Parents’ fury as head has month off for wedding ... in term time
FOR parents, taking their children on holiday during term time means sanctions, fines and the threat of legal action.
But for the headmaster of Little Hill primary school wanting a vacation, it appears no such rules apply.
From the day her pupils return to school after Easter, Vina Pankhania will enjoy nearly a month off to get married – and come back just before school breaks up again for summer half-term.
Following a clampdown at the school, parents have regularly been warned their children are not allowed time off during term t i me except under ‘exceptional circumstances’.
Yet Miss Pankhania was given permission to take a month off by governors ‘because she has worked extremely hard’.
The 30-year-old, who writes of the ‘impor-
‘Families can be fined for this’
tance of respect, good manners’ and ‘high standards’ on the school’s website, will be on leave from April 28 – the first day back at school after Easter.
She is returning to work on May 23, three days before the summer half-term holiday starts. Parents reacted with fury when they received a letter from governors last week telling them about her plans.
One, Sonya Gilmour, said: ‘As a parent of two boys at Little Hill, I find this disgusting. How can governors approve leave just after Easter when parents themselves can be fined for similar actions? Surely the summer time off she has is big enough to accommodate a wedding.’
Miss Pankhania has been acting head teacher at the school in Wigston, Leicestershire, for just over two years.
Each year she is entitled to 13 weeks’ holiday. Governors have allowed her to take her extra term time holiday as ‘ unpaid leave’ so she can marry fiancé Amit Jain in India in May.
While she is away the acting deputy head Helen Cartledge-Splitt will be in charge of the school, which has about 360 boys and girls, aged four to ten.
Another parent, who asked not to be named, said Miss Pankhania was either ‘ incredibly arrogant or naïve’ for talking almost half a term off. ‘Anyone employed in education gets ample holiday time to arrange weddings and holidays without needing time off during the term,’ he said.
‘The school refuses to authorise any pupils’ holidays during term.
‘I feel the school has set a precedent and will be unable to enforce the policy applying to pupils or, indeed, any of the staff.’
Miss Pankhania refused to comment.
In a statement, the governors said: ‘Staff are usually required to take leave during school holidays. However, we have approved the acting head teacher’s request for unpaid l eave to get married because she has worked extremely hard over the past two years, including during school holidays. Her deputies will cover her duties and this will not disrupt teaching.’
Children at the school used to be allowed up to ten days off during term time a year if there were ‘special circumstances’.
Now they are only allowed time off during term time under ‘exceptional circumstances’.
Parents who take their child out of school in term can be fined £60, which increases to £120 if it is not paid within 28 days. Failure to pay can result in court action.
The National Association of Head Teachers said: ‘It is inappropriate for us to comment on individual cases.’