Attendance

The school places a high priority on attendance. There is a direct link between attendance and achievement and we aim to work closely with parents/carers to ensure that all students maximise their learning potential by being in school.

THE COST OF MISSING OUT

All absences come at a price - children missing school may not be able to keep up with schoolwork and it often affects friendships.

Missing two weeks of a term in each year of a child’s life is the same as missing more than half a year.

ATTENDANCE LEGISLATION

REGISTRATION

Schools must take the attendance register at the start of the first session of each school day and once during the second session. On each occasion students must be recorded as:

• present (/);
• attending an approved educational activity (V);
• absent (M, I, O): or,
• unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances (C).

Students who arrive after the register has been taken will be marked as late.

Students are also registered every lesson.

FIRST DAY ABSENCE

Parents/carers are asked to inform school as soon as possible on the first day of their child’s absence; this can be by telephone, text or email. If the absence is due to a medical or dental appointment and school is informed in advance, or if evidence such as an appointment card is provided, the absence will be counted as authorised. Parents/carers are asked to make appointments outside of the school day, or in holiday time as far as possible.

If a student is absent without contact from home a text message is sent by 10am to alert parents/carers in case the student is missing without consent and/or to find out reasons for absence.

If there is no response to the message by the afternoon a second text is sent. This will be followed by a phone call if there is still no response. Any continuing absence without contact from a parent/carer may be followed up with a home visit, or in some instances, a referral to social care.

LONG TERM OR ERRATIC ABSENCE

If absence from school becomes a cause for concern parents/carers will be contacted by their child’s student support manager to discuss any issues, and to support the return to school of the child. Where a student’s attendance drops below 90% she/he/they will be classed as a PERSISTENT ABSENTEE. At this stage school will request a meeting with parents/carers to review the absences and a plan to improve attendance in the future.

PUNCTUALITY

Punctuality at the start of the day, and to every lesson is important. Responsibility for this must be taken by the students themselves, although parent/carers are asked to support in ensuring students are on time in the mornings. Punctuality is monitored on a daily basis; being late to school results in an after-school detention and being late to lessons results in a departmental detention.

REQUESTS FOR TERM TIME ABSENCE

Any planned leave of absence in term time is discouraged because of the impact on academic and social progress.

The headteacher has the discretion to grant absence under exceptional circumstances so all requests are treated on an individual basis. Any absence requests should be made via the following online form, at least 3 weeks prior to the requested date.

Leave of Absence Online Form

­­LEGAL SANCTIONS

Parents/carers can be fined for the unauthorised absence of their child from school through the FIXED PENALTY NOTICE (FPN) process. This may result from the number of unauthorised absences occurring, holidays  being taken during term time or where a suspended student is found in a public place during school hours without a justifiable reason.

FIXED PENALTY NOTICE 1

When attendance reaches a level of concern e.g. because of several unaccounted for absences or several holidays taken in term time an FPN letter 1 stating that attendance is too low and stipulating the need for improvement will be issued.

FIXED PENALTY NOTICE 2

If the attendance concern is not addressed then a second letter will be issued explaining that the next stage will be the issuing of a fine of £60 for each parent per child if paid within 21 days, rising to £120 if paid after 21 days, but within 28 days.

FIXED PENALTY NOTICE 3

This letter informs parents/carers that the attendance has been referred to the Local Authority for the fine to be processed.