Attendance - Queensbury Academy

Attendance

Research has shown that regular attendance and good punctuality are crucial factors in students achieving their full potential in education. At Queensbury Academy we wish to work in partnership with parents and carers and so are seeking your full support in ensuring that your child attends school every day and on time. We are always pleased to work together with parents/carers in resolving any difficulties, but we are also committed to improving attendance levels at school.

How to report absence Years 7-11

If you know your son or daughter is going to be absent, please use one of the following methods to inform us:

  • Call the Attendance Line on 01582-601241 – Option 1
  • Contact School through your child’s Edulink account

If leaving a telephone or Edulink message, please include the following information:

  • The name, form and year group of your child.
  • Your name and contact details.
  • Reason for absence.

Please inform us daily for any absences.

Please do not report any absences through the admin email or Reception or your tutor.

If your son or daughter is absent from school and we have not received notification we will endeavour to contact you. If we are unable to make contact with you for three consecutive days we may undertake a home visit, contact social services or the Police in order to ensure your child is safe. Good communication between home and school prevents unnecessary worry and work for all of us.

 

How to report absence: Years 12 & 13

  • Students, please phone the absence line on 01582-601241 - Option 1 by 8:40am each morning of your absence.
  • Contact School through your Edulink account
  • A parent will need to confirm they are aware of this absence.

 

The target attendance figure for all pupils is a minimum of 97% attendance. Based on current attendance figures your child will be placed in one of the following groups below.
 

Group 1: No Concern-Green Group
The child attends for 97% – 100% of the time.

Group 2: Concern-Yellow Group
The child attends for 95% – 96.9% of the time.

Group 3: Risk of Underachievement-Amber Group
The child attends for 93% – 94.9% of the time.

Group 4: Severe Risk of Underachievement-Pink Group
The child attends for 90% – 92.9% of the time.

Group 5: Extreme Risk of Underachievement-Red Group
The child attends for 0% – 89.9% of the time.


Your child will be informed of their Attendance Group by their form tutor. Queensbury Academy are monitoring students closely whose attendance is falling and will contact you if your child’s attendance does not improve. As a parent/carer you are committing an offence if you fail to ensure that your child attends school regularly and punctually, even if they are missing school without your knowledge. It is important that parents/carers monitor single day’s absence, as these days soon add up to weeks. You can monitor your child’s attendance via Edulink.

Please note that we will actively pursue low attendance with the use of penalty notices and where necessary prosecutions. If your son or daughter has an absence rate of 5% or greater, which is not supported by documentation authorising exemption, then each adult that has responsibility for a student’s attendance is at risk of prosecution. As a rule, Queensbury Academy does not authorise extended holiday leave, and we issue fixed penalty notices when cases arise. An example of a fixed penalty notice letter for unauthorised holiday is included in the links below.
Please note that the school gates open at 8:30am and tutor time is at 8:40am. Any student arriving after that time will be recorded as being late for school and must sign in via Central reception before going to class.

There is a clear link between success at school and a high level of attendance. Therefore, unless your child is too unwell to attend, and needs to recover at home, please support the school by ensuring regular attendance at school. Attendance is linked to attainment and is key to your child’s success. Every day your child is absent impacts on their education. Evidence shows 97% students with attendance over 95% (missing fewer than ten days of school over the academic year) achieved 5 A* – C grades at GCSE. Of those whose attendance was below 90% (missing more than nineteen days of school over the academic year) only 54.5% achieved the same grades.

 
The message is equally important with punctuality. The school day begins at 8.40am, all students should attend tutor line up at this time.

Over a year lateness leads to a loss of learning:

  • 5 minutes late each day = 3 days lost
  • 10 minutes late each day = 6.5 days lost
  • 15 minutes late each day = 10 days lost

Attnedance2

Attendance diamond

Strategies for improving attendance

If you are concerned about your child’s attendance, there are important steps that you can take:

  • Ensure your child attends every day, on time, equipped and ready to learn. Prepare for the school day and pack bags the night before.
  • Establish good bedtime and morning routines.

Ensure school has up-to-date addresses and telephone numbers, Including an emergency contact.

  •  We will contact you if your child is absent and you have not contacted school. This ensures that the absence is quickly identified.
  • If your child is ill, contact school on the first day of absence and every day thereafter until they are well enough to return to school.
  • If no contact is received regarding the absence, it is recorded as un-authorised. Ultimately school is responsible for deciding if the absence is acceptable or not. Only genuine absence will be authorised. You will be asked to provide medical evidence eg; appointment card/text/letter.
  • Ensure that medical appointments are made outside of school time were ever possible.
  • Avoid trivial absences such as, ‘buying new shoes’ as this would not be accepted as a reasonable absence.
  • Holidays should not be taken in school time. Any Leave of Absence can only be agreed by the Head Teacher and only agreed where there are exceptional circumstances.
  • Respond to letters or telephone calls regarding attendance and punctuality.
  • Address any concerns early. Contact your child’s form tutor if you are experiencing difficulty in getting your child into school.

Thank you for working in partnership with us to achieve the highest possible levels of attendance and punctuality at Queensbury Academy.
 

Linked Documents

Attendance Policy

Family holidays in term time.pdf | Powered by Box

CBC Penalty notice (Attendance) Access and Inclusion Code of Conduct.pdf | Powered by Box