18th May 2016 Dear Parents Your child(ren) may (or indeed may not!) have told you that we have now started the public exams period. What most people are not aware of is that we are totally restricted by the national system of examinations. They set the time envelopes which include when exams start and finish. We also have to, rightly, comply with their rigorous security requirements. Each year we have an unannounced inspection to check our procedures. Our new timing of the school day (moving P5 and a slightly earlier lunch) ensures we can still deliver hot meals and start exams at the beginning of the afternoon. We will revert back to our ‘usual‘ school day on Thursday 23rd June. Holiday leave Parents will have read of the recent court case involving a father from the Isle of Wight taking his child out of school in term time. Further investigation shows that the family had done this on several occasions and in the radio interview I heard, he bragged of his child’s excellent attendance record of 90% (please see below). Can I take this opportunity to remind our parents of some basic things as I am continually being asked to sign holiday request forms.
Parents must request any leave of absence and not simply inform us once booked. Too many parents are telling me that they-or a relative-has already booked the holiday. Please write an accompanying letter to the green request form (available from reception) 90% attendance is poor, the national average is 95% and we are at 96%. Schools are judged by the government on their attendance. Children who miss school for whatever reason penalise the school - I know that this is ridiculous but it is still a fact! If time must be taken try and minimalise this by wrapping it round an existing holiday Teach your children that they should be at school at all times unless they are too ill to attend. This will help them in their future lives. If students miss vital education it is often difficult for them to catch up.
My Governing Body have been discussing whether to issue fines but decided, prior to the court case ruling, not to do so except in exceptional cases of absenteeism. We now await the Government’s actions. Alison Saunders - Headteacher