Headteachers back holidays crackdown
Headteachers across the borough and an MP have backed a crackdown on parents who take pupils for school holidays during term time.
There was widespread support for Education Secretary Micheal Gove’s proposals, which call for headteachers to no longer be able to sanction up to two weeks a year of “authorised absence” during school term.
Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning said: “I am completely supportive. My headteachers at the schools have told me it is a nightmare for them.
“Kids have an awful lot of time off during holidays and when term time is on they should be in school.
“I appreciate holiday companies put prices up outside term time, but it has always been like that.
“I do not know if it is getting worse, but I know it is an issue headteachers have been talking about for some time.”
Kings Langley School headteacher Gary Lewis said: “I feel quite strongly about it but as with most things it is never black and white.
“Any headteacher in the world would not advocate parents taking children out of school in term time.
“We are very forthright in our treatment of parents who we feel are abusing the system, but having said that, I am understanding of genuine circumstances.
“The statistics are pretty stark that the children who do not attend regularly do not do as well in examinations.”
Tring School headteacher Susan Collings said: “Holidays are an active choice and should not be taken during term time.
“It is very important students attend school. We do not authorise holidays during term time.
“You just cannot have parents taking children out from their valuable time for learning. It is about children getting consistency of learning, enabling them to progress.
“Whatever the nature of the holiday, it actually has an impact and it is usually quite negative.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Tring
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
hemeldave
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:56 PMWe are not all earning MP wages to go during school holidays also would there be the capacity for everyone to be on holiday at the same time
PMS2011
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:50 AMI think schools are getting above their station here. Last October, we went to Cornwall, taking our two kids. We informed headteacher who started to say "it's unlikely we'll grant perm..." when my wife said, "Oh, I'm not asking you, I'm telling you!". The holiday (2wks) cost us just over 500, the same in JulyAugust would have been more than double that.
DacorumLad
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:44 PM“Any headteacher in the world would not advocate parents taking children out of school in term time.'.. Sure hear what you say Mr. Lewis .... except, what about those self awarded 'Inset Days' and 'Adverse Weather Days, when the rest of the workforce is getting to work and the school is shut because 2 inches of overnight snow?
hammer-time
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:08 PMWhat a load of old rubbish. Maybe Mr Penning should force companies to lower their extortionate charges during the holidays ? .... no, it's easier just to blame hard working parents who have worked their backsides off year just to take the kids away.
PrivateDancer
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:30 PMIf I want to take my child out of school for a holiday I will. He can read a book lying round the pool, one week of English. What's the difference when he goes away with the school skiing for a week during school time, is this just so a few teachers get a free holiday ?
rabbits
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:39 PMIt isn't always possible to take children away during school holidays for parents that work and cannot get time off. I am having my wedding and unfortunately cannot do that during school holidays because the places are booked up and people are away, I expect the school to make an allowance for the children on that day!. However the parents that deliverately book the holiday the weeks before and after half term are those that shouldnt be allowed, however the week before the summer holidays is different because all the schools do on those days is show films and play games anyway, as long as the child catches up on the work they are missing whats the problem !!!!!!!
outofhemel
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:32 AMYeah and pay double the price for a holiday! such a con that's why people take holidays in term!
DHS
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:12 AMAll well and good and I agree that where possible, holidays should be taken during holiday periods but how about the schools stop closing for 'occasional days' or 'teacher training days'.....
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.