Thanks for the advice girls,

Bec, I'm pretty sure it's not due to bullying or anything. Right from the get-go she's been popular (maybe a bit too much so) and is very very extroverted. She has loads of friends, and school, unfortunately, seems to be more of a social event than a place for learning.

I suspect it's more to do with thinking that she's old enough to know what's best for her. And that coz she's pretty and outgoing, she can manage for herself, as so far she's not had problems getting jobs, cadging lifts, getting people to help her. Who needs school?

But your experience gives me hope, Ambah, that this is just a phase, and she will come to some sense that an education is a necessity in today's world. You just want the easiest, best life for your kids, don't you? I just wish she wasn't making it harder for herself.

I've talked to her about Tafe, and at this stage, she's saying that she'll be prepared to look into it maybe end of next year. That she just wants some time away from school and study for a while. I am rounding up course leaflets and scouring webites for info, but I don't think I'll get her to change her mind right now.

Best case scenario would be her working over the holidays and hating it, and wanting to go back to year 11 when Feb rolls around. I can only hope. In the meantime, she's seeing her school coordinator today about trying to stay until the end of the year to get her year 10 report, so I'll keep you posted.

love
sushee