terrirfied of being fined by the LEA, I have booked all our upcoming trips for the school hols