Planned Absence

Please complete an application form for a pupil leave of absence which can be obtained from the school office.

Please note that planned absences are only authorised under exceptional circumstances at the discrection of the Head Teacher.

The form should be completed by the parent/carer and returned to the school as far in advance as possible at least 6 weeks before the first date of the period of leave being requested.

Parents/carers must obtain the schools permission before making any arrangements for leave in exceptional circumstances; otherwise the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

No parent / carer can demand Leave of Absence as a right.

The Education regulations state that applications for leave must be made in advance by a parent/carer with whom the child lives and can only be authorised by the Head Teacher in exceptional circumstances. Each application will be considered individually by the school.

The following are examples of the criteria for Leave of Absence, which may be considered as ‘exceptional’:

  • Service personnel returning from active deployment
  • Where inflexibility of the parent/carers leave or working arrangement is part of the organisational or company policy. This would need to be evidenced by the production or confirmation from the organisation/company
  • Where leave is recommended as part of a parent/carers or child’s rehabilitation from medical or emotional problems. Evidence must be provided
  • When a family needs to spend time together to support each other during or after a crisis

This is not an exhaustive list and Head Teachers will consider the individual circumstances of each case when making a decision on this matter. Where a Head Teacher feels that there may be exceptional circumstances which do not fit the criteria, they may refer to the local authority for advice. The decision of the Head Teacher is final. Parent/carers who take a child on leave in term time without permission of the school, risk being issued a Penalty Notice for unauthorised absences.

Before completing this application, parent/carers are asked to seriously consider the effect on their child’s continuity of education.

Taking a child on leave during term time interrupts teaching and learning and can disrupt your child’s educational progress.