Attendance

Attendance is taken very seriously at South Bromsgrove High School and we are working hard to help students achieve 100% attendance.

We believe that;

- Regular attendance promotes the effective and continuous learning of all students. 

- Regular attendance promotes positive friendships and well-being.

- Failing to attend school on a regular basis is a safeguarding matter.

- Good habits of attendance and punctuality will assist to develop self-discipline and responsibility in preparation for future employment.

If you achieve 100% attendance - 190 days - you still have an amazing 175 days of holiday.

Punctuality

Lateness = Lost Learning = Minutes amount to days

Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring that their son/daughter arrives at the school punctually. Students should arrive at the school for no later than 8.45am.  Registration begins at 8.50am and form tutors electronically take the first register of the day. Students must report to the reception office to sign in if they arrive after this time. Late arrivals without a legitimate reason will be given a lunchtime detention. If a student needs to leave school early, they need to bring a note to show their form tutor and make sure they show the note to reception and sign out when they leave.

Being late 10 mins every day for one year is equal to 33 hours - approximately 6 days!

Reporting an Absence

If your child is unable to attend school you should:

• Contact us as soon as possible on the first day of absence, preferably before 9.00am. Please make sure you state your child’s name, form group and the reason for absence.
• Or, you can call into school and report an absence to reception or email the school using the following email: attendance@southbromsgrove.worcs.sch.uk
• Continue to notify the school every day that your child is absent.

If your child is absent we will:

• Telephone or text you on the first day of absence if we have not heard from you. (Please ensure that you keep us informed of any change of contact details).
• Invite you in to discuss the situation with our Attendance Intervention Coordinator if attendance becomes an issue.
• The Attendance Intervention Coordinator may visit you at home to discuss absences.
• May refer the matter to the Education Investigation Service if attendance moves below 90%.

Good Attendance

What does your child's percentage attendance mean? Parents/carers often become confused about what good attendance is.

As a school our target attendance percentage is 96%.

Research has shown that 17 days absence in a year results in a drop of one grade at GCSE

Reasons for absence

Authorised absences are mornings or afternoons away from school for a good reason and that are permitted under government guidelines like illness, medical/dental appointments which unavoidably fall in school time, emergencies or other unavoidable causes. Medical and Dental appointments, where possible, should be made for after school or during school holidays. The school understands that this isn’t always possible, however, students should attend school prior to or following a medical/dental appointment and avoid a full day’s absence.

Unauthorised absences are those which the school does not consider reasonable and for which no “leave” has been given. This type of absence can lead to the School and the Education Investigation Service using sanctions and/or legal proceedings.   This includes:

• Parents/carers keeping children off school unnecessarily
• truancy before or during the school day
• absences which have never been properly explained
• children who arrive at school too late to get a mark
• shopping, looking after other children or birthdays
• day trips and holidays in term time which have not been agreed. 
• continuing absences with no medical evidence provided

Holidays    

Taking your child out of school during term time could be detrimental to your child’s educational progress. A student who takes 10 days absence will only attain 94.7% attendance in the year. They will also miss 50 hours of education.  

There is NO entitlement for parents to take their child out of school during term time. However, you may apply to the school for leave of absence if you believe there are exceptional circumstances.

If the absence is not authorised and the holiday/leave of absence is taken any way, the case will be referred to the Education Investigation Service and in line with Worcestershire County Council Policy, unauthorised absence may be subject to a penalty notice fine of £60 payable per parent, per child, increasing to £120 each if not paid within 21 days.  If no payment is received within 28 days this may lead to court proceedings.

An application for leave of absence can be obtained from the school office or downloaded below.

Related Documents

Absence Request Form