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Attendance

Excellent attendance to school is essential for the wellbeing and progress of children and young adults. The majority of students experiencing mild illness should be attending school as normal. If you are unsure if you should be sending your child to school, please check with the latest guidance from the DFE on mild illness.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Reporting Absence

If your child will be absent then we ask the parent or carer to contact us on each day of absence before school starts at 8.45am. A reason must be provided.

You can contact school using our online school Gateway system or calling our absence line.

Telephone: 01225 762637

Email: absence@jogschool.org

Support

If you are concerned about your child’s attendance, please contact the school to discuss your concerns. Any problems that get in the way of full attendance need to be identified and addressed as quickly as possible. We will work with and support parents and carers in this aim.

Impact of Less than 100% Attendance

In our experience:

  • If a student's attendance rate is 100% they are likely to achieve or exceed what we would normally predict.
  • If a student's attendance rate falls below 90% they are likely to achieve an average of one grade lower than expected in all subjects.
  • If a student's attendance rate falls below 80% they are likely to achieve an average of two grades lower than expected in all subjects.

‘Central to raising standards in education and ensuring all pupils can fulfil their potential is an assumption so widely understood that it is insufficiently stated – pupils need to attend school regularly to benefit from their education. Missing out on lessons leaves children vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less in both primary and secondary school.’ (Department for Education, 2017)

Student absence request

Children are not entitled to holidays in term time. Family holidays should be taken during school holiday periods.

The school can only grant leave of absence during term time for exceptional circumstances. Any request for leave must be made in writing for the attention of the Headteacher in advance. We follow the Local Authority’s guidelines to address attendance which may include the use of statutory powers which involves the use of Penalty Notices and Court prosecution.

Fines of £120 per parent/carer may be issued where unauthorised leave has been taken during term time.

Parents wishing the school to consider granting leave of absence in school term time should read these notes carefully and then complete the Absence Request Form. This form should be sent to the school in time for the request to be considered well before the desired period of absence. Parents are strongly advised not to finalise any arrangements before receiving the school’s decision on their request. In any event the request form must be received by the school at least two weeks before the departure date to allow sufficient time for appropriate consideration.

The granting of leave of absence in school term time is, by law, a matter for consideration and decision by the school. There is no automatic right to any leave in term time. The Department for Education (DfE) and our policy is that family holidays should not be taken in school term time. Where such requests are made, for the leave to be granted, the Headteacher will decide if there are exceptional circumstances.

Each case will be considered individually and on its own merits. Parents need, therefore, to consider very carefully before making any request for leave of absence the demands of the National and wider School Curriculum especially around examination stages.

Absence during Term Time

Children must not be absent from school for:

• Day trips

• Shopping

• Birthdays

• Baby Sitting

• Parent/carer or sibling illness

More information