The government expects students to have a minimum of 96% attendance. As an Academy, we are striving to exceed this figure and are working towards an in-school target of 97% for our students. If for any reason you fall below this attendance percentage you may be contacted by our Home School Liaison Officer via letter, phone call, home visit or a school based attendance meeting.

If time off is required due to illness please make it the minimum amount of time possible. However, if your child is ill and absent from school parents are asked to take the following action;

1.    Phoning school on 02476 302580 by 8:45am. Please make contact with school every day until your child is ready to return.

2.    Remember to tell us:

• Name
• Year or tutor group
• The reason of absence
• Expected date of return (if known)

Occasionally, on your child’s return to school, they may be required to provide medical evidence from a doctor or medical professional. This can be handed into the office and will be kept on file. If there is no note or substantial reason for absence, the absence will count as unauthorised.

We monitor each student’s attendance every week. You can expect to receive a phone call or text message on the first day of absence so we are aware of the reasons for absence and can discuss with you a return to school date. If there are reasons for concern around the amount of time off your child is having from school you will be contacted by our HSLO via home visit or asked to come in for a meeting to discuss any issues.

Authorised absences

• Illness
• Long standing hospital/ dental appointments- the school must receive a copy of your appointment letter
• Days of religious observance
• Family bereavement
• Attending an interview for a job, college or university
• Holiday – at the Principals discretion
• Special occasions
• Interviews

Unauthorised absence

• Persistent minor ailments without support of a doctor’s note
• Routine GP/dental appointments
• Looking after brothers and sisters
• Birthdays
• Holidays longer than 10 days without special permission
• General trips such as shopping or helping at home
• Truancy from lesson or school
• Lateness
• Running errands
• Visits to the airport

Unauthorised absences are truancy – When the school has not given permission for the student to be away. All absences are checked, followed up and appropriate actions are taken.

Holidays in term time

Schools recognise that student absence during term time can seriously disrupt a student’s continuity of learning. Parents are therefore strongly urged to avoid booking a family holiday in term time. Please prioritise your child’s education by using the school holiday weeks for your family holiday. If you are planning to take your child on holiday during term time then please apply for leave of absence. You will need to contact your child’s Progress Manager (PM) or school office and fill out a form. In exceptional circumstances it may be appropriate to allow a longer planned absence. In all such cases a return date must be agreed by the Principal, as any student who is absent longer than the agreed time will be removed from the school roll.

All holiday requests should be discussed with the year group PM or HSLO. An absence for holiday that has not been agreed or requested prior to the absence in writing will be recorded as unauthorised, and a fixed penalty notice will be requested and sent off to the LA. The penalty is £60 per parent and will need to be paid within 21 days.

Punctuality

School starts at 8.45am. Students must be on site by that time. They are expected to be in their classroom for lesson one by 8.50am when a second bell is rung.

A senior member of staff is on duty at the gate each morning and records the names of students who are late. If students are late they will receive a detention that day.

We believe that punctuality is an important part of learning at school and is a key lesson for later life. We now monitor lateness on a two week basis, if for any reason your child has been late 3 or more times in that period, you may receive a lateness letter, phone call, or requested for a school based attendance meeting to discuss things further.

Attendance and registration is a legal requirement – Parents are responsible for getting their children to attend school on a regular basis.