I've just read the orginal Phoenix post and my jaw is still resting on the desk!
Personally I believe this school should be reported to the CAA. It is their responsibility AND they have a Duty of Care to safeguard, nurture and develop the student - not expose them to undue and unnecessary risk. Make no mistake - this could well of ended in !tragedy. I'm sure that Phoenix could think of one or two other students who if given the same circumstances might not of survived.
I like MikeeB had a good basis on which to venture forth on a QXC. Whilst the onus is on basic nav skills my training included getting QDM's if ever they were required and the use of a VOR.
Its to your credit in example 1 that you spotted some clear weather and circled (good reason to have your safety margin in your fuel calcs!).
Whilst a Put I to was told to go on a solo XC one day by a young newish instructor (covering for my usual Instructor), I looked around the sky line and thought ' I dont like the look of those big black clouds'. I questioned the wisdom of setting off in such conditions to be told that 'you can't always fly in sunny conditions you know'. I said 'b*gg*r off - its my neck on the line here, you'll be sat in the office with a cup of tea'. He indicatted that I was a Put and really couldn't understand weather yet, stommped off with a 'its up to you what you do then'. I stayed earth bound. Minutes later an instuctor friend of mine landed, how was it I asked? TERRIBLE he replies, that large cloud just fell on him, it was full of ice and hail, - so pleased to be on the ground etc etc. 15 minutes later heavy hail was falling on the airfield. I pointed this out to the eager new flying Instructor in no uncertain manner, reported him to the CFI and refused to be instucted by him ever again. (He was read the riot act by the CFI as the school were proud of there safty record and moved on some 4 weeks later after making a 1st lesson prospective student ill with tight turning).
After I passed my PPL I was doing a check out on a new type, all was going well. The instructor left me after a few ccts with the requirement being 'do 4 solo ccts, watch the weather but currently the wind will keep that big rain cloud away'. I did 1 cct quiet happly, however whilst starting down wind for number 2 I noted that the ATC gave note of a rapiddly changing wind direction and speed. It was now 90 degs to the runway 17kts - the limit of the aircraft!! Although I hadn't reached the full extent of the downwind leg I was already in rain with the vis dropping. Sod this I thought, told ATC I was executing an imediate base leg and why. The vis just dropped away, the ATC put the Rwy lights on as by now the rain was hammering down. By the time I could see the runway I was to high, I thought about going for it but the consequences of shooting off the end were to great. However I could see some light blue of to the NW - sanctury! Told ATC I was overshooting and would head for the NW. As I cleared the runway ATC gave me an option of doing a 180 turn to land on the opposite end. Looked back, the rain had just reached the opposite threshold. This I felt was on, executed a wing over 180 straight on to finals and landed. Half way down the runway I met the rain but who cared! I was on the ground. The ATC gave me a 'Well done and excellent landing' on the RT. My Instuctor came out to meet me, I can still visualise, in bright yellow waterproofs. I'm sure he was more relived than me, he appoligised several times for putting me in that postion. I pointed out that I was a PPL now and that the wind had changed dramatically in less than 2 minutes - but it was nice that he cared.
One final point, it appears to me that the QXC only matters on the circuit and landing. Whilst I was learning one student argued with a Manchester ATC as to her location within the low level route, she was just about to go blundering thru Liverpools Zone, although she was reported to the school, because she apparently met the critera of finding the required airfields and landing ok - she passed!
Gosh, just realised how I've rambled on - Sorry - just reminiscing on the early days