A school in the Fens that last week changed its rules to requiring medical notes when submitting student absences has reversed its decision. 

The u-turn comes a week after Neale-Wade Academy in March sent a letter to parents on October 3 stating that the school would no longer accept certain phrases from parents.

This included refusing the terms 'ill', 'poorly' or 'unwell' as well as 'period pains' (without medical information) and 'has a cold'.

READ MORE: J. K. Rowling on March school's new absence rules debate

However, following concerns from parents, the school has “written to families to clarify our approach, which does not require medical notes when a student is absent.

“We very much have an open doors approach and encourage families to come and talk to us about any worries they have so we can explore these and find a positive way forward,” added the spokesperson for the school.

“Close partnership working with our families is important to us, and we work hard to understand any challenges or difficulties that families are facing, whether that is around attendance or any other issue."

The switchback comes after the story - which broke on the Cambs Times - was covered by global LBC Radio and the Daily Mail.

READ MORE: 'Poorly' and 'ill' among words banned by March school when reporting absences

World-famous author J. K. Rowling also waded in on the national debate, posting on X: "Girls must prove that their uterine cramps are painful."

When asked what parents should say when reporting an absence, the school said: "as much detail as possible about the reason for the absence".

A former Neale-Wade student added: "J. K. Rowling tweeting about my old secondary school is not what I expected this year tbh."