Absence due to religious observation

Government guidelines

We acknowledge and welcome the multi-faith nature of our community and recognise that some families’ important religious festivals may fall outside school holidays.

Government guidance says a pupil can be absent “on a day exclusively set aside for religious observance by the religious body to which the parent belongs”.  

But, attending school regularly and on time is also important and is a parent’s legal responsibility. Good attendance leads to better grades in examinations and better chances of getting a job when leaving school or going on to higher education. It also helps children’s social relationships from being disrupted. 

Please note that no more than one day in any term will be authorised for an individual occasion of religious observance and no more than three days in any academic year. 

How you can help

• when your child joins a school, talk to school staff about your family’s beliefs 

• think carefully whether your child really needs to miss school for religious reasons 

• ask the school staff as early as possible for the day you would like your child to have off 

• talk to your child’s teacher or teachers about what work your child may have missed and ask them to help your child catch up 

To give your children the best possible chance of achieving their potential, make they are in school as much as possible.  

If you have any queries, please discuss them with school staff.