A worried grandparent

It might be. It is the judge’s responsibility to decide whether it is more important for a child to visit the parent with whom they are not living than to go to school. Ministers rightly want to reduce the days lost to school through holidays taken in term time. The courts should take the same line unless there are compelling reasons to do otherwise.

Your daughter should talk to teachers about the educational possibilities of the trip and whether work can be set to be done while the child is away.

My 11-year-old daughter goes to a grammar school. It has a good reputation and my daughter is happy there. I have been thinking of
putting her in a private school. My daughter, however, is not keen to leave. How do grammar schools compare with private education?

R K Soni, Lincolnshire

Your daughter is happy and making good progress. I would not move her. However, the Parent Power league tables published by The Sunday Times last week demonstrate clearly how few state schools can compete with the best of the private sector. Out of the top 100 schools in the country, only 19 are state schools — and nearly all these are selective.

Check the performance of your daughter’s school and any other private school you are interested in at www.timesonline.co.uk/parentpower.

My daughter, aged 10, has attended the same primary school since reception class. The school has not provided any swimming lessons and some of the pupils in my daughter’s class are still unable to swim. I thought provision of swimming lessons was compulsory in the national curriculum. Is this the case and, if so, what can be done to rectify the situation at the school?

S A Watts, Portsmouth

Yes, swimming is a statutory part of the curriculum at key stage 2. Children are expected to swim at least 25 metres by the age of 11. Some rural schools may find access to a pool difficult but most schools teach their children to swim.You should speak to the head and request that the school undertake a concentrated programme of swimming instruction before your daughter leaves.

If you have a question for Chris Woodhead, write to him c/o The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST or e-mail him, with your name and address, at education-questions@sunday-times.co.uk