Pupils: Absenteeism
Commons · Question 90526 · Tabled 12 Nov 2025 · Department for Education · Official record
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Question
Asked by Rupert Lowe
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will consider updating guidance to allow headteachers to use their own discretion to allow parents to take their children out of school for holidays during term time.
Answer
Answered by Olivia Bailey, 24 Nov 2025
The department has no plans to review our approach to term-time holidays. Schools can grant pupils a leave of absence for exceptional circumstances at their discretion, judging each application on the specific facts. However, generally a holiday would no...