Attendance

Regular attendance at school promotes pupils’ well-being and gives them the best chance of learning and reaching their potential. Pupils should attend school every day the school is open unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable.

Good attendance is important because pupils:

• get on better with learning and other children

• cope better with school routines, work and friendships

• find learning easier because they do not miss out

• are more successful moving between primary school, secondary school, higher education and employment or training

• are known to be safe and well by us.

Research shows a direct link between high attendance and doing well at school.

All children have the right to an education. We encourage and expect 100% attendance for all pupils.

The DFE report, "The link between attendance and attainment in an assessment year Research Report March 2025" states:

At KS2, pupils who attended school nearly every day in Year 6 (with an attendance rate of 95-100%) were 1.3 times more likely to achieve the expected standard in reading, writing and maths compared to pupils who only attended 90-95% of the time. This means missing just 10 days of year 6 reduced the likelihood of reaching the expected standard by around 25%. Pupils who attended nearly every day were 1.8 times more likely to achieve the standard than persistently absent pupils who only attend 85-90% of the time (relating to 4 -6 weeks more time in school). 

At KS2, pupils who attend between 50 and 55% of the time are twice as likely to achieve the expected standard than students who are severely absent (attending less than 50% of sessions). A pupil with 60-65% attendance (equating to approximately 4- 6 extra weeks in school) has a four times greater chance of successful outcome than those who attend <50% of the time.

We will:

• tell pupils and parents the importance of being at school;

• check that pupils are at school every day;

• follow up and check the absence of persistent non-attenders;

• aim for an attendance rate of at least 97%. Pupils who are under school age, in Nursery or Reception, are treated in the same way as all other children

Parents:

• by law, must ensure that their child attends school;

• should arrange dental and doctor’s appointments out of school hours or during school holidays, whenever possible;

• make sure that their child arrives on time between 8.40am and 8.50am, when classroom doors are open

• if they arrive after 8.50am, sign-in at the school office;

• should contact the school on the first day their child is away from school.

  The school's attendance officer is Gemma Armitage.

  The school's Senior Attendance Champion is Sara Richardson.