Pupil Absence
REQUEST FOR A HOLIDAY / ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME
The Department for Education has amended the regulations and guidance in relation to absences in term-time. There is no automatic right to take your child out of school during term time.
The Department for Education will only allow a headteacher to grant a leave of absence if there are exceptional circumstances. In determining whether or not an absence in such circumstances can be authorised, it is for the headteacher to determine the number of days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted.
If you consider that your request falls into this category you will need to complete the form at the bottom of the page. A response will be sent to you as soon as possible. If the absence requested is not considered to be an exceptional circumstance, and you nevertheless take your child out of school, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised in line with County Council guidance.
Therefore, in the case of an unauthorised absence the Education Support, Behaviour & Attendance Service will be notified and a Penalty Notice will be issued. Please note that Penalty Notices are issued to each parent for each child taken out of school. A Penalty Notice is a fine of £60 which increases to £120 if not paid within the first 21 days. If the Penalty Notice remains unpaid this will result further legal intervention.
All absence requests must be completed on the form below, letters will not be accepted. This should be returned to the school a minimum of 14 days before the start of the absence.
Any absence from school will disrupt your child’s learning. You may consider some absences to be educational but your child will still miss out on the teaching that their classmates will receive. Children returning from an absence are unprepared for the lessons which build on the teaching they have missed. Teachers then have to give more time to help individual children catch up on missed work. This poses a potential risk of the under achievement of other pupils in the class. This is something we all have a responsibility to avoid.
I hope you will support our efforts to raise attendance and attainment at our school.
Since 2011, pupil premium is the funding scheme which allows schools to access additional funding linked to the number of children claiming free school meals. Those pupils who are in receipt of Free School Meals, or who have had Free School Meals in the last 6 years, are eligible for support with this Premium, as are pupils who are currently in care.
Pupil Premium is funding received from the Government with the aim of closing the gap in attainment between pupils from low income and disadvantaged families and their peers. At St. Richard’s, we are sensitive about our handling of support for pupils and offer discretion to parents/carers accessing this funding.
It is, therefore, vital that parents who qualify for free school meals apply even if they do not wish to take up the offer of a free school meal.
Please see the qualifying criteria at the bottom of the page.
St Richard's Mission Statement
Comitas, Scientia, Caritas
St Richard's Catholic College is a community where all are welcomed in the spirit of Christian love and respect. Our school encourages the wonder and joy of learning in order to ensure that every pupil reaches their full potential. We enable all to flourish and grow together in friendship and in faith.
We aspire to be courageous, having the integrity and the spiritual strength to make a positive difference in the world, both now and in the future. We endeavour to cherish our school motto of Community, Knowledge and Charity.
"I have come so that all may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)