School Holidays

School holidays for the 2021/22 academic year are as follows:

Please note: We have to choose five ‘in-service training days’ for 2021/22 where no children are in school. These are:

• Monday 4 October 2021
• Monday 29 November 2021
• Tuesday 4 January 2022
• Thursday 26 May 2022
• Friday 27 May 2022

An additional Bank Holiday has been added in 2022 for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. As this falls within the May half term holidays, schools can take an additional day’s holiday during the 2021/22 school year. In the case of our school, this will be taken on Monday 6 June 2022.

School holidays for the 2022/23 academic year are as follows:

Alternative, please visit the Durham County Council website to view or download the school holidays dates for this academic year and next year for all community schools, special schools and voluntary controlled schools. Please note that voluntary aided (church) schools, foundation schools and academies may have set different dates and you should check with the school or academy to confirm their arrangements or view the PDF for schools not following the standard term and holiday dates.

School Holidays During Term Time

As you will be aware, children’s attendance at school is an area which is given a high priority across all schools in the UK.  We regularly send you letters and correspondence which relate to attendance issues and we have systems in place within school to monitor children’s attendance, absence / holiday requests etc. We encourage and strive for all children in school to achieve an attendance rate of at least 96% across an academic year.

However, the national legislation and guidance with regard to attendance has changed and we feel that it is important for you to be aware of these changes.

Amendments have been made to the 2006 regulations which came into effect from 1st September 2013. These regulations completely remove any references to family holidays and extended leave, as well as the 10 day absence threshold. The amendments make it clear that Headteachers should not grant any leave of absence during term-time unless there are exceptional circumstances. In such cases Headteachers will determine the number of school days that a child can be away from school.

This means that we are not be able to grant holiday requests during term time and holidays taken during term time will be recorded as unauthorised absences. We have sought clarification on what constitutes ‘exceptional circumstances’ and this does not include instances where work place holiday availability / rotas, etc. dictate that holiday dates are tied to certain weeks of the year which may unfortunately coincide with term time dates when children would be in school. As stated earlier, these regulations are prescribed at a national level and will apply to all schools.

Thank you for your anticipated help and understanding with this matter. Please contact the school if you wish to discuss this with the Headteacher.

Application for Leave of Absence During Term Time
Absence in Term Time – Cover Letter to Parents

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