To request a leave of absence for a pupil during term time, please return a completed 'Request for Leave' form including evidence of flight details. One form per child must be completed. The form can be found here:

Form for Request for School Leave During Term Time

Under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996, parents of a child of compulsory school age are under a legal duty to ensure the regular attendance of that child at the school where he/ she is a registered pupil.  Failure to fulfil this duty may result in the Local Authority prosecuting the parents.

The head in each school reserves the right to make individual judgements as to what constitutes exceptional circumstances.

At St. Aidan’s, we will interpret 'exceptional' in this context as being of unique and significant emotional, educational or spiritual value to the child, which outweighs the loss of teaching time.  This might include the following:

• A parent or grandparent is seriously/terminally ill and the absence proposed is likely to be the last such event together;
• There has recently been a death or other significant trauma in the family and it is felt that an immediate absence might help the child concerned better deal with the situation;
• The absence is a unique one off never to be repeated occasion which can only take place at the time requested.
• Attending the wedding of a family member
• The birth of another baby within the family can be seen as a special occasion