Teachers Instructed to Not Allow Students to Skip School for Protests
The Department for Education (DfE) has issued new guidance that will come into effect in August. This guidance will prohibit students from skipping school for protests and increase the fines for absenteeism.
According to the DfE, headteachers have been advised not to allow students to take time off for protests during school hours. This decision follows a report from last year that called on the department to explicitly forbid school strikes for Palestine.
In the new statutory guidance on school attendance published on Thursday, the DfE stated that “Leave of absence should not be granted for a pupil to take part in protest activity during school hours.”
This updated guidance will replace the current version on August 19. Over the past year, students in Britain have participated in pro-Palestine protests, causing Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to express concerns.
The Stop the War coalition organized these protests, with support from pro-Palestine socialist professor Michael Lavalette. Lavalette defended school strikes as a crucial tool in the anti-war movement arsenal, especially during the Iraq war.
Notably, climate protests have also seen children’s participation, inspired by activists like Greta Thunberg. Thunberg gained attention for skipping school to raise awareness about climate change.
Before the pandemic, UK students united in school strikes led by Thunberg focused on environmental issues. Edinburgh City Council even supported student participation in climate strikes with parental consent.
In a December report, the Policy Exchange think tank argued against children protesting during school hours, highlighting concerns about safety, extremism, and political neutrality in schools.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, expressed skepticism about the new rule, suggesting it may be challenging for schools to manage. He emphasized the importance of students not missing school for protests.
The updated guidance also includes an increase in fines for parents when a child is absent without authorization. Furthermore, state schools will be required to share attendance data and have access to a centralized dashboard.
The intention behind these changes is to improve attendance following the pandemic-induced rise in absenteeism driven by disrupted habits and mental health challenges.
