Attendance

Attendance

It is the parent and carers responsibility to ensure your child, when of statutory school age (Year 7 – Year 11) has regular and punctual attendance at the school where they are registered. Therefore, should your child fail to attend school regularly without authorisation from the school legal action may be taken against the parents/carers, which could result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or even prosecution. The current government threshold for regular attendance is 90% (10% absence meaning 19 full school days lost and 90 individual lessons missed) however, the national average for 2017 is now above 95%.

There is clear evidence linking poor attendance to low levels of achievement,
both nationally and within this school:

Students who miss less than 5% of school, over 85% achieve 5 or more GCSE’s at levels 9 – 4 (A*- C)
Students who miss between 10% and 20% , only 35% achieve 5 or more good GCSE’s
Students who miss 50% or more, only 3% managed to achieve 5 or more good GCSE’s

COVID-19 Quick Guide September 2020

Attendance Policy

Attendance at Bishops'

Notifying School of Absence

To be sure of the safety and whereabouts of our students we ask that parents/carers ring school by 9am on the morning of the first day of absence to notify us of the situation (tel: 01244 313806 or e-mail attendance@bishopschester.co.uk).

If the absence extends beyond two days, parents/carers should ring again to keep the school informed. On return to school, a letter signed by the parents/carers is required to confirm the reason for absence and the dates involved. We ask that this letter be brought to school on the first day back.

Holidays During Term Time

Bishops’ strongly urges parents not to book holidays during term time as this can have a detrimental effect on a student’s progress and attainment. There is no automatic entitlement in law to time off school and we are unable to authorise any absence for holidays during term time. Absences for exceptional circumstances may be granted, further information can be found in our Attendance Policy.

What is an Unauthorised Absence?

Failure to ensure your child attends school or other education provision arranged by the school regularly, resulting in unauthorised absence reaching 15% or more.
Allowing your child to take leave of absence in term time without the authorisation of the Headteacher.
Failing to return your child to school on an agreed date after an authorised leave of absence.
Your child is found out of school, without permission, on two truancy sweeps within the same school year.
Your child persistently arrives late for school after the register closes

Illness and Medical Appointments

Medical Appointments

Every effort must be made to arrange appointments and outings after school hours, at weekends or during school holidays. If medical or dental appointments have to be made in school time, an appointment card or a letter from parents/carers should be shown to the Form Tutor and then handed to the school reception prior to leaving school.

Stage One

Trigger normally >4% absence (Stage 1 letter sent).
General concern about attendance. This letter is designed to alert parents/carers of accumulated absences and effects on the child education. It informs that close absence management has begun and requires acknowledgement that the letter has been received.

Stage Two

Trigger normally >7% absence or high number of broken weeks (Stage 2 letter sent).
The attendance is becoming a major concern and is approaching the Persistent Absence (PA) criteria. No more absences will be authorised without medical evidence (this can include a doctor’s note, prescription or medical packaging which clearly displays the child’s name) and the school EWO officer may request further conversations/meetings with the parent/carer to help improve attendance. Parental acknowledgement of the letter must be received and logged.

Stage Three

>10% absence classed as Persistent Absence (PA) (Stage 3 letter sent).
A letter will be sent requesting the parent/carer to attend an Attendance Panel Meeting (APM) in addition to a full breakdown of all absences. This meeting is designed to offer support and guidance for improving attendance and will result in a voluntary Parent/Carer Contract being discussed and written-up. There will be a fixed period of time given for improvement.

Failure to attend this meeting may lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) being issued.

Final Warning

It’s clear that the above strategies have failed to improve attendance and there is no reasonable excuse for continued deteriorated since the APM. At this stage you will be notified in writing that the matter is being formally referred to the Local Education Welfare Service for further proceedings to be instigated which may result in possible legal action.

Attendance

Attendance at Bishops'

Notifying School of Absence

Holidays During Term Time

What is an Unauthorised Absence?

Illness and Medical Appointments

Medical Appointments

Absence Management

Year 7 - 11

Policies & Procedures

The School Day