Term Dates

As of September 2013, the law has restricted a Headteacher’s ability to authorise holidays during term time. Headteachers are now only empowered to approve a leave of absence when it is requested in advance by the parent or carer with whom the child resides and when circumstances of the requested leave are ‘exceptional’. Following the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter of ‘regular attendance’ in the case of Isle of Wight v Platt, if a parent or carer chooses to take their child out of school during term time when the circumstances are not ‘exceptional’, from September 2017, the Local Authority will be informed as this will constitute an unauthorised absence. A Fixed Penalty Notice will then be issued in accordance with Section 444 of the Education Act 1996.