Attendance

We expect every pupil to achieve a minimum of 97% attendance each academic year. We aim to ensure that all of our pupils receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each young person to realise his/her true potential. All school staff will work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually.

Please see the School’s Attendance Policy for more information.

 

Absence

To help the school keep your child safe, please ensure that you and your child keep to the following procedures:

• When illness means your child needs to stay at home, we would be grateful if you would telephone the school on 01527 852 478 by 8.45am (switchboard opens at 8.15am – you can leave a message prior to this time) or email [email protected] on the first day of absence and send a signed note of explanation upon your child’s return.
• For persistent and/or lengthy absence, please provide medical evidence.

Authorised Absence
Authorised absence means the school has given approval in advance or accepted a given explanation for reason of absence.

Unauthorised Absence
Unauthorised absence is where the school is not satisfied with the reasons given for the absence or no reason has been provided for the absence.

Persistent Absence
Persistent absence is when a student’s attendance drops below 90%. This is when referrals can be made to the Warwickshire Attendance Service (WAS) if improvement cannot be managed between the family, student and school. WAS may issue a legal attendance target which can result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issues to parent(s).

• For Health and Safety reasons, if your son/daughter arrives later (after 8:30am) to school for any reason he/she must sign in at reception.
• If your child needs to leave school for any reason he/she must sign out at reception with written permission from parent/carer.
• If your child is persistently late to school with a valid reason, they will be expected to serve an after school detention.

 

Holiday requests in Term Time – guidance from Warwickshire Attendance Service

LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME 

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PARENTS 

The Supreme Court has clarified the law on unauthorised leave, including holidays, during term time (Platt v Isle of Wright 2017). The Supreme Court has made clear that attending school ‘regularly’ means that the children must attend school on every day that they are required to do so. As such, the parents of any child who is absent from school without authorisation for any length of time are likely to be considered as committing an offence under s444 of the Education Act 1996. 

The law states a leave of absence may only be granted by a school if an application is made in advance and if it considers there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application. 

Schools must judge each application individually considering the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind each request. 

A leave of absence is granted entirely at the school’s discretion. Generally, a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance. 

Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days a pupil can be absent from school. 

When making an application for Leave of Absence parents are advised to give sufficient information and time to allow the Head teacher the opportunity to consider all the exceptional circumstances and to notify parents of their decision. The school may also request further information on the application and supporting documentation where appropriate. 

It is advised that if the resident parent has not received notification or a response regarding the leave of absence application, it is the parents’ responsibility to ascertain if the leave is authorised prior to the start of the leave. 

The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the ‘resident’ parent ie the parent with whom the child normally resides. 

Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child is expected to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence. Where a leave of absence is requested, but additional days taken either prior to or after the request may be considered as part of the leave of absence. 

Leave of Absences which are not made in advance cannot be authorised in line with legislation. This will result in the absence being recorded as ‘unauthorised’. 

All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service, part of Warwickshire County Council. Penalty Notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices and in the first instance, as an alternative to prosecution proceedings. 

The law relating to Penalty Notices changed with effect from 19 August 2024. Therefore, Penalty Notices issued for Leave of Absence taken from September 2024 will be issued in accordance with the updated legislation. 

• Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices – 4 in total).

o First Leave of Absence offence: The Penalty Notice amount of £160 to be paid within 28 days, this is reduced to £80 each child if paid within 21 days. 

o Second Leave of Absence offence within a 3 year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice): The amount of £160 paid within 28 days. No reduced amount. 

• Payment plans will not be offered and/or payments received outside of the 28 day period will not be accepted. Where a penalty notice expires unpaid the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider criminal prosecution.
• Third Leave of Absence offence within a 3 year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice): A penalty notices will be not be issued and the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal prosecution proceedings under S444 of Education Act 1996.

Your child’s progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority. 

 

Attendance Facts: 

How can parents and carers ensure good attendance? 

• Help your child to develop a routine, sleep is so important and many children do not get enough. 

• A morning routine is important too, try to make sure your child has breakfast; it speeds up metabolism and helps them to be more alert at school. 

• Make sure lunch and books are organised the night before. 

• Where possible book dental and medical appointments after school. If this is not possible ensure your child attends school before and after the appointment and let the school know in advance. 

• Don’t give in to your child each time they complain of feeling ill. If you are unsure send them in with a note explaining your concern and ask the school to phone you if necessary. You may well find that this works and the amount of times your child feels ill reduces. It will help your child develop good habits for the world of work where absence and lateness are rarely tolerated. 

• If this continues, ask to meet school staff it may be an indication that your child is unhappy about something at school. 

• A child with a good school attendance record is setting themselves up for a better future once they leave school. School attendance is quoted on job references. Studley High School regularly receive request for attendance history from local colleges and employers.