Attendance

Registration:            

Pupils should arrive at school in time to register at 8.30 am.

Lateness:       

Pupils who arrive after the completion of the register will be marked late. Pupils arriving after registration should sign in at Student Services.

Pupils who are late for a third time in a half-term will be given a Director of Learning detention.

Planned absence:              

Requests for absence from school for dental appointments, visits to hospital etc, should be addressed to the tutor and give at least one clear day’s notice. Less school time is lost if such appointments can be arranged at the beginning or end of the day.

Requests for leave of absence for family holidays should be given to Student Services. Forms are available from Students Services. Please be aware that all applications for leave of absence during term time must be made in advance. Time off school for family holidays is not a right. Schools have discretion to allow up to 10 days absence if they believe that the circumstances warrant it. Holidays taken for the following reasons will not be authorised:

      availability of cheap holidays

      availability of desired accommodation

      poor weather experienced in school holiday periods

      overlap with the beginning or end of term

      illness or other unavoidable cause that prevents attendance

      on a day exclusively set aside for religious observance by the religious body to which the pupil’s parents belong

      with the leave of the school

      truancy

      minding the house/staying in for repairs

      shopping

      attending sporting events or pop concerts

      to do homework

      to help with the family business

      birthdays

      school uniform in the wash

      looking after brothers or sisters

      oversleeping

Unexpected absence:

If your child is absent from school please let Student Services know on each day of absence. Student Services staff will pass on any information they receive to the appropriate tutor.

If the school does not receive an explanatory note or telephone message you will be contacted by Student Services, either by telephone or letter.

Poor attendance:        

The Education Welfare Officer will be involved in all cases of poor attendance and meets weekly with school staff to identify concerns. Ultimately, the Education Welfare Officer has the right to pursue such cases through the Courts.

Rewards:                              

Certificates will be awarded to pupils who attain a high level of attendance.

We hope that you will appreciate the importance the school places on school attendance, and will work with us to ensure that your child attends school regularly and punctually.

If your child is experiencing school attendance difficulties, please contact the Director of Learning as soon as the difficulty arises. Experience has shown that the earlier a difficulty is recognised, the easier it is to resolve!  

Alternatively, you may wish to contact the Education Welfare Officer for the school on 0115 8546041.