Attendance

100% attendance is vitally important. Your child can only succeed both academically and socially if they attend all the time. Please be aware of the following information:

Missing this number of weeks is going to affect attainment. In recent years at this school there has been a clear correlation between good attendance and excellent results (with excellent results classed as achieving 5 GCSEs grade A*-C which include English and Maths).

Whilst specific numbers vary each year, as a rough guide:

• Around 73%-75% of pupils who had an attendance of 98%-100% achieved excellent results

• This lowers to around 55%-65% of pupils achieving excellent results with an attendance range of 95%-97%

• Only around 47% of pupils with an attendance of 90% are achieving excellent results.

• This drops to around 30% for pupils with attendance below 90%

Whilst it invariably varies for each individual, our data shows that there is a clear and strong link between good attendance and excellent results.

And whilst there may be exceptions, in general it is important for our youngsters to achieve their excellent results in order to increase their earning potential when they enter the world of work.

Even better news for pupils who are looking to get the top grades – pupils leaving with 5 ‘A’ grade GCSEs can potentially, over their working life, earn £350,000 more than those leaving with 5 ‘C’s.

When absences do occur:

• You must notify the school as soon as possible if your child is away and send a note in to the mentor to explain their absence when they return.

• If we do not receive a reason for the absence, it will be recorded as unauthorised.

• If your child has ten sessions of unauthorised absence you may receive a penalty notice.

• Term time holidays are not permitted and will not be authorised. The Headteacher may authorise a term time holiday under extremely exceptional circumstances and only if the parent has submitted a letter to the Headteacher.

• If your child’s attendance falls below 95% the school will not authorise any further absences without medical evidence (e.g. Doctor’s appointment card, copy of prescription or evidence of a chronic condition).

Please refer to the Attendance Policy for further information.