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Attendance and Absence

Unplanned absence

The pupil’s parent/carer must notify the school of the reason for the absence on each day of an unplanned absence by 8:55am or as soon as practically possible by calling the academy office on 01424 852326 and selecting the attendance line to speak to the attendance officer.

We will mark absence due to illness as authorised unless the academy has a genuine concern about the authenticity of the illness.

If the authenticity of the illness is in doubt, the academy may ask the pupil’s parent/carer to provide medical evidence, such as a doctor’s note, prescription, appointment card or other appropriate form of evidence. We will not ask for medical evidence unnecessarily.

If the academy is not satisfied about the authenticity of the illness, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and parents/carers will be notified.

Planned Absence

Attending a medical or dental appointment will be counted as authorised if the pupil’s parent/carer notifies the academy in advance of the appointment. Please see above for evidence requests if the academy has a genuine concern about the authenticity of the appointment.

If a pupil is present at registration but has a medical appointment during the session in question, no absence needs be recorded for that session.

We encourage parents/carers to make medical and dental appointments out of academy hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the pupil should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary.

The pupil’s parent/carer must also apply for other types of term-time absence as far in advance as possible of the requested absence.

Parents should request any leave of absence by contacting the academy office and requesting to complete a withdrawal from education form.

Lateness and punctuality

A pupil who arrives late:

  • Before the register has closed will be marked as late
  • After the register has closed will be marked as absent

If a pupil arrives after the register has closed this will (be) an unauthorised absence unless prior details about the absence have been shared and authorised by the principal.

Attendance of pupils is monitored on a fortnightly basis within an attendance meetings with the principal and attendance officer. Where concerns are identified in relation to a pupil’s attendance letters are sent to parents and follow up meetings arranged to discuss attendance and put in place support as required.