Attendance

Good attendance is expected at 96% plus.

Good attendance at school is vital for pupils to achieve their full educational potential. Pupils with good attendance records benefit in the following ways:-

An attendance percentage needs to be in the high nineties before it can be considered good. Consider the following examples:-

Each year, a number of students in every year group achieve 100% attendance records, showing that this is an achievable target. In addition, a number of children have achieved this level of attendance in successive years.

What does the school do to encourage good attendance?

We consider good attendance to be of such importance that we place a great deal of emphasis on it and put considerable resources into promoting it. Below are listed some of the strategies used:-

Good Punctuality

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PUPILS ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY AND ARE PUNCTUAL!

A good start to the day begins by being on time. This allows each student to make sure they have all the correct information and can get to the right place on time.

Arriving on time helps pupils to develop good time-keeping habits and reduces the chance of classroom disruption. This means everyone can focus on what really matters — learning!

Pupils who arrive after the registers have closed, either in the morning or the afternoon are, in law, deemed as absent. However, for reasons of safety, the register will show that your child is in school. Unless there is an acceptable explanation, this absence will not be authorised.

Being on time, every day, conveys far more than just a good sense of timing. It tells people that you're on top of things, that you're organized, that you can be counted upon, that you value them and, ultimately, that you value yourself.

Lates (Primary Phase)

Students are expected at school by 08:55 for a 09:00 start each morning. The classroom doors will be open from 08:50.

Students arriving after 09.00, for any reason, must sign in at Reception and after 09:00 will be marked Late after Registration (U), unless written evidence of a valid reason is supplied (e.g. medical appointment).

The Education Welfare Officer will monitor pupils who are frequently late and families may be invited into school to discuss relevant strategies.

Lates (Secondary Phase)

Students are expected at school by 08:25 each morning, they must be in their tutor base by 8.30am. The school is open from 7:45, so students can arrive much earlier.

Students arriving after 08:30 but before 08.45 will be marked Late (L).

Students arriving after 09.00, for any reason, must sign in at Reception and after 09:00 will be marked Late after Registration (U), unless written evidence of a valid reason is supplied (e.g. medical appointment).

The Education Welfare Officer will monitor pupils who are frequently late and families may be invited into school to discuss relevant strategies.

Times of the School Day

*Effective from September 2019

Truancy

Everyone has days when they don't feel like going to school. Sometimes they pretend to be sick and their parents let them stay at home. At times, children leave home to go to school but they make plans to meet up with friends or go somewhere alone for the day. Parents think that they their child is safe at school and teachers think that the child is at home.

Of course most young people never do this; they go to school, therefore everybody knows where they are. However, unless they are seriously ill or have an acceptable reason — ALL students are expected to attend school. Truancy from school is not acceptable and will be treated seriously.

As attendance at school is a LEGAL requirement, we have a Police Liaison Officer that works closely with the Attendance Officer, all Pastoral Support Workers, your child's Head of Year and the Educational Welfare Officer.

Authorised And Unauthorised Abesences

If your child has to miss school because of illness, or any other exceptional reason, you must contact the school on the morning or prior to their expected absence. The school can be contacted on:

01639 760110

When your child returns to school, you should send a note in explaining the absence. However, if the Headteacher feels that a pupil is having an unacceptable amount of time off school; or if a child is persistently late; the Attendance Team will take all necessary actions to deal with the problem. We will contact the parents, conduct visits, and have meetings, or refer to appropriate agencies/authorities that will follow this up with the parent/carer.

Whenever possible, medical and dental appointments should be made either outside school hours/school holidays or during the day after morning registration or before afternoon registration.

THE LAW STATES THAT THE HEADTEACHER AND GOVERNORS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN DECIDE HOW YOUR CHILD'S ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL IS RECORDED.

Fixed Penalty Notices

Under existing legislation, parents/carers commit an offence if a child fails to attend school regularly and the absences are classified as unauthorised (those for which the school cannot, or has not given permission). Depending on the circumstances, such cases may result in prosecution under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996. A Fixed Penalty Notice is an alternative to prosecution, which does not require an appearance in court (unless the fine is not paid), but which seeks to secure an improvement in a pupil's attendance. Parents should note that the Government passed new legislation in January 2004 which allows Head Teachers, and the LEA to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (instant fines) for unauthorised absence.

Holidays

Family holidays should not be taken during term time. There are several key events such as exams throughout the school year. Therefore taking time off for holidays can have a direct impact on your son's/daughter's achievement. In general, holiday requests will not be authorized, except in exceptional circumstances. In this instance, the child’s current attendance will be a deciding factor as to whether or not the absence is granted.

The Law

If your child is truanting from school, you must remember that it is not only their education that suffers: they are also putting themselves at risk resulting in some cases in anti-social behaviour or abduction.

It is your legal duty to ensure that your child goes to school. When a parent fails to do so, the school may take legal proceedings against the parents.

Rights and Responsibilities

PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S ATTENDANCE TO SCHOOL

Parents of children aged between 5 and 16 years, i.e. of statutory school age, must, by law, ensure that their children are in receipt of a suitable education.

The law states that parents must ensure that their children regularly attend the school at which they are a registered. When a parent fails to do so, the school will take legal proceedings against the parents.

Education Welfare Officer

We wish to support and help students and families improve their attendance at school. The school has our own Educational Welfare Officer who will be involved with identified students at school, visiting families and working with the local authority to pursue Fixed Penalty Notices and court proceedings.

The EWO will also be involved with school staff in connecting with other external agencies to expand the support needed.

Persistent Absenteeism

A student becomes a 'Persistent Absentee' when they miss 10% (38 sessions/19 days or more schooling across the academic year FOR WHATEVER REASON

90% Attendance = 1/2 a day missed every week
90% Attendance = 4 weeks of missed lessons (100 lessons over 1 year
90% Attendance = 1/2 a school year missed (487 lessons)over 5 years
Absent 19 days = A GCSE Grade DROP in achievement per year