Holidays

Many parents and carers think its okay to go on holiday during term time, but this has a negative affect on your children’s learning and ability to achieve. If your child goes on holiday during term time, they are absent.

• 10 days absence means your child will have 95% attendance in the year
• 19 days absence means your child will have 90% attendance in the year
• 29 days absence means your child will have 85% attendance in the year
• 38 days absence means your child will have 80% attendance in the year
• 47 days absence means your child will have 75% attendance in the year

Children with over 90% attendance at school are more likely to gain 5 or more Grade 9-4 GSCEs (A-C with old GCSE grades) or equivalent qualifications.

Children with less then 85% attendance at school are unlikely to gain 5 Grade 9-4 GCSEs (A-C with old GCSE grades) or any qualifications.

Authorised holidays are at the discretion of the Headteacher and can only be authorised if the circumstances are exceptional.

Fixed Penalty Notices are a preventative measure to deter people from term time absences. Wokingham use the following process:

1^st Unauthorised holiday – FPN requested from school and issued to parents.

2^nd Unauthorised holiday – FPN requested from school and issued to parents alongside a warning.

3^rd Unauthorised holiday – referred to our legal department to be resolved via Magistrates Court under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 or Section 36, The Children’s Act 1989 to enforce attendance at school where appropriate.

This is across the school lifetime of a child from when they become statutory school age to when they leave in Year 11. As the local authority, they keep a record of the Penalty Notices that have been requested, raised, and paid.

Payment of a Penalty Notice within 21 days is £60 per parent, per child; between 22 and 28 days it increases to £120.  Penalty notices are issued to each parent per child.  More details on the Wokingham Council website or from the Education Welfare Service. If the fine is not paid the matter will be taken to court.

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