Why is attendance important?
Every day of education and indeed every lesson matters. In the National Curriculum where there is built in progression, children who are persistently late or absent soon get behind with learning and then do not understand current lessons when they return.
The introduction to a lesson and to the school day is crucial to the child’s understanding of their own learning. Children who miss school frequently will undoubtedly have gaps in their learning which will impede their progress and future ability to engage in lessons. This in turn has a knock on effect for their ability to concentrate and for their behaviour.
Frequent absence has a profound and cumulative effect on achievement.
Frequent absence can add up to a considerable amount of lost learning and can seriously disadvantage your child in adult life. If your child’s level of absence is of serious concern, we will contact you to discuss how we can support you. Failure to work with the school and continued absence may result in the School and the Local Authority taking legal action.
“It doesn’t matter if absences are authorised or unauthorised.
They all represent lost time in the classroom and a lost opportunity to learn”.
Reporting absence
Parents and carers are asked to contact the academy office by phone or in person if their child needs to be absent from the academy.
Authorised absences
Acceptable reasons include sickness, hospital appointments, dentist appointments, recognised religious holidays (1 day per holiday only) and funerals. Medical appointments should be arranged outside of the academy day, if possible. Where this is not possible, we would expect pupils to miss only part of the day.
Unauthorised absences
Unacceptable reasons include shopping, going to an appointment, visiting relatives, buying shoes, going for a haircut, parent/carer unwell and taking holiday, for example by acquiring cheaper flights outside of academy holidays.
Holidays/Trips
The academy supports the view that every lesson counts and discourages parents/carers from taking holidays during term time.
Impact of poor attendance
Frequent absence can add up to a considerable amount of lost learning and can seriously disadvantage your child in adult life. If your child’s level of absence is of serious concern, we will contact you to discuss how we can support you. Failure to work with the school and continued absence may result in the School and the Local Authority taking legal action.
“It doesn’t matter if absences are authorised or unauthorised.
They all represent lost time in the classroom and a lost opportunity to learn”.
Attendance Traffic Light System
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In order for children to reach their full potential, high levels of attendance and punctuality are essential. It is important for children to ensure continuity of learning, establish a good work ethic, promote a sense of responsibility and a serious commitment to school.
National School Attendance Award
This is awarded to schools whose KS4 Autumn Term 2023 secondary attendance was in the top 10% or top 25% of all FFT secondary schools in similar circumstances. This is based on the proportion of FSM pupils from the January 2023 school census.
