Study leave for pupils: requirements and guidance

Find out when you can grant study leave and what you need to consider when granting it. Plus, learn which absence codes to use, and whether study leave counts towards attendance figures.

Last reviewed on 7 May 2025
School types: AllSchool phases: SecondaryRef: 8721
Contents
  1. You should only grant study leave for public exams
  2. Consider whether study leave would benefit your pupils
  3. You must provide for any pupils who want to revise in school
  4. Recording study leave: absence codes and statistics 
  5. See an example of a letter to parents/carers 

You should only grant study leave for public exams

This is for pupils in year 11 and above, provided they are studying for a public examination. 

Study leave should also:

  • Not be granted by default once the exam syllabus has been taught
  • Be used sparingly

This is explained in paragraph 329 of the DfE's statutory attendance guidance

The guidance also confirms that study leave should not be granted for any internal examinations, such as mocks (see paragraph 37). 

You can grant study leave before public exams begin

However, it must be specifically for the purpose of studying for those examinations. 

Consider whether study leave would benefit your pupils

It's up to you to decide whether to grant study leave – it's not an entitlement. 

Your pupils' home situations – will they have somewhere suitable to study?  Whether your pupils are likely to be able to self-motivate if not in school and supervised Whether you can offer remote