Rugby High School Parent Portal - Rugby High School

News from Mr Grady

Hello everyone,

I do hope you had a restful Easter Break, and a good chance to catch up with family and friends, and to those of you who were celebrating Eid-Ul-Ftir over the bank holiday weekend, I hope it was a wonderful weekend too, allowing you time with loved ones and chance for connection to family and friends.

My apologies for not having written to you since March 10^th. After two years, I’m afraid the coronavirus finally caught up with me, but, as ever RHS continued moving onwards and forwards, and it is a pleasure to be back in school, sorry only to have missed several lovely events at the end of last term; Year 11 and 13 Award evenings from last year’s GCSEs and A-Levels, and very depressingly the Teacher Karaoke at the end of term. (although this is probably a positive for anyone who would have had to put up with my warblings…)

The Summer term is already well underway, with preparations for our current Year 11 and 13 to celebrate their years here, and focus themselves on the coming exam period.

The summer term is also a chance for us to start taking stock of where the school is at, and what we might want to start planning for next year. Education is always, it seems looking for the “next thing.” “What’s next?” “What are we going to do next?” are questions that are built into our curriculum, and as students and teachers into our very being, we’re always, it seems looking forward, sometimes not always having the chance to enjoy the present, but focussing on the next piece of work, the next job to be done.

Of course, there is something very positive about that, but rather than “what’s next?” being our driving force, I would hope that we can also consider, more importantly, “Where are we going?, What do we need?, and how are we going to get there?”

The last two years have changed our landscape quite considerably, and the world has presented us with new challenges that were unexpected, and that have left us reflecting on some of our old practices and whether they continue to be fit for the purpose of offering the very best curriculum and challenge for the RHS community.

In the coming weeks, we shall be talking to our whole community, in person, via questionnaires and in groups about “what’s next?” for RHS – but, more importantly, given the experiences of the last couple of years, where are we going now? does anything need to change? how can we continue to improve and continue to maintain the absolute core purpose of RHS? Fundamentally: What do we need to ensure that all our students understand what it is to show compassion and empathy and to take responsibility as brave, independent global citizens, how can we continue to educate our students at the very best level of academic success, and ensure that they move on from Rugby High School knowing how to be Resilient, Healthy and Successful?

With all best wishes, stay well and safe!
Mr Grady

LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

The Supreme Court recently reached a decision in the case of Platt v Isle of Wight Council which has clarified the law on unauthorised leave, including holidays, during term time. The parents of children of compulsory school age are required to ensure that they attend school on a regular basis. The Supreme Court has made clear that attending school ‘regularly’ means that the children must attend school on every day that they are required to do so. As such, the parents of any child who is absent from school without authorisation for any length of time are likely to be considered as committing an offence under s444 of the Education Act 1996.

Head Teachers retain the ability to authorise leave in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. When considering such requests for a leave of absence, the school are obliged to act within the law. Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application. If the leave is granted, head teachers are able to determine the number of school days a child can be absent for.

It is for the Head Teacher to decide what is ‘exceptional’ and it is at their discretion if the circumstances warrant the leave to be granted. The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the ‘resident’ parent.

Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case by case basis and on its own merits.

Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child will be required to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence, which may result in legal action being taken against the parent(s), by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Failure to make an application for leave in advance can also result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to the parent(s).

All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service, part of Warwickshire County Council

It is important to note, Fixed Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices in the amount of £120 each, totalling £240 for both children, this is reduced to £60 per child if paid within 21 days).

Where a Fixed Penalty Notice is not paid within the required timeframe as set out on the notice, the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal proceedings under S444 Education Act 1996.

Fixed Penalty Notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices.

Your child’s progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority

Warwickshire School pupils recorded 31,196 half day sessions of absence due to holiday in the Autumn term 2019.

Newsletters

Rugby High School - Summer 2022 Issue 18

News from Mr Grady

Physics Competition Success

Success in National Poetry Competition

For RHS Students ONLY If you have a concern about another student, please fill in this FORM to report your concern. For more information about Wellbeing including resources and links to our DSL's, please visit our Wellbeing page HERE.

Please find below information that has been passed to us that may be of interest to you and your family.

For RHS Students ONLY
If you have a concern about another student, please fill in this FORM to report your concern.

For more information about Wellbeing including resources and links to our DSL's, please visit our Wellbeing page HERE.