Attendance
Attendance Matters
At King James’s School, we aim to maximise attendance rates as we know that attendance matters – for students to be able to take the fullest advantage when moving onto post 16 and, to be able to take the fullest advantage of the opportunities open to them, our target for individual attendance is at least 96%.
Research suggests that students who have good attendance achiever better results at GCSE. Students with poor attendance are less likely to succeed academically, less likely to succeed Post 16 or in employment – this also leaves them at risk of becoming NEET. Being absent from school also leaves your child at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour, crime or gangs.
Whilst we understand that there are occasions when students need to be absent from school through medical appointments or conditions, we encourage parents/carers to make these appointments out of school time where possible. In exceptional circumstances where this has not been possible, Students are expected to attend school before and after any appointments during the school day.
We encourage parents that have a child with a cough, cold or sore throat to send their child into school, if your child becomes too unwell during the school day and needs to come home, our Welfare Officer will make the necessary contact with parents to arrange for this to happen.
Your support is vital, the school have an experienced and dedicated pastoral team who will be happy to discuss any concerns or problems that you may have regarding your child’s attendance.
Illness
Please contact the school every day before 8.45am to report your child’s absence. You can leave a message on the school answer phone 01484 412990 or email the office at office@kingjames.school , stating your child’s name, class and full reason for the absence, illness as a reason will not be accepted and will be recorded as unauthorised.
As part of our safeguarding procedures, the school operates an automated everyday call up system. This means that if we are not notified of your child’s absence from school, you will be contacted by telephone or text until we have confirmation of the absence.
If we receive no response to our automatic call then school are obliged to call the police on 101 and ask them to carry out a welfare check.
Appointments
Students who for any reason need to leave the site during the course of a day must show their appointment card to their form tutor. They will then give them a permission slip and they must sign out on the Early Leavers Register at the Pastoral Base.
Please try to make all dentist, doctor, hospital, optician and orthodontist appointments, outside school hours where possible. If this is not possible, please show evidence of the appointment at school reception.
Leave of Absence in Term Time
Parents/carers do not have a legal right to take children out of school during term time. Each application is considered individually by the Headteacher. Permission for a leave of absence during term time must be requested 4 weeks in advance of the required date.
Request for student leave of absence from school Download/View
A Penalty Notice may be issued if:
- Parents/Carers have not sought permission from the Headteacher before taking their child out of school for a leave of absence in term time
- The Headteacher has refused the request but the absence occurs anyway
- The student has not returned to school by the agreed date with no satisfactory explanation
- Where the leave of absence has been recorded by the school as unauthorised in the attendance register on at least 10 sessions (5 school days) during the current term
Where Parents/Carers continue to take unauthorised leave of absences in term time, despite having previously been issued with a Penalty Notice, the local authority will consider a prosecution under the S444 of the Education Act 1996.
The penalty notice is £60, for each parent of each child, if paid within 21 days, and £120 if paid after this date but within 28 days. Non-payment of a penalty notice will normally trigger a prosecution (under the provisions of section 444 of the Education Act 1996 or under the provisions of S103 (3) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006). The prosecution can only be for the original offence and NOT for the non-payment of the Penalty Notice.
You also need to be aware that if your child fails to return to school following 20 days of absence he/she is at risk of losing their school place.
Attendance Policy
Our Attendance policy can be read by clicking Download/View
Key Facts
- There is a significant link between a child’s attendance record and their success in the future
- Research shows that the equivalent of 17 days absence from school can equate to achieving a grade lower at GCSE
- 90% attendance means one half day per week, 4 weeks per year, and half a year off over 5 years in high school
- Good attendance promotes better friendships, builds resilience and improved self-esteem