Right of Reply: David Hart

The general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers replies to an article on absent pupils

David Hart
Wednesday 06 January 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

DAVID AARONOVITCH'S article ("Please Sir, may I take my children on holiday to the Seychelles?") deserves a reply.

The NAHT's view is that the law, covering the right to take children on family holidays during term time, is being abused, almost to breaking point. More and more parents ignore the fact that they are required to obtain the consent of the head. School policies are waved aside as if they do not exist.

Not all absences adversely affect the education of the children, but many do. Very little has been said about the impact on the other pupils in the class. Even less has been said about the importance of pupils being present on the first day of term.

Of course, there are families who do find it difficult to take holidays during the 14 weeks set aside. The travel companies tempt parents with cheap offers. But the vast majority of schools do take a very strong line on absence during term time. These policies are endorsed by the governing bodies, on which many of the parents sit.

David Blunkett was not talking just about children being absent for one, two or three weeks at a time. The Government is driving an intensive standards agenda. Yet it is the very people who are often the most vociferous about the need to raise standards, who criticise heads for enforcing policies that have received the endorsement of the majority of parents in their schools. The current controversy has, at least, drawn attention to the need to resolve an issue which is getting increasingly out of hand.

Government ministers should throw their weight behind all attempts by schools to ensure that the law is observed, and that policies designed to reinforce standards are supported.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in