Leave of Absence
Please do contact the school office if you would like to talk through a request for leave of absence.
The Supreme Court recently reached a decision in the case of Platt v Isle of Wight Council which has clarified the law on unauthorised leave, including holidays, during term time.
The parents of children of compulsory school age are required to ensure that they attend school on a regular basis. The Supreme Court has made clear that attending school regularly means that children must attend school on every day that they are required to do so. As such, the parents of any child who is absent from school without authorisation for any length of time are likely to be considered as committing an offence under S444 of the Education Act 1996.
Principals retain the ability to authorise leave in accordance with the education (Pupil Registration)(England) Regulations 2006. When considering such requests for a leave of absence, the school are obliged to act within the law. Principals may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application. If the leave is granted, principals are able to determine the number of school days a child can be absent for.
It is for the principal to decide what is exceptional and it is at their discretion if the circumstances warrant the leave to be granted. The school can only consider leave of absence requests which are made by the resident parent.
Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case by case basis and on its own merits.
Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child will be required to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence, which may result in legal action being taken, against the parent(s).
All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a leave of absence will be referred to the Wiltshire Attendance Service, part of the Wiltshire Council.
It is important to note: Fixed Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices in the amount of £120 each, totalling £240 for both children per parent (£480.)This is reduced to £60 per child if paid within 21 days.
Your child's progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority.
Below are some examples of Leave of Absence requests which will not be authorised:
- Availability of cheaper holidays
- Availability of desired accommodation
- Poor weather experienced in school holidays
- Overlap with beginning or end of term
- Booked the wrong dates by mistake
- Booked by another family member
- Attending a wedding that is not immediate family
- Family Birthdays
- Unable to take a holiday in school holidays due to work commitments
- Adult appointments affecting bringing a child to school or collecting on time
- Different term dates for children at schools in another local authority
