School Holidays

Below are the holidays for St. Michael’s C of E Primary School which include the days the school will be closed for staff professional development.

Staff PD Days 2020-2021

• Monday 1st September 2020
• Friday 18th December 2020
• Monday 4th January 2021
• Monday 19th July 2021
• Tuesday 20th July 2021

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.

Please note St. Michael’s C of E Primary School may have some different dates due to PD days for staff – please refer to the dates above for specific dates.

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

The Government has amended regulations for taking holidays in term time and these new regulations come into effect from September 2013.  Head Teachers are not able to grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.  Where leave is granted, Head Teachers must decide the number of school days a child can be away from school.

If you wish to make an application for your child’s term time leave of absence, you must fill out an application form, which can be requested from school reception.  The application form asks you to outline the reasons why you feel your application for leave of absence during term time should be regarded as ‘exceptional.’  Following the submission of your application, you will be notified as soon as possible of the School’s decision.

Parents / carers should be aware that if you take leave of absence during term time without making a prior application to the school, or if you make an application but your requested leave of absence is not authorised and still take the child out of school, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.  Similarly, if you keep your child away from school for longer than agreed / authorised, the excess absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

Head teachers have the discretion to grant leave, but they should only do so in exceptional circumstances. If a head teacher grants a leave request, it will be for them to determine the length of time that the child can be away from school. This leave is unlikely, however, to be granted for the purposes of a family holiday.

Parents can be fined for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school.

Please contact the school if you wish to discuss this with the Headteacher.

Leave of Absence Form

Message From Our Local Authority

Message from the Corporate Director of Children and Adults Services

Durham County Council is committed to maximising the potential of every child in County Durham. I know that you too want the very best for your child. Good, consistent attendance at school is crucial to give your child the best chance of success. We need your support in ensuring that holidays are not taken in school time so that your child has the very best opportunity to succeed. For further advice please contact your child’s school.

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