There are only 190 compulsory school days each year when children must, by law, attend school. The remaining 175 days are weekends and school holidays, which provide ample time for family breaks. Headteachers may only grant leave in exceptional circumstances, and family holidays are not considered exceptional under the Department for Education’s statutory guidance.

If you choose to take your child out of school for a holiday during term time, this will be recorded as unauthorised absence.

Our Academy will make use of the full range of potential sanctions including, but not limited to;

• a Penalty Notice payable up to £160 fine
• prosecution under s444 (1) Education Act 1996, where if convicted you may be fined up to £1,000
• prosecution under s444 (1) (a) Education Act 1996 where if convicted you may be fined up to £2,500 and/or 3 months’ imprisonment

Decisions will be made on an individual, case-by-case basis and we will use the local authority arrangements for doing so.

There is no right of appeal against a penalty notice. If unpaid, the local authority will either prosecute or withdraw the notice. Repeat offences within three years can result in further fines and, ultimately, prosecution.

For full details, please refer to the Department for Education guidance on school attendance and the Education Act 1996.

Read our leaflet about the impact of term time holidays here.