Attendance
Attendance Matters
Hillsview Academy (HVA) is committed to maximising educational opportunities and achievement for all students. For students to gain the best from their time at HVA, it is vital that they achieve excellent attendance and punctuality. We strive for 100% attendance for all students. HVA actively promotes good attendance and discourages unjustified absence. HVA recognises that promoting good attendance and punctuality prepares students for the disciplines of adult working life.
At Hillsview Academy excellent attendance and punctuality is our aim for every student. Full attendance maximises learning opportunities and parents/carers have a vital role in promoting good attitudes in attendance. We ask for support from parents/carers to ensure that their children are present at every opportunity, arrive on time and to avoid allowing children to stay at home unnecessarily, or taking them out of school without authorisation. The overall aim is to keep children safe and ensure their welfare needs are met in accordance with safeguarding practice. Evidence shows that students who attend school regularly make better progress both academically and socially than those that don’t.
We monitor student’s attendance closely and will follow up unexplained absence with parents/carers, by telephone or by home visit. Where a student’s attendance record reaches a concerning level, we will contact you to discuss ways in which the Academy can support you and your child.
Our Academy attendance target of 100% is our aim for all students with 96% the minimum that we expect. Every lesson counts and it is this commitment to learning that will have a positive effect on student’s examinations and their future prospects in education, employment and training.
What Hillsview Academy expects from Parent/Guardians
- To ensure their child attends regularly, punctually, dressed in full uniform and equipped to learn.
- To ensure their child attends every day the Academy is open.
- To avoid keeping their child away from the Academy for any reason other than illness or other authorised explanation (see overleaf).
- To avoid arranging holidays during term time
- To inform the Academy’s (Attendance Office) if their child is unable to attend (by 8.30am where possible), including the reason for absence.
- Parents/carers should contact the Academy on each day of absence.
Term time absence
Our academy policy is not to authorise holidays in term time, unless there are exceptional reasons. Absence in term time can damage a child’s education and future life prospects, particularly for those pupils with existing attendance problems, struggling with education or being absent at critical times in the school year. Hillsview Academy works in partnership with the Local Authority and is committed to working together to manage and reduce school absence due to leave during term time.
Under section 444(A) of the Education Act 1996, the Local Authority may issue Penalty Notices to parents of children with unauthorised absences from school. The fines are issued to each parent, for each child, and are £60 if paid within 21 days, rising to £120 if paid between 21 and 28 days. Failure to pay the fine will result in a prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court under Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996.
Leave of absence request forms must be completed prior to any leave of absence taken.
Attendance Procedures
Please click here for the attendance policy
Attendance Team
Attendance Officer – Miss Olive Fletcher (01642) 374798
Attendance Administrator – Miss Katie Marshall (01642) 374798