Attendance Statement

The responsibility for good attendance is shared between parents, pupils and the school. Pupils need to attend school regularly to maintain consistent progress and achievement in both curriculum knowledge and understanding, and personal and social skills.
 
Headteachers will only authorise leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. If a headteacher grants a leave request, it will be for the headteacher to determine the length of time that the child can be away from school. Even in cases where exceptional leave of absence is sought, the school will consider a child’s progress, attainment and attendance pattern and may refuse to authorise absence. Leave will not be granted for the purposes of a family holiday as there are 190 statutory school days in one year, thus leaving 175 days available to use for holidays. Therefore Governors believe that sufficient time is available for holidays during school holiday time.

What is persistent absence?

We appreciate that children become unwell and need to take time off, however when children are well, they should be in school.  Attendance is expected to be 96% or above.  If your child takes too much time off school, they will become categorised as PA or persistently absent. 

Attendance below 90% = persistent absence.

Missing school will make your child fall behind in lessons and will impact their academic progress and achievement.

This table shows how many days missed each half–term will make your child a PA student:

Severe absence

If your child has 50% or more absence, they will be considered to have severe absence. We will continue to do everything we can to support you but will also seek legal advice and action.  

Your local council can give each parent a fine of £60, which rises to £120 each if you do not pay within 21 days. If you do not pay the fine after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child’s absence from school.

Please speak to a member of staff if your child is persistently absent from school.