School Reps' Handbook > Your questions answered
Leave of Absence - Admin Memo 33
Your Headteacher/Principal (or in the case of Headteacher/Principal the Chair of Governors) may grant paid leave of absence for up to 5 working days in any academic year for urgent personal or other miscellaneous reasons (listed below).
In exceptional cases the Governors may extend leave by a further 5 working days in any academic year.
In what circumstances am I entitled to Leave of Absence?
- Serious illness of a close relative.
- Death of a close relative.
- Paternity leave (as part of the time absent under the terms of the parental leave scheme).
- Wedding of a close relative (normally restricted to one day).
- Graduation ceremony of son/daughter (normally restricted to one day).
- Moving house (on day of move).
- Interviews for other posts (in some cases interviews may be more than one day).
- Actual periods of examinations (not study leave) for improvement of a teacher's qualifications, including reasonable travelling time.
- Teachers visiting other schools/colleges or accompanying pupils on educational visits, or undertaking in-service training.
- Observance of major non-Christian Festivals by persons who are members of the faith concerned.
- Annual training in respect of service in non regular Forces.
- Selection of a teacher to represent his/her County or Country in a national or international event, or similar cases if the representative nature of the events indicate County, National or International standing.
- Attending as a delegate at Church Synods (or equivalent bodies for other religious denominations), Trade Union Conferences, Local Government Conferences, and Committee membership of a body of national standing in education.
- Attending, as a member of a Governing Body, meetings of Governors where the Governing Body on which the employee serves, normally meets during the school/college day.
- Attending special events connected with official twinned towns in Leicestershire.
What About Jury Service?
Any teacher called for Jury Service or as a witness on behalf of the Crown, Police or Defence, or for either side in a civil case will be granted leave to attend, for the period required by the Courts. If, however, during the period of any summons to attend, the Court releases the teacher for a day or half-day, s/he will be expected to return to school/college.
All staff required to attend Jury Service or as a witness, should claim through the Court, the allowance for loss of earnings. 1/365th of the Gross Annual Salary should be claimed for each day of attendance, subject to the maximum allowance payable. The County Treasurer will deduct an amount equal to the allowance received from the teacher's full salary and these deductions will be credited centrally to offset supply cover costs.
Your Headteacher or Principal and/or Governors may grant additional unpaid leave having due regards to the needs of the school/college.