If your child is absent from school it is essential that you inform the academy by 9.00 a.m. on the day of the absence.
In order to do this we ask parents to follow one of the procedures listed here:
• Telephone the Academy Office to report an absence on 01724 842382
• Alternatively, please complete all fields on the electronic form below and click ‘Submit’.
We are grateful to parents for your compliance with these important procedures.
Since the 1st September 2013 the law states that there is no longer any entitlement for parents to take their child/ren on holiday during term time. The academy is required to manage its absence procedures in accordance with this law at all times.
A headteacher can now only grant leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. An application has to be made in advance to the headteacher by a parent/carer with whom the pupil normally resides. Retrospective consent will not be granted.
An application for ‘leave of absence’ can be obtained from the Academy Office, or can be downloaded using the link below, and evidence must be provided in support of any application. The headteacher must be satisfied that the circumstances are exceptional and warrant the granting of leave. Whether a leave of absence is granted is at the discretion of the headteacher.
Where permission for leave of absence is not granted, the local authority will then decide whether to issue parents/carers with a penalty notice or to prosecute them for taking their child/ren out of school without authorisation from the headteacher.
With regard to the timescale for paying a penalty notice issued in respect of unauthorised absence from school, parent/carers will have 21 days to pay £60 per parent/carer per child. If this is not paid within 21 days, the fine increases to £120 per parent/carer per child. Failure to pay after 28 days will result in legal proceedings in the magistrates court.
The academy is grateful for the support of parents in ensuring that family holidays are not taken during term time, and thereby supporting our ambition to achieve the highest possible attendance and learning outcomes for each and every child in our care.
Further information can also be obtained from www.education.gov.uk
