All parents want their child to succeed. The research shows it is important to have a good education, as education is a crucial route in creating better opportunities in one's adult life.  Children only have one chance at school, therefore poor attendance has a significant impact on a child’s future. Good attendance is essential in society in highlights performing secondary schools.

If your child does not attend school regularly they will:

• struggle to keep up with schoolwork;

• miss out on important pieces of knowledge;

• miss out on the social aspects of school life;

• fail their exams due to missing knowledge.

Leigh Academies Trust and The Leigh UTC are committed to providing a full and efficient educational experience for all students and recognises this can only be achieved by supporting and promoting excellent school attendance for all. We expect our students to achieve at least 100% attendance.

• Leave of absence authorised by the school (such as time off for bereavement);

• Holidays authorised by the Principal (request forms available on school website);

• Illness - if agreed by attendance and supported by a Doctor’s note;

• Medical or dental appointment (must be arranged outside of school hours where possible);

• Religious observance;

• Off-site education organised by the Academy.

Any other form of absence will be unauthorised.

Absences where parents have not provided the school a reason for absence will be recorded as unauthorised. Examples of unauthorised absences include:

• Shopping trips

• Looking after a parent or sibling

• Parent being too unwell to bring their child into school

• Day off for birthdays

• Feeling tired

A child is deemed to be a Persistent Absentee if their attendance falls below 90%. The academy will consider students below 95% to be at risk. Students who fall into either of these categories will be monitored by the academy attendance teams and the Trust Attendance and Welfare Officer. 

A referral may be made to the local authority’s attendance service should attendance remain poor after academy and Trust Interventions.

Whilst the School will actively work with parents/carers to ensure that your child’s attendance does not fall below expectations, If your child does not attend school regularly a referral may be made to the local authority’s attendance service.  The Local Authority can take action against you. This can be through a Fixed Penalty Notice (a fine) or a summons to appear at a Magistrates Court.

Where penalty notices are imposed, regulations state that the penalty will be £120 to be paid within 28 days, reduced to £60 if paid within 21 days. Penalty notices are issued to each parent of each child. Failure to pay in full by the end of the 28-day period may result in prosecution by the local authority.

The parents / carers of any children who are absent must notify The Leigh UTC before 8.30am by texting 07860054465 or calling  01322626600, selecting option 1 attendance line.

Please leave a message stating your child’s full name, year group, reason for absence, nature of illness. You will need to make contact with us on every subsequent day that your child is absent from school. You can email: info@theleighutc.org.uk or call The Leigh UTC on 01322 626600 and select the option to communicate your child being absent from school.

Appointments should always be outside of school hours. Please ensure routine appointments (e.g. doctors, dentists, opticians) are scheduled for after 3.30pm on a school day or at weekends. If there are times when appointments during school time are necessary, please contact the Academy to inform the Attendance Team in advance and ensure your child brings in evidence of the appointment (e.g an appointment card or letter). Students should not be absent for the full day, we expect them to be in school either before or after the appointment.

You should not take your child on holiday during term time as it can be disruptive and detrimental to your child's education. If you feel that there are exceptional circumstances for taking your child out of school during term time, you will need to write to the Principal requesting the time off. The Principal will determine if there are exceptional circumstances relating to your request and inform you whether your request for leave of absence has been granted.  If you do not request permission to take your child out of school and do so regardless, your child’s absence will be recorded as unauthorised and The Local Authority can take action against you. This can be through a Fixed Penalty Notice (fine) or a summons to appear at a Magistrates Court.

Please note the following changes for Penalty Notices (Effective August 2024) In line with the Department for Education guidance 

The Attendance Scale below allows us to target support for students that drop below the Academy’s target of 96% attendance. Students at each stage will receive different levels of support to help them improve their overall attendance. This Attendance Scale is displayed on our Academy’s attendance board and in all Form Tutor rooms.

An attendance tracker for the entire academic year is included in your child’s planner. You will need to sign this at the end of each module and support the Academy to ensure that this remains at 96% or above throughout each module. Should you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact the Schools Attendance Officer.