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| Term-time holiday rules stop children taking dance exams | Term-time holiday rules stop children taking dance exams |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Rules designed to stop families in England taking term-time holidays are also preventing some children taking external dance, drama and music exams in school hours, says an exam body. | Rules designed to stop families in England taking term-time holidays are also preventing some children taking external dance, drama and music exams in school hours, says an exam body. |
| The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) says schools too often refuse permission to attend its exams even if pupils will only be away for a couple of hours. | |
| Ministers say they support pupils taking arts exams in school hours. | Ministers say they support pupils taking arts exams in school hours. |
| But RAD says the position is confusing and wants the guidance made clearer. | But RAD says the position is confusing and wants the guidance made clearer. |
| Since 2013, official guidance on term-time leave has said authorised absences should only be granted in "exceptional circumstances". | Since 2013, official guidance on term-time leave has said authorised absences should only be granted in "exceptional circumstances". |
| The RAD says this has caused problems for its own ballet examinations and is also an issue for children taking dance, drama and music exams with some other boards. | The RAD says this has caused problems for its own ballet examinations and is also an issue for children taking dance, drama and music exams with some other boards. |
| According to RAD exams director Andrew McBirnie, before 2013 ballet exams could be run "during the school day and the student was able to leave a class at say 10 o'clock, do their exam and be back by lunchtime - and that seemed to be a perfectly legitimate activity that the student might be doing as part of their all-round education. | According to RAD exams director Andrew McBirnie, before 2013 ballet exams could be run "during the school day and the student was able to leave a class at say 10 o'clock, do their exam and be back by lunchtime - and that seemed to be a perfectly legitimate activity that the student might be doing as part of their all-round education. |
| "Increasingly over the last few years... there have been more and more schools saying: 'No we can't allow this any more because of this issue with unauthorised absence.'" | "Increasingly over the last few years... there have been more and more schools saying: 'No we can't allow this any more because of this issue with unauthorised absence.'" |
| 'Mood music' | 'Mood music' |
| In a recent letter to Ed Vaizey MP, England's education secretary Damian Hinds, said the government expected schools to be sympathetic to requests for leave to take these exams. | In a recent letter to Ed Vaizey MP, England's education secretary Damian Hinds, said the government expected schools to be sympathetic to requests for leave to take these exams. |
| "As long as they are satisfied that time away from school will not have a negative effect on a child's education." | "As long as they are satisfied that time away from school will not have a negative effect on a child's education." |
| But the letter also says the Department for Education does not explicitly state what constitutes an exceptional circumstance. | But the letter also says the Department for Education does not explicitly state what constitutes an exceptional circumstance. |
| "These decisions are best made by head teachers who will know their pupils' individual circumstances best." | |
| Mr McBirnie welcomed the letter and hopes it will help persuade more heads to allow pupils to attend performing arts exams in school hours. | Mr McBirnie welcomed the letter and hopes it will help persuade more heads to allow pupils to attend performing arts exams in school hours. |
| However, he says the message is still mixed "between what the guidelines say and the mood music" from ministers. | However, he says the message is still mixed "between what the guidelines say and the mood music" from ministers. |
| "There is no definition or further guidelines about what "exceptional circumstances" means at all. So it totally comes down to the interpretation of that phrase which is very vague. | "There is no definition or further guidelines about what "exceptional circumstances" means at all. So it totally comes down to the interpretation of that phrase which is very vague. |
| "What's exceptional for one head teacher might not be exceptional for another and to be honest leaving school for a dance exam is not exceptional, it's actually quite routine that children leave to take a dance or drama exam outside school and then come back." | "What's exceptional for one head teacher might not be exceptional for another and to be honest leaving school for a dance exam is not exceptional, it's actually quite routine that children leave to take a dance or drama exam outside school and then come back." |
| Ideally, Mr McBirnie says he would like examples of activities where schools would be expected to authorise absence added to the guidance. | Ideally, Mr McBirnie says he would like examples of activities where schools would be expected to authorise absence added to the guidance. |
| The National Association of Head Teachers said authorising absences was "difficult territory for schools because they are so severely held to account for attendance figures". | The National Association of Head Teachers said authorising absences was "difficult territory for schools because they are so severely held to account for attendance figures". |
| Deputy General Secretary, Nick Brook, agreed that "in truth external arts exams are not exceptional circumstances, they are a well understood everyday element of school life. | Deputy General Secretary, Nick Brook, agreed that "in truth external arts exams are not exceptional circumstances, they are a well understood everyday element of school life. |
| "A list of approved activities risks creating unnecessary tension. | "A list of approved activities risks creating unnecessary tension. |
| "What's important is that as long as the school is satisfied that time away will not have a negative effect on a child's education, absence to attend an external exam should be reason enough." | "What's important is that as long as the school is satisfied that time away will not have a negative effect on a child's education, absence to attend an external exam should be reason enough." |