Pilton Community College College Attendance Policy POLICY TITLE: STATUS: REVIEWED BY: College Attendance Policy College Policy Mr J Davies DATE of REVIEW: Spring 2014 (Approved by Directors 23.04.14) PHILOSOPHY Pilton Community College is committed to providing a full and efficient educational experience for all students. Regular pattern of non-attendance at College places a student at risk of underachievement, social exclusion and possibly personal risk. The link between attendance and achievement is clear. We believe that if students are to benefit from education, good attendance is critical. As a school/college we do all that we can to ensure maximum attendance for all students. Any problems that prevent full attendance will be identified and addressed as promptly as possible. It is the policy of our College to celebrate achievement. Our College will actively promote and encourage 100% attendance for all our students. Our College will give a high priority to conveying to parents and students the importance of regular and punctual attendance through our newsletter, prospectus, student planners, House notice boards and TV screens. We recognise that parents have a vital role to play and that there is a need to establish strong home-college links and communication systems that can be utilised whenever there is concern about attendance. If there are problems which affect a student's attendance we will investigate, identify and strive, in partnership with parents and students, to resolve those problems as quickly and efficiently as possible. We will adopt a clearly focused approach aimed at returning the student to full attendance at all times. When approached, we will work with the Education Welfare Service to investigate appropriate legal procedures. OBJECTIVES To strive to provide a curriculum that will support and encourage a positive attitude to attendance in all students. To ensure that every student has access to the full range of educational opportunities provided by the College. To encourage full attendance and punctuality.
To record and monitor attendance and absenteeism and apply appropriate strategies to minimise absences. To acknowledge and reward a successful record of attendance. To ensure a consistent approach throughout the College. STATUTORY DUTY OF SCHOOLS The Education Act 1996 requires parents or guardians to ensure their children receive efficient, full-time education, either by regular attendance at College or otherwise. Schools are responsible for recording student attendance twice a day; once at the start of the morning session and once during the afternoon session. An entry must be made in the attendance register for all students of compulsory school age who are on the College's admission roll. We will ensure that all staff are aware of the requirements of the registration process and that they receive training on registration regulations and the law relating to attendance. College must have two registers: Admission register - which is the College roll Attendance register - which is called twice a day. When a student is absent the attendance register must show whether the absence is authorised or unauthorised. Only the College, not the parent/carers, can authorise the absence and may require medical evidence to support authorisation. The EWO service may instigate legal proceedings in cases where absences are unauthorised. Students must attend unless they are too ill to do so or their absence meets the College s discretionary reasons such as compassionate leave of absence, religious observance or where special educational requirements have been made. In cases of persistent illness absence, parents may be asked to provide evidence in order for absences to be authorised. Parents/carers should not expect to take annual holiday in term time. Absence will not be authorised for shopping, looking after brothers or sisters, birthdays, resting after a late night or visiting relatives. PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES Parents are legally responsible for ensuring that a child of compulsory school age attends College regularly and punctually. We will work towards ensuring that all students feel supported and valued. We will encourage parents/carers to be actively involved in promoting their child's attendance. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES To attend College regularly. To be punctual and appropriately prepared for the College day. To inform their tutor or member of staff of any problems or events that may prevent them from attending College. To complete all outstanding work following an absence.
PARENT / CARER RESPONSIBILITIES To ensure their child attends College and values their own learning and the learning of others. To contact the College as early as possible on the first day of absence whenever a student is unable to attend College. To ensure the College is notified of the reasons for any absence. This may be by phone in the first instance but should always be confirmed in writing at the first opportunity. To ensure their child arrives at College on time and well prepared for learning with the correct equipment and homework completed. To contact the appropriate member of staff to discuss in confidence any problem that may prevent their child from attending College. COLLEGE RESPONSIBILITIES To ensure efficient and accurate recording of attendance information. To help parents and students to understand their responsibilities to ensure full attendance at College, as required by law. To instigate first day calling for absent students. To instigate rapid and confidential action on issues which prevent a student from attending College. To recognize and celebrate excellent attendance through merit awards, certificates and assemblies. To provide attendance data to parents / carers as appropriate including annual report and monitoring letters to students whose attendance falls below 90% To engage EWO involvement when appropriate To provide attendance data to and liaise with the Education Welfare Service in all matters concerning attendance and issues related to student well being. To work collaboratively with external agencies to overcome attendance problems. These agencies may include: Educational Psychology Service, Social Services, Youth Services, Medical services, Youth Offending Team and Special Educational Needs Service. To provide regular attendance data to Directors for monitoring purposes. ATTENDANCE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE The Principal - is responsible for overseeing the Attendance Policy and reporting to the Governing Body. The Assistant Principal maintain an overview of attendance patterns and targets. Heads of House/Assistant Heads of House are responsible for ensuring the monitoring of attendance in tutor and year groups. To review attendance regularly with their team. Monitor individual student s attendance and liaise with group tutors and Educational Welfare Officer. To make home contact after an absence of three consecutive days. To monitor attendance through attendance checks at least once a half term. Form tutors- Promote the importance of full attendance, impose appropriate sanctions on those arriving late to College with no good cause Every Member of Staff- registers are to be taken in each lesson throughout the day to monitor attendance and identify any attendance patterns.
Attendance Officer will oversee first day home contact for students using automated calling software and issue attendance letters on behalf of Head/Assistant Heads of House. PROCEDURES Registration closes at 9.00am and 2.10pm. Students arriving after this time will be marked as late. A student who is late to College on more than three occasions in a half term will receive a Pastoral detention. If a student arrives later than 9.30am, the late will be recorded as an unauthorised absence. All students needing to leave the College during the College day will require a letter from a parent / carer and must sign out at the main office. Any student leaving the college site without permission will be recorded as an unauthorised absence, parents will be notified and the circumstances will be investigated. Un-notified absences will become unauthorised absence if not resolved within ten College days. Where there is a concern about medical authorisation of absence a doctor s note or appointment card may be produced as evidence and the case referred to the College nurse. Notification letters are issued to parents/carers when a student s attendance falls below 90%. Automated calling procedures will be instigated if students have not arrived by Period 1. HOLIDAYS The College subscribes to the view that there is a clear correlation between attendance and achievement. The College holiday dates are published a year in advance and it is in students best interests that parents/carers book their holidays during the College holidays..from the 1st September 2013 a change in the law means that schools are not able to authorise any requests for absence relating to holidays in term time. These changes reinforce the government s view that every minute of every school day is vital and that pupils should only be granted authorised absence by the school in exceptional circumstances e.g. illness, exclusions, or due to other unavoidable causes. Holidays taken in term time because they are cheaper would not normally count as exceptional circumstances. In exceptional circumstances, a request must be made in writing to the Principal. A holiday form should accompany the request and can be obtained from the main office. LEGAL ACTION Where there is serious and persistent non-attendance (with a threshold of 85% attendance and/or 10 unauthorised absences) the College will work with the Education Welfare service to initiate legal proceedings. Attendance is essential in order for students to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. Our college will send a clear message that if a student is absent, they will be missed. We will consult with all members of the College community and the Education Welfare Service in developing and maintaining our Whole School Attendance Policy.
Attendance will be an important feature of the College Improvement Plan and will be reviewed annually. EVALUATING, REFLECTING ON POLICY The effectiveness of this policy will be monitored in the following ways: - Reviewed every half term using persistent absentee data - Case studies evaluated with EWO - Student voice activity - Review meeting with Staff and Directors DATE OF NEXT REVIEW: SPRING 2015