Do you want to apply for exceptional leave, or are you curious about how we handle absence and early school leaving? You can find that information here.

Our absence coordinator

We would like to introduce our absence coordinators to you: Alex Meijer. For the lower school, Alex will be working closely with the reception staff. For the upper school, he is responsible for correct registration of absences. 

Requesting special leave?

Exemptions from school attendance are only possible in specific cases. Your parent(s)/guardian(s) must request this in writing from the team leader using this digital form. Request for exemption from regular school attendance.

The Compulsory Education Act contains rules concerning additional holiday leave for pupils. In short, it means that the head teacher may grant leave once per school year outside of the school holidays due to the specific nature of the occupation of one of the parents. The term ‘specific nature of the occupation’ should be understood as seasonal work or work in sectors that experience peak activity. The following rules and conditions apply:

The additional leave may not fall within the first two weeks of a school year.
2. The additional leave may be a maximum of 10 school days
3. it is factually impossible to plan a family holiday during one of the school holidays.

In addition to these rules, it is of course also possible to request additional leave for ‘other weighty circumstances’. This includes matters such as moving house, attending weddings, anniversaries, but also funerals of family members or religious obligations. The legal rules can be found here.

Unauthorised absence

Follow-up on absences

Are you in the first, second or third year? And do you have an absence notification (a red 'A') in Somtoday? Then the reception will check this notification. You or your parent(s)/carer(s) may be contacted on the same day to discuss these absences.

If you are in the upper years, students are themselves responsible for reporting unauthorised absences. If an absence report is incorrect, you should contact the teacher who made the report yourself. If you forgot to report in advance that you have a medical appointment, for example, we have a deadline of three school days after the activity for submitting notes to reception. If this deadline is not met, the absence will be treated as unauthorised. 

If you have an unauthorised absence, you must make up the hour twice in detention. You will be assigned by the absence coordinator.

Too late?

If you are late, you collect a note from reception to be allowed into the lesson. If you have a valid reason and therefore a Absence declaration When you hand in a note signed by your parent(s)/carer(s), you will receive a ‘late with explanation’ slip. If you do not have a valid reason for being late (oversleeping is not a valid reason), you will receive a ‘late without explanation’ slip to be allowed into the lesson.

If you are late without a valid reason, you must report to reception 30 minutes before your first lesson the following day. Not reported? You will have one opportunity to report the day after.

Entrance hall

If you have an unauthorised absence and it hasn't been resolved within three days, or if you haven't reported yourself after being late twice, you will be assigned to the detention room w033 for two hours. 

Compulsory education consultation

To prevent school dropout as much as possible, the municipality of Hoorn is organising a compulsory education meeting at school. The compulsory education meeting is a preventive instrument that focuses on initial (unauthorised) absence and lateness. The aim of the compulsory education meeting is to reduce unauthorised school dropout. It is important to identify school dropout at an early stage and take action.

If you are too often late or have been absent too many times without authorisation, you and your parent(s)/carer(s) will receive a letter with the exact date and time you are invited for a meeting with the school attendance officer. If the absenteeism continues, contact will be made via the school attendance officer of your own municipality of residence.

Further Information about compulsory education for parents/guardians can be found here..