Paula t ~ then the rule HAS changed: I repeat that in my time the head had no discretion to refuse the fortnight off, which was a STATUTORY ENTITLEMENT**; so he did not 'grant the leave', but could not refuse it; and so had no need to 'justify' so doing to anybody. If he is now required to do so, by any alteration either of convention or regulation, then it can no longer be so** described, can it?

He could, I suppose, in my time, have urged that it was a bad time, too near exams, or whatever. But I do not, in my 12 years as Head of Upper School, remember an instance where there was any sort of dispute: parents knew when exams were perfectly well, and always had the good sense to avoid such times. I remember one policeman ringing me up at home, expressly to apologise profusely to me because he had no option when to take his leave and he realised it might interfere with rehearsals for the school play I was directing, in which his daughter had a leading part; I was happy to reassure him, with thanks for the adequate notice he had so courteously given, that I could easily adjust the rehearsal schedule.