pupils must aim to have a minimum attendance of 95%.

Every minute at school is vital. It is a legal requirement for students to attend school except in case of illness or with the permission of the Headmaster to be absent (authorised absence).

Persistent absence, (attendance below 90%) may result in referral to the Local Authority Education Welfare Officer (EWO). Absences are shared with the local authority, who may issue a penalty notice for poor attendance.

Planned absences: 

• Requests for absence for holidays, visits and the like will not be authorised.
• All appointments should be made outside of school hours. We understand this is not always possible. If an absence is anticipated, for example a medical appointment, then inform the attendance team as soon as possible on absence@northcestrian.co.uk and provide evidence, e.g. an appointment cards/letter to enable the attendance team to authorise the absence.
• Requests for leave of absence due to exceptional circumstances, for example, attending a family funeral, should be made by completing a Leave of Absence Form in advance. Please complete the Leave of Absence Form below, allowing 2 weeks for this to be actioned.
• As a school, we fully endorse British Values. Therefore, in respect to other people’s faith, pupils will be given authorised absence for religious observation. Requests should be made in advance by completing a Leave of Absence Form. To be fair and consistent, the headmaster may request confirmation of a requirement for observation from an appropriate religious leader.

UNPLANNED ABSENCES EG. ILLNESS

• Parents are asked to contact the school every day of the pupil's absence from school due to illness or an emergency. The best way to report is via the Arbor parent portal, by phoning school and leaving a message on the dedicated absence reporting service or to email absence@northcestrian.co.uk. Please ensure that you report the pupil’s name, their year group/form and reason for absence.
• Special instructions, e.g. after medical issues, should also be sent in writing/email to the form tutor.

School work during a period of extended illness / absence

• We always suggest that convalescence, to speed up the return to school, is the best course of action.
• There is no requirement to complete schoolwork during a period of illness. However, we trust parents to make a judgement on whether requesting some work may well support mental health and wellbeing may well be useful, reducing worries surrounding falling behind, for instance. We advise parents to help their child to keep in touch with school events and maintain some sort of contact with friends.
• Rest assured that each teacher will assess the need and content to catch up on their return to class.
• The Knowledge Maps are the best place to start, e.g. reviewing previous & current prep from Arbor and reading ahead to the next section. Other suggestions can be found here.
• These are useful learning opportunities that can go alongside the essential rest and recuperation that must take priority at home, including completing Cultural Capital and Character opportunities found in the newsletter, and by using the Information and Guidance found in the Pupil Absence section of the school website.
• For longer absences, please contact the Head of Year, who will collate the appropriate specific work as appropriate. If an illness absence moves over 15 school days, school will inform the local council in order to ascertain further support.
• The Government’s guidelines can be read at https://www.gov.uk/illness-child-education