Wherever possible, all students should attend NGHS each and every school day.
In the hopefully unlikely event that a planned absence is required, the following system must be adhered to:
- Students should request a Leave of Absence form from the school office or download one below. This should be completed and returned at least a week prior to the date of the requested absence. Please note a Leave of Absence form is only required for longer absences (one day or more). For shorter absences i.e. music exams which only requires a few hours leave during the school day, a note or email should be sent in advising us prior to the absence, but with at least 48 hours notice to enable authorisation to be considered.
- Completed forms will be passed to the Headteacher or Head of Sixth Form (if appropriate) to authorise.
- Parents will be notified of authorised absences via email.
- Where the Leave of Absence is not authorised, a letter will be sent home explaining the reason why.
Medical/dental appointments do not require a completed Leave of Absence form, however, a note or email should be sent in advising us of the appointment prior to the absence.
Information about unauthorised leave in term time from the local authority, as well as the LoA request form, can be downloaded from the table below.
From August 19th 2024 the Government have introduced a new ‘national framework for Penalty Notices’. (in Telford & Wrekin the changes apply from 1st September 2024).
There are significant changes that parents need to be aware of:
- If your child has 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 school week rolling period, you may be issued with a Penalty Notice. These 10 sessions may include any unauthorised absence, including leave in term time and do not have to be consecutive.
- Penalty Notices are increasing to £160 from September 2024. This can be reduced to £80 but only for the first Penalty Notice issued, if paid within 21 days – this reduction does not apply to any subsequent Penalty Notice.
- Any 2nd Penalty Notice, to the same parent for the same child, issued within three years of the date of the first Penalty Notice will be charged at a flat rate of £160
- A third Penalty Notice will not be issued within a three year rolling period, to the same parent for the unauthorised absence of the same child, - alternative action or legal measures will be utilised for subsequent offences.
- If in an individual case the local authority believes a Penalty Notice would be appropriate, they retain the discretion to issue one before the threshold is met. For example, when a parent purposefully tries to avoid a Penalty Notice by taking their child out of school when there is only four pupil days in school and the fifth day is for example a PD day or bank holiday attached to that week.
In some circumstances a ‘Notice to Improve’ may be issued – However, a Notice to Improve will only be used in cases where support is appropriate. They will not be issued in cases of unauthorised leave in term time for holidays, where information for parents is included on school’s website or a simple warning by the school that a Penalty Notice could be issued if unauthorised leave in term time is taken will suffice.
Unplanned absence
Parents should notify the school as soon as possible, and by 9:30am at the latest, of any unplanned absences e.g. illness, either by telephone: 01952 797550 or by sending an email to schooloffice@nghs.org.uk. Please note that only emails from addresses registered with the school will be accepted, owing to safeguarding reasons and the school may choose to follow this up with a telephone call as necessary.
Where an absence is unexpectedly extended e.g. delayed flight or continued illness, parents should contact the school, as soon as possible, on each continued day of absence.