The regular attendance of school is intrinsically linked to academic success, and ensuring excellent attendance is a high priority for St. Mary's C.E. Middle School. 

We expect all students to attend school regularly so that they are able to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. We recognise that excellent attendance is intrinsically linked to academic achievement and progress and there is clear evidence to show that students who have regular absence, patterns of unauthorised absence and high levels of absence for minor illness are unlikely to achieve their academic potential. We expect all of our students to aspire to 100% attendance and appreciate the full support of parents and carers in encouraging this. The minimum level of attendance for our school is 95% and we keep parents updated regularly about progress to this level. St Mary’s prioritises the monitoring, support and robust action needed to secure high levels of attendance and works in close partnership with the local authority to place matters before the court in circumstances where parents/carers do not ensure that their child attends school regularly.

Importance of Good Attendance

The table below shows the impact that poor attendance can have over one year of your child’s education.

 

What are we doing to improve attendance?

St Mary’s is committed to supporting students and families to help raise attendance. Some of the strategies that are currently being used are:

-Building a culture that makes good attendance everyone’s responsibility – teachers and tutors take responsibility for attendance

-We strive for full-time attendance for all. Part-time timetables are used carefully, are regularly reviewed and are subject to a clear strategy to achieve full-time education.

-We continuously monitor attendance data to identify problems and offer support early

-Letters to raise concerns about attendance are sent to families as necessary (using the Wessex attendance toolkit)

-Half-termly attendance statements are sent to all pupils/families

-We phone and meet with pupils and families who require support

-We provide a morning and afternoon check-in for pupils who require support with their attendance  

School Holidays

Parents do not have the right to take their child out of school during term time for holidays, and the school, as a rule, does not authorise such absences. Taking holidays in term time will affect your child’s schooling as much as any other absence and we expect parents to help us by not taking children away in school time. There is no automatic entitlement to time off in school time for holidays.

Any period of leave taken without the agreement of the school, or in excess of that agreed, will be classed as unauthorised and may attract sanctions such as a Penalty Notice.

Head teachers have the discretion to grant leave, but they should only do so in exceptional circumstances. If a Head teacher grants a leave request, it will be for them to determine the length of time that the child can be away from school.

Exceptional circumstances may include:

• When a family needs to spend time together because of an immediate family member’s bereavement, crisis or serious illness
• Funeral of immediate family member
• Children of service personnel about to go on deployment (permission would be considered as long as the request is accompanied by a letter from the Commanding Officer)
• One day of absence could be authorised for a wedding of an immediate family member and the invitation has been provided as evidence
• One off sporting events/performing arts competitions, if the child is participating and is at county standard or above and a letter has been provided from the performing arts/sports regional governing body as evidence.

We work with Wessex MAT and follow local and national attendance procedures and guidelines.

Government guidance - Please use this link to view government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence

Dorset Council guidance - Please use this link to view Dorset guidance: School attendance and absence

Wessex Multi Academy Trust - Attendance Policy: Attendance Policy

Under the Education Act of 1993, the school is obliged to compile and publish accurate rates of absenteeism each year. Guidance to school has been strengthened and the Department of Education now states that “Headteachers may not grant leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances”. It is therefore highly unlikely that requests for holiday absence will be granted during term time and will therefore be recorded as unauthorised absence. Please telephone the school if you feel that exceptional circumstances would apply to your request.

Application for absence