§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will discuss with as many head teachers as possible the practice of releasing GCSE candidates from attendance at school for about three weeks prior to their exams; and if she will make a statement. [24815]
§ Mr. ForthFollowing consultation with the head teacher associations and other interested parties, the Department issued guidance on the categorisation of absence to all schools in May 1994. The guidance included advice on study leave. It recommended that it should be normally available for year 11 pupils only, that it should be granted sparingly and that it should not normally exceed a maximum of two weeks.