A school in Cambridgeshire has reversed its controversial policy on period pain absences after facing criticism from JK Rowling.
Neale-Wade Academy in March initially required teenage girls to provide medical evidence for period-related sick days, sparking outrage from charities and campaigners.
The Harry Potter author took to social media and wrote: “Girls must prove that their uterine cramps are painful.
“Boys must be believed when they say ‘I’m a girl’.”
Following the backlash, the school consulted the Department for Education and has now decided students no longer require doctor’s notes for such absences.
Principal Graham Horn addressed the concerns in an email on Thursday.
He wrote: “We are aware of the pressures on local GPs and the resulting difficulties in getting appointments, as well as the challenges faced when trying to get a medical diagnosis for some conditions.”
The school acknowledged the “concerns from the community and beyond”.
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Horn added: “I can confirm we do not require doctor’s notes or other medical information to support reasons for absence, such as period pains.”
The reversal has been welcomed by parents, with one describing it as a “step in the right direction”.
The original policy, implemented with immediate effect, stated that absences would not be authorised if described as “poorly”, “ill”, or “period pains” without medical evidence.
This stance was heavily criticised by organisations such as Endometriosis UK, who urged schools to improve their awareness of menstrual health conditions.
The charity said that severe period pain can be a symptom of endometriosis, which takes an average of eight years to diagnose.
Campaigner Jen Moore warned that the policy could lead to teenagers being “gaslighted” into doubting their symptoms.
Endometriosis UK stressed the importance of taking period pain seriously, especially when it impacts daily life and causes school absences.
Cambridgeshire County Council defines an “unauthorised” absence as one without explanation or with an unsatisfactory reason.
Schools must consider fines when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (five days) without authorisation. As of August 2023, these fines stand at £80 if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days.
