Why We Made the Decision to Remove Jax from the Register for Our 3-Week Philippines Trip

Travelling as a family is one of our greatest joys. It allows us to create memories, explore new cultures, and show Jax the incredible world beyond our doorstep. However, as UK residents, taking our son out of school for extended periods has always been a decision that comes with careful consideration. For our recent three-week trip to the Philippines, we faced a significant dilemma: should we remove Jax from the school register or pay the fine for unauthorised absence and risk a potential DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) record later on? This is Why we made the decision to remove Jax from the register.

Understanding the Legal Framework

In the UK, parents are legally required to ensure their children attend school regularly. Taking a child out of school without permission for more than 10 conseutive sessions (each day is 2 sessions, AM & PM) (5 days) can lead to fines and, in the new framework from August 2024, legal action. For short absences, the penalties may seem minor—a fixed fine of £80 per parent, per child, which doubles if not paid within 21 days. However, for a second occurance the fine increases to £160 per parent, per child. Fines per parent will be capped to two fines within a three year period. For the third occurance you can be taken to court and slapped with a criminal record for failing to safe guard your child's education.

This brings us to a critical concern: if prosecuted, a criminal record can show up on a DBS check. For parents like us, who value travel but also have professional responsibilities, this was a risk we weren’t willing to take lightly.

The Fine vs. the Bigger Picture

For our three week Philippines trip, the school attendance policy made it clear that an absence of this length would not be approved. We would face fines totaling £160 (£80 per parent). On the surface, this might seem like the easier option. However, as the fine doesn't go to the school and simply lines the pockets of the local governments, although they say its to cover the administration costs of imposing the fines. We were not at all keen to want to pay this.

Additionally, there’s the emotional toll. While the likelihood of prosecution may be low, the mere possibility of a DBS record was enough to give us pause. A DBS record could impact future opportunities, from volunteering abroad to career prospects that require background checks. This wasn’t a risk we could justify taking.

Jax Writing His Daily Journal

Why We Chose to Deregister Jax

After weighing our options, we decided to temporarily remove Jax from the school register. In the UK, parents have the legal right to homeschool their children. By deregistering Jax, we took on full responsibility for his education during our travels. This allowed us to comply with the law while prioritising both his learning and our families values.

Here’s why this approach made sense for us:

1. Educational Continuity: We view travel as an extension of education. During our time in the Philippines, Jax experienced hands-on learning—from exploring marine life on Apo Island to understanding the history of Bohol’s Chocolate Hills. We supplemented these experiences with structured activities, such as journaling, reading and learning Spanish, to ensure he continued to develop academically.

2. Avoiding Legal Risks: By deregistering Jax, we eliminated the risk of fines or legal repercussions. It gave us peace of mind, knowing that we were fully compliant with UK laws while embracing the freedom to travel.

3. Flexibility for Future Travels: This decision set a precedent for how we might approach similar situations in the future. While it’s not a choice we’d make lightly, it’s reassuring to know that we can balance legal obligations with our desire to expose Jax to diverse experiences.

The Challenges of Deregistration

Of course, this wasn’t an entirely easy decision. Removing Jax from the register came with its own set of challenges:

• Re-enrollment: Returning to the same school isn’t guaranteed. Fortunately, we were able to discuss our plans with the school in advance, ensuring a smooth transition back after our trip. Jax's school is the only school in our catchment, and the school is also under subscribed (there are 28 children in his class, there is 1 class per year and each class can have a maximum of 30 children, although at times they have had slightly more, so we were confident getting him back in wouldn't be a problem.

• Planning the Curriculum: for this trip we didn't make any set plans for education because we loved the freedom that world schooling brough us. We let Jax lead the way with most things although we did insist on him keeping a journal and keeping up with his Spanish lessons.

• Social Considerations: Jax temporarily missed out on school friendships, though we made a concerted effort to balance this by encouraging him to connect with other children during our travels.

How To De-Register and Re-Enroll

• De-Registering: Believe it or not, deregistering Jax was actually the easy part. In the UK, to de-register your child from school, you simply need to inform the school in writing. No forms, no notice period—it can be as straightforward as letting the teacher know. You could even take your child to school in the morning, inform the teacher at the gate that it’s their last day, and that’s it.

  For us, though, the process was a bit more formal. We had a conversation with Jax’s head teacher to explain our plans in advance, and I followed up with an email to confirm. By doing this, we ensured clarity and maintained a positive relationship with the school, which made the whole experience smoother.

• Re-Enrolling: This step was also fairly straightforward. All you need to do is visit your local council’s website and complete their online form. The form is user-friendly, and you can save your progress if needed, allowing you to complete it at your own pace. Once you submit the form, the council notifies the school, and the process is pretty much complete.

Final Thoughts

Removing Jax from the school register for our trip to the Philippines was a carefully considered decision. It allowed us to prioritise both his education and our families values without compromising our legal standing. While we understand this choice isn’t for everyone, it’s one that worked for us given the circumstances.

For families considering extended travel, our advice is simple: weigh the pros and cons, research your legal rights, and communicate openly with your child’s school. With thoughtful planning, it’s possible to embrace the transformative power of travel while staying true to your responsibilities as parents.

Have you faced a similar dilemma? We’d love to hear how you approached it in the comments below!

Journal Time With A View At White Bada, Siquijor