Why is attendance important? 

 

Good attendance and punctuality play a vital role in a student’s school life

and academic achievement. Regular attendance and being punctual will

help students in their adult lives by preparing them to enter the world of work.

Good attendance at school will also help students to develop social skills,

make friends, and help them to communicate well with others.  

 

Our Expectations

All students should aim to attend school every day for the full day. Across the school year (190 days) this would be 100% attendance.   

  

96% attendance is the minimum that we would expect. If attendance falls to 90% or below, students are classed by the government as being a persistent absentee.  

 

One day’s absence from school means that 5 lessons have been missed.   

 

 

Attendance percentages are not like examination results  

An attendance percentage needs to be 96%+ before it can be considered excellent. Consider the impact of following examples over the course of a school year (190 days):  

• 10 days absence = 95% attendance = 50 lessons missed  

• 20 days absence = 89% attendance = 100 lessons missed  

• 29 days absence = 85% attendance = 145 lessons missed  

• 38 days absence = 80% attendance = 190 lessons missed  

• 47 days absence = 75% attendance = 235 lessons missed   

 

Punctuality

A student regularly arriving late to school will lose valuable learning time. For example:

• 10 minutes late each day = 32 lessons missed = over 6 days of school

• 20 minutes late each day = 64 lessons missed = over 2 weeks of school

 

Students are expected to arrive on the school site by 8.45am each day, in order to attend registration and start learning at 8.50am.  If students arrive late to school, they will be issued with a behaviour point and persistent lateness to school (2 incidents in a week) will lead to a ‘call back’ with their form tutor. Persistent lateness may also result in a referral to the Local Authority and a possible fine.

 

 

Working together 

• Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring their children attend school both regularly and on time.  

• MHS recognises that some pupils may require additional support to keep up good attendance.  Parents/carers should make school aware of any difficulties or changes in circumstances that may affect their child’s attendance and or behaviour in school, for example: bereavement, divorce/separation, incidents of domestic abuse. This will help the school identify any additional support that may be required. 

• The school is legally responsible for reporting poor attendance to the Local Authority  

• The Local Authority has a duty to make sure that all parents/carers fulfil their responsibilities.  

• Parents/carers should ensure that school is updated with new contact details for themselves and their children including addresses, phone numbers (particularly mobile numbers) and email address changes.  

 

Click here to read our attendance policy.

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Click here to read the regulations for taking holidays in term time.