Should a deputy head take leave in term time?

I WAS astounded to read that the governors of Little Hill primary school in Wigston, Leicester, had granted a month’s — albeit unpaid — leave in term time so deputy head Vina Pankhania could get married in India because she’d ‘worked hard for the past two years’ (Mail).

When I chaired a school’s governing body in Peterborough, I and my colleagues would have expected nothing less from the staff in general and head and deputies in particular; that’s what they were there for.

They would have expected nothing more than compliments for doing a good job. They wouldn’t have expected to take a month’s holiday in term- time. I sympathise with the Little Hill parents who take the view that there seems to be one rule for them and one for the staff who, they rightly point out, have plenty of time during the regular holiday period to make arrangements and get married, whether here or abroad. BILL HOLLOWELL, Orton Waterville, Cambs. WHAT about all the parents who also work hard but still have to stick to the rules and end up paying top dollar for a family holiday?

GARY DIPPER, Leominster, Herefordshire. AS PARENTS of a Little Hill primary school pupil, we feel strongly that Vina’s being unjustly publicly vilified. Her role as acting head arose with the departure of the previous head in the summer before she commenced her role as deputy head at Little Hill. The governing body has kept the head teacher role an ‘acting’ one for more than two years, despite objections from a minority of the governing body, so the school lacks the longterm focus it clearly needs.

As a result, my husband resigned from the governors, complaining that the majority of members were ineffective. He supports the deputy head’s unpaid leave on the basis that it’s ‘exceptional’ in the same way a pupil might need leave during school time.

Throughout, Vina has worked tirelessly for the school and its children.

Mrs CLAIRE COOKE, address supplied.