Holiday Request Form.

Leave of Absence / Holiday Requests

At Holywell we recognise that the best way to ensure students achieve the best they can is by being in school every school day. Absence has a significant and detrimental effect on learning. We aim to take a measured and supportive The Education (Student Registration) (England) Regulations state that head teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. It is important to note that head teachers can determine the length of the authorised absence, as well as whether absence is authorised at all. The fundamental principles for defining exceptional are rare, significant, or unavoidable, which means the event could not reasonably be scheduled at another time. Circumstances where absences may be regarded as exceptional will vary from school to school and family to family.

Please note that there is, however, no legal entitlement for time off in school term time to go on holiday and in the majority of cases holiday cannot be authorised.

Parents/carers wishing to apply for leave of absence need to fill in a Leave of Absence Application Form in advance and before making any travel arrangements (available from the school office and below to download). If term-time leave is taken without prior permission from the school, the absence will be unauthorised and if the number of sessions of absence reaches the thresholds in Central Bedfordshire Council Penalty Notice Code of Conduct (10 sessions of absence on 12 school weeks), parents/carers may be issued with a penalty notice or other legal action in accordance with the code. For further information, please see the Attendance Policy in the 'Key Policies' section of the website.