Rejected petition: Allow headteachers to approve up to 10 days’ absence for family holidays.
Rejected on
Allowing headteachers discretion to authorise up to 10 days’ absence per year is essential amid rising living costs, which price many families out of school holiday travel. This policy would not promote unnecessary absence, but enable fair, case-by-case decisions.
Peak-time costs make holidays unattainable for those under financial strain; less affluent children are excluded from experiences others can access.
Family holidays are not a luxury—they are vital to wellbeing. They strengthen relationships, reduce stress, and support mental health, while offering valuable learning beyond the classroom, including cultural awareness, independence, and confidence. Giving headteachers recognises holidays can support development without undermining education.
Why was this petition rejected?
There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.
You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.
We already have a petition open asking substantively for the same thing, which you may wish to sign:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/763857
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.