Attendance
Attendance is one of the biggest factors that influences children’s achievement and when a child attends school regularly, they succeed. Arriving on time for school gives a positive start to the day, ensuring that children are ready to learn all day and that no learning is lost. We want all children to be happy, safe and supported at school to support their strong attendance.
Good attendance and punctuality are important life-skills that are highly valued by employers, colleges and universities and teaching students about the importance of good attendance is an important part of our curriculum.
Attendance is a legal requirement. Woodcote High School expects students to attend every day and has an attendance target of 97%.
Responsibility as a parent/carer
If you are a parent of a child of statutory age (between five and 16 years) who is registered at a school you are responsible for making sure s/he attends school regularly.
Why does attendance matter?
Attending school on a regular basis is the key to your child doing well at school and will set them up with good routines for later life and the working world, as well as give them the opportunity to:
- Make friends and feel included
- Learn new things and develop skills, Increase their confidence and self-esteem
- Improve social skills
- Achieve their potential and fulfil aspirations
- Every school day counts
- Research suggests for every 17 days missed from school, your child’s GCSE results will decrease by one grade.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is any absence that is approved by your Principal. These absence will be marked in the attendance register with an authorised absence code.
This is any absence that is not approved by the Principal. This can include:
- Absence for which a parent has not provided a reason
- Absence where the reason provided has not been accepted as justifiable or genuine by the Principal
- If your child arrives late after the close of registration
- If your child’s attendance falls below 90% we may ask for medical evidence before we are able to authorise any absence due to illness
- If medical evidence is not provided the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and we may need to hold an Attendance meeting to discuss your child’s attendance
- If your child’s attendance does not improve we may need to request the issuing of a Penalty Notice from the Local Authority following an informed monitoring period.
All absences must be reported by 8.20am on a daily basis. If your child is in a position to do so, they should attend in the afternoon.
Telephone the school on 020 8668 6464 option 1.
Or email [email protected]
Information should include:-
Your name
Your child’s name
Tutor group
Reason for absence
Appointments should be made out of school hours wherever possible. If this is not possible, please inform your child’s form tutor in advance by letter. Students should attempt to obtain an AM or PM mark to reduce the impact on attendance.
The law states that you do not have the right to take your child out of school during term time. The Local Education Authority works with schools to reduce the number of children missing school. Leave taken in term time, including family holidays, will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. Such unauthorised absences may lead to the school requesting that the Local Authority issue a penalty notice.
Only allowing time off school for genuine illness. Please speak to school if you think your child may be struggling to attend.
Sending your child to school for the pm session if they are well enough.
Attend school around medical appointments to obtain a registration mark.
Provide medication to the general office that can be accessed by your child throughout the school year if required.
Knowing the routines of the school day and ensuring they are prepared.
Speaking to your child about any worries and notifying school of any concerns.
Avoiding taking term time holidays.
Parents can email [email protected] to notify of lateness beyond the child’s control. Students who are late to school without reason will be set a lunch time detention.
