Leave of Absence
At Gosberton Academy, we believe that every school day matters. Regular attendance gives learners the best opportunity to make progress, maintain friendships and benefit fully from the experiences and opportunities available at school.
We recognise, however, that there may be exceptional circumstances when a family needs to request leave during term time.
Government guidance makes clear that leave during term time should only be permitted in specific circumstances, and a family holiday would not normally be considered an exceptional circumstance.
How to Request a Leave of Absence
If you need to request a leave of absence for your child during term time, the request must be made in advance.
Please email your request to:
enquiries@gosbertonacademy.net
Your request should include:
- Your child's name and class
- The dates for which absence is being requested
- The reason for the request
- Any additional information or evidence that you would like the academy to consider
Each request will be considered individually and on its own circumstances.
Submitting a request does not mean that the absence will automatically be authorised. Families should therefore wait for confirmation from the academy before making arrangements wherever possible.
Holidays During Term Time
We strongly encourage families to arrange holidays during the academy's published school holidays.
Government guidance states that a holiday is generally not considered an exceptional circumstance, and families cannot usually take their child out of school during term time for a holiday.
We understand that holidays can sometimes be less expensive during term time. However, the cost or availability of a holiday would not ordinarily be considered an exceptional reason for absence.
Our school term dates are published in advance to help families plan holidays and other commitments around the school year.
Unauthorised Absence
An absence will be recorded as unauthorised when a learner is absent from school without permission and the reason provided does not meet the criteria for an authorised absence.
This may include a leave of absence which has been requested but not authorised by the academy.
Where a request for leave has not been authorised, we ask families to ensure that their child continues to attend school as normal.
Penalty Notices
Unauthorised absence may result in further action, including a penalty notice.
Under the national framework, schools must consider whether a penalty notice is appropriate where a child reaches the national threshold of 10 sessions of unauthorised absence within a rolling period of 10 school weeks. Ten sessions will usually equate to five school days.
These sessions do not necessarily need to be consecutive and can arise from different types of unauthorised absence.
For a first penalty notice issued to a parent in respect of an individual child within a three-year period, the fine is £80 if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days. A second penalty notice to the same parent for the same child within three years is £160.
There is a limit of two penalty notices per parent, per child, within a three-year period. Where further unauthorised absence occurs, other legal action may be considered.
It is important to remember that penalty notices can be issued to each parent in relation to an individual child.
Please Talk to Us
We recognise that family circumstances can sometimes be complicated, and there may be genuine reasons why a learner needs to be away from school.
If you believe there are exceptional circumstances affecting your child, please speak to us before the absence takes place.
Our aim is always to work positively with our families while maintaining our commitment to ensuring that every learner benefits from regular attendance at school.
Making a Request
To request a leave of absence during term time, please email:
enquiries@gosbertonacademy.net
Please make all requests in advance and provide as much information as possible to allow us to consider the individual circumstances.
