Leave of absence in term-time

Children at Parkroyal Community School are expected to maintain an attendance percentage of 97% or above.

As parents you have a legal duty to ensure that your children attend school on a regular basis. The Education Act 1996 makes it a criminal offence for a parent to “fail to secure their child’s regular attendance at the school”. The recent amendments to the 2006 Regulations remove any reference to family holidays, extended leave and the statutory threshold of ten school days. The amendments also make it very clear that Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence (holiday) during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. The amendments give parents no entitlement to take their child out of school for a holiday in term time and require the Head Teacher and Governing Body to determine what the exceptional circumstances are. The decision will be made by the Head Teacher, and/or Governor and each request will be considered individually. If you do feel that your request for leave of absence is exceptional, please complete a Request for Leave of Absence form or apply via the school app.

A request must be made at least one month in advance.   

• It must clearly state what the exceptional circumstance is that requires the leave of absence being taken in term time.
• On receipt of the request, you will be sent a response indicating whether the school is able to authorise the leave of absence or not.

If parents, contrary to what the school has said, still decide to take their child out of school for a leave of absence then the absence will be coded as unauthorised.  This may lead to the school referring the matter to the Local Authority requesting a Fixed Penalty Notice to be issued. 

Parents/carers must not book any holidays or flights during time-time as all holiday requests will be declined unless exceptional and your child's absences will be recorded as unauthorised.