APPENDIX III Our policy regarding students opting to take time away from school to attend university open days (or similar) We recognise the importance of visiting Higher Education institutions as part of the decisionmaking process for students and their future aspirations. For most students this will be in line with their UCAS application and to one of the many UK universities. For others this may relate to their applications to Music Colleges, Art Foundation courses, Drama Schools, the Armed Services etc. We also recognise that any absence from school will result in work and teaching support being missed. As a result, if many lessons are missed, then students run the significant risk of falling behind in their A Level courses. Our policy therefore looks to balance the tension between these two issues. •
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Students should make any requests for absence from school as per the normal guidelines (i.e. addressed to the Head of Sixth Form by means of a written letter or email, to sixthformcentre@newhallschool.co.uk ) at least a week prior to the relevant date of the requested absence. Students can expect to be supported by the school for visits of this nature in up to three instances per academic year where it would require absence from lessons. The academic year runs from September through to July. With Open Days tending to occur at the end of Year 12 and the first few months of Year 13, students can look to expect to be supported for visits missing three days in Year 12 and three days in Year 13; six in total. If students wish to make more visits during the school week than this advised allocation, this can still be considered, however it will be scrutinised more carefully and concerns raised about how much time from school may well result from this/these additional visits. Students are encouraged to plan visits wherever possible which will not result in absence from lessons. Many universities run multiple Open Days, which usually include one day on a weekend or in the holiday period; such opportunities should be prioritised by the student, where possible. If permission is granted by the Head of Sixth Form for such an absence from school, it is the responsibility of the student in person to inform her/his teachers of the absence in advance of the day to be missed. This is not only a common courtesy but also will provide an opportunity to discuss what work will be missed as a result. Upon returning from the visit it is the responsibility of the student to confirm with the teacher(s) of lessons missed what work they need to complete and by when this should be done. Such confirmation from the teacher(s) should be sought within three teaching days of their return to school. Such work that has been agreed should be completed within the timeframe stipulated. The above does not relate to interviews or auditions, which constitute a compulsory part of the selection process, or to post-offer days. For such an instance permission should be requested in the normal manner (as listed above), however it will not count against their total allocation of permitted visits. Policy reviewed inFebruary2021, JAL
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