Holidays

Parents are strongly urged to avoid taking family holidays during term time. Indeed, parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for such a holiday. If, however, parents apply to the school in advance, the school may grant to a pupil an absence of up to 10 school days during term time in any year to go on a family holiday, dependent on the pupil’s attendance being above 92%. Where a holiday is requested at the start of a school year, attendance figures from the previous year will be used as guidance in authorising the absence. Apart from this, leave in term time can only be given in exceptional circumstances.

Occasionally, holidays of more than two weeks to visit family living overseas may be planned. Parents are urged to discuss with school staff the most appropriate time of year and point in the child’s educational career for this visit to take place. This will help minimise disruption to the child’s progress at school. Holidays during exam periods will not be authorised. This includes SATs, GCSEs, AS and A Levels and any other exam which requires external moderation or marking.

Application for leave of absence for any reason other than medical is made on a form obtained from the office. It should be handed back to the office where it will be processed and put in the register after approval.