Government Guidance Updates 2023-24

Government Guidance Updates 2024 -25

Attendance – Penalty Notices (New Government legislation)

Wessex Learning Trust Policies can be found HERE

Benefits of High Attendance include:

• Good progress
• It gives students the best chance of being successful at school
• Evidence shows students make better progress and get better results than students with poor attendance. For example, in Year 11, an attendance rate of 90% results in underachievement at GCSE examinations by one grade
• It allows students to be able to be involved in all activities that the school runs
• It supports students to develop positive social relationships with friends and staff
• At the start of terms, particularly when classes are new, or where there are planned assessments being held at school, students miss out on key times in their education
• It promotes a good work ethic
• It supports a safe lifestyle

Wessex Learning Trust have a target of 96% attendance for all learners:

90% attendance equates to one session (half a day) absence per week. 90% attendance over five years equates to missing half a school year, which is a total of 190 sessions (95 days).

Good Time Keeping

Pupils can come into school from 8.30am and the school day starts promptly at 8.40 a.m. If a child arrives at school after 8.40 a.m. without prior arrangements having been agreed, they will be deemed late.  Registers close at 9.00 a.m. and arrival at school after this time, without prior approval or extenuating circumstances, will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Pupils arriving at school after 8.50 a.m. must enter through the main drive gate and report to the school office to be signed in by an adult. Pupils leaving school for any reason must report to the reception before they go so that we can ensure that they are signed out. Registers are taken each and every lesson and tutor time. Unexplained absences will be investigated by the attendance officer.

What is expected of Parents / Carers?

• To keep requests for your child to be absent to a minimum
• To offer a reason, or medical proof, for any period of absence, preferably before the absence or on the first day of absence
• To ensure that your child arrives at school on time, a reason should be offered for any lateness
• To work closely with the School to resolve any problems that may impede a child’s attendance
• To take family holidays during school holiday periods and be aware that requests for holidays during term time will be refused except in special/exceptional circumstances.
• To be aware of curriculum requirements and be especially vigilant with regards to attendance during important academic times such as assessment and examinations
• To support their child and recognise their successes and achievements

For more information regards your responsibility as a parent(s), please follow this link

What to do if Your Child is Ill.

• Please contact the school on the first day of absence before 8.30am.
• Please explain the reason for absence and contact the school every day with the reasons.
• If we don’t receive a phone call, we will phone to establish why your child is not in school. If we are unable to contact you, we will leave a message so that you can confirm the reason for absence

Request for Leave in Term Time

• Do not book holidays during term time*
• Please endeavour to not make routine medical and dental appointments during the school day
• Make sure your child understands that you do not approve of them missing school, but be on the alert for any particular reasons for non-attendance, such as problems with schoolwork or relationship issues that might be troubling them
• We ask for your support in helping your child arrive in school on time, as late arrival not only means your child is missing out, but can also interrupt the learning of others
• Take an interest in your child’s education; ask them about their day and praise and encourage their achievements at school. ClassCharts can be a helpful tool in recognising this
• Government regulations make it clear that parents do not have the right or entitlement to take their child out of school for any leave or absence during term-time. The Headteacher and a Governor may not grant any leave of absence during term-time.

*To request any leave of absence you are asked to complete a request form not less than 4 weeks before the planned absence. This is available from the School Office, or on the school website

To request leave please complete and return this form to the school for consideration:

Poor Attendance

• Where attendance is a concern, you may be invited to meet with the attendance officer, Head of House or senior leader to discuss this.
• Poor attendance can lead to a penalty notice fine or court proceedings.
• If you are having issues with your child’s attendance, we can offer help and support. Please talk to us. We can also ask other agencies to support you.

Attendance Stages

Listed below are the stages taken to support attendance issues. The ClassCharts help guide below will help in looking at your child’s attendance:

Please note that unauthorised term time holiday absence will be included in each stage of the attendance process.