Attendance FAQs
We understand that the facts, figures, rules and regulations surrounding school attendance can sometimes be a little confusing and, at times, a little overwhelming. We have compiled some frequently asked questions that we hope will help to clear some things up and support you and your child's attendance.
We thank you for your ongoing support and assistance in ensuring that students are in school. Please do not hesitate to contact your child's Head of House for support should you experience any difficulties in persuading your child of the vital importance of regular attendance; teenagers do not always recognise the value of education. We are committed to ensuring all students achieve the best possible attendance levels and hope you can continue to encourage students to focus on the importance of being in school and of making the most of the opportunities available to them.
What if I need to book a medical appointment for my child?
We ask parents and carers to try, wherever possible, to arrange Doctor/Dentist and other appointments outside of school hours. If this is not possible then students should not take the whole day off and should attend school around the appointment time.
Why is 90% attendance not considered 'good' attendance?
A number of students have 90% attendance and appear to believe this to be a 'good' attendance level. However, 90% attendance is the equivalent of one day off each fortnight and is regarded as a student having persistent absence by the Government. A student with 90% attendance from Year 7 to 11 will miss 20 weeks of schooling (3 terms or half a year).
Why have I received a letter about my child's attendance?
As a school, we have a duty to ensure all students attend regularly. We monitor attendance both individually and on a whole-school basis. Where a student's attendance causes concern, steps will be taken to address this. Regular communication between home and school is a vital part of this process.
We will normally authorise up to five days of absence if we have been informed as to why the student is off. Anything beyond this may result in letters being sent home and absences being classed as unauthorised. We ask for parents and carers to make daily contact to inform us of absences via their child's house or our attendance line. In certain medical cases, some continued absences will be authorised.
Informing us of absence due to illness does not automatically guarantee it will be authorised. This will be determined by us depending on the student’s current attendance levels and whether medical evidence has been provided. We do not necessarily require letters from a GP; any medication packaging or an appointment card could be sufficient.
Will I receive a penalty notice for my child's absence?
A Penalty Notice warning letter may be sent if your child receives unauthorised absences. This will state how many unauthorised absences there are. If a student has 10 unauthorised absences (5 days) during any 100 possible school sessions or 50 school days – these do not need to be consecutive, a penalty notice letter may be sent explaining why a fine would be issued.
Can I take my child on holiday during term time?
We do expect to be informed if parents and carers have booked a holiday during term time. Penalty notices will be issued, where appropriate, if a student takes an unauthorised holiday. If there are exceptional circumstances, these must be put in writing to the Executive Headteacher, with at least three weeks' notice, who may authorise the absence due to extreme circumstances. However, this is very rare.