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We love seeing our students every day! Regular attendance is about so much more than academic progress- it is about nurturing the whole child. When your child is here, they are growing in ways that go far beyond the classroom:
- Building Friendships: In school is where children connect, learn empathy, and find a true sense of belonging among their peers.
- Learning Life Skills: Showing up on time every day builds great habits- like responsibility and time management- that will serve them for life.
- Growing Resilience: Navigating everyday challenges with the support of friends and teachers helps students build confidence and emotional strength.
- Finding Their Spark: Celebrating achievements and trying new activities helps students discover their unique talents and build a positive self-image.
Good attendance is not just a number to us. It is the steady foundation that allows your child to thrive, build lasting social skills, and step confidently into the outside world.
If you have any questions or concerns or need support with your child’s attendance please contact us.
How can we support good attendance together?
In school
- Interventions in school to discuss worries and offer mentoring and wellbeing support
- Rewards for good attendance.
- Regular communication from teachers and support staff.
- Flexible approaches to support individual needs
- Secure relationships
- School community
- Enrichment activities
- Parent/Carer events
- Access to external support where needed
Within Families
- Promote attendance at home to encourage your child to attend school everyday
- Have set routines in the morning or evenings to make the transition into school as stress free as possible
- Communicate with school any worries about your child or their school attendance
- Encourage your child to attend school even if they feel slightly unwell
Our Attendance Team
Amy Cook – Assistant Principal Attendance Champion
Molly Dowson – Attendance Learning Mentor Attendance Champion
Toni McDermott and Catherine Larke – Attendance Offers Attendance Champion
Our Inclusion Officers, Year Leaders and Learning Mentors are also available to support students with concerns around school attendance.
You can also get in touch with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Team in school, or your child’s Base Group Tutor (BGT).
Year 7
Miss Gissing (Inclusion Officer) and Miss Drury (Learning Mentor)
Year 8
Miss Tricker (Head of Year) and Miss Jay (Learning Mentor)
Year 9
Miss Daynes (Inclusion Officer) and Mrs Cullum (Learning Mentor)
Year 10
Mr Hammond (Inclusion Officer) and Mrs Brader (Learning Mentor)
Year 11
Miss Thorrington (Inclusion Officer), Mrs Turner and Miss Turner (Learning Mentors)
Every Day Counts
Being in school every day gives your child the best start in life, socially and academically. If your child is feeling a little below par, please do encourage them to attend. Often, the distraction of being with friends and engaging in learning is the best medicine! Should they take a turn for the worse, we will, of course, call you.
Your child's attendance | Days lost across a year | Lessons lost across a year |
95% | 10 days | 60 lessons |
90% | 19 days | 114 lessons |
85% | 29 days | 174 lessons |
80% | 38 days | 228 lessons |
75% | 47 days | 282 lessons |
How missing school affects a young person
- Research suggests that 17 missed school days a year equals a drop in GCSE grade (Department for Children, Schools and Families).
- Pupils who are frequently absent from school are more likely to become involved or be a victim of crime and anti-social behaviour.
- Poor attendance suggests to future employers that the individual is unreliable.
- Missing 10% (about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read. One of the most effective ways for providing pathways out of poverty is by doing what it takes to get children into school every day.