Parents’ ability to take their children out of school for a term-time holiday depend entirely on which school the child attends.

Last week we reported that Annette Baker, head teacher of Ramsey Grammar School, announced that the school would ban students from taking term-time holidays from September.

Mrs Baker said: ’My job is to get the best results for the young people of Ramsey Grammar School to make sure they have the life choices, access to opportunity, the things they need to enrich their lives.

’I will do whatever possible to achieve that.’

This week, the Manx Independent contacted the other state high schools, Ballakermeen, St Ninian’s, Castle Rushen and Queen Elizabeth II about their policies.

The schools gave slightly differing answers on if they allow term-time holidays despite all saying that they follow the Department of Education, Sport and Culture’s policy.

Under the DESC policy, head teachers can authorise up to 10 days’ holiday in term time on a discretionary basis.

A spokesman from Castle Rushen High School said that the school followed the DESC attendance of pupils legislation, policy and procedures.

The school said: ’On application made by the parent with whom the child normally resides, a pupil may be granted leave of absence from the school to enable him to go away on holiday, provided that, save in exceptional circumstances, a pupil shall not be granted leave of absence for this purpose for more than 10 school days in any school year.

’The legal position here is quite clear. Leave of absence for holiday purposes is not an entitlement and is entirely at the discretion of a child’s head teacher.’

However, the head teachers at St Ninian’s and QE II both stated they do not approve term-time holidays.

Sue Moore of QEII said: ’We follow the DESC policy on authorisation for leave of absence in term time, we do not authorise absence for holidays as this has a clear negative impact on student achievement.

’If there is a genuine reason for needing to take time out, eg a major family event, then we are able to authorise it.  We have a standard letter which is sent to parents explaining this. 

’Should parents take their child out without authorisation, there is a standard code ’G’ which means unauthorised holiday.’

While Chris Coole at St Ninian’s said: ’We follow the DESC Policy on authorising absences, as do all the other schools.

’This has been in place for a number of years and basically states we do not authorise absences  for holidays in term time, unless there are specific circumstance that deem it appropriate.

’There are clear links between attendance and attainment.’

Ballakermeen head teacher Adrienne Burnett said: ’Ballakermeen follows the Department of Education, Sport and Culture’s policy on holidays in term time.

’We ask our parents to complete a form, explaining the reasons for absence and a letter will be issued to them.

’In my experience, the overwhelming majority of parents have a legitimate reason for taking their children out of school.’

Primary schools might have different policies from their local high schools.

That might cause problems for families when siblings attend schools with different policies.