The headteacher of Market Drayton’s Grove School said two of her pupils have missed their GCSE exams because of family holidays.
Jane Radbourne confirmed that the two Year 11 pupils had missed two exams each and would not be able to resit them until November at the earliest.
The revelation originally emerged through a radio interview about parents taking holidays during the school term.
She said: “It’s a fact that we’ve had two students who have missed some GCSE exams because they have taken holiday. They haven’t missed all of them, they’ve missed some and the two students are unrelated.
“The initial report that Radio Shropshire was doing was about fixed penalty notices for pupil absences, and Shropshire Council has a very clear policy on school attendance.
“The general message from us is if students aren’t in school, they aren’t learning and it’s not only detrimental to their education but to others in their group.”
Ms Radbourne confirmed that penalties of at least £50 imposed on parents for their children’s absence from school were handled by Shropshire Council’s education welfare office and not the school itself.
She added: “I will not authorise a leave of absence requested during Year 11 because it’s the final year of schooling and an exam year.
“I look very carefully if I’m asked for leave in Year 10 as GCSE exams don’t just happen in the summer.
“We have exams in November, March and June and any extended period of absence, like a two-week holiday, is going to affect pupils’ learning.”
Ms Radbourne revealed she had spoken to one of the parents involved who was “very upset” about her child missing their exams.
She said: “I appreciate that it’s extremely difficult for parents and now, because of things changing with exam dates, it’s even more difficult for them to pick that up.
“But I would really want to urge parents not to take their children out of school during term time for holidays, particularly in Years 10 and 11.”
Janice Stackhouse, Shropshire Council’s principal welfare officer, said: “Whilst the majority of families ensure that their children do attend school regularly, in the cases where they do not the council will intervene with support and advice.
“In those cases of unauthorised absence, the council will take firm action to support the schools and the children.”
By Winston Brown