At Weobley High School we place great importance on good attendance; which is crucial in helping pupils to fulfil their academic potential. As a school we look to raise levels of achievement by encouraging the highest levels of attendance, punctuality and involvement in the school. Research shows that there is a clear link between attendance, pupil attainment, well-being and wider life chances. The pupils with the highest attainment at the end of key stage 2 and key stage 4 have higher rates of attendance over the key stage compared to those with the lowest attainment.

Under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, parents are responsible for making sure that their children who are of compulsory school age receive full-time education. Parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their child’s regular attendance at the school where they are registered.

• Will ensure that records of attendance are maintained on a daily basis according to Government legislation and guidance
• Will develop and maintain a whole school culture that promotes the benefits of good attendance
• Will investigate unexplained or unjustified absence
• Will follow up on instances of poor attendance and punctuality
• Will keep parents informed of their child’s attendance/punctuality record
• Will work closely with parents, listen to and understand barriers to attendance
• Will implement a system of rewards and sanctions.

Parents

• Are legally responsible for ensuring their child’s regular and punctual attendance
• Will inform school of the reasons for their child’s absence on the first day of absence and each subsequent day of absence
• Will avoid arranging family holidays during term time
• Will maintain regular communication with school staff where necessary
• Book any medical appointments around the school day where possible.

Pupils

• Are expected to attend school and all of their lessons regularly and punctually
• Are expected to be ready to learn
• Will not leave the school without permission.

In order that we might be sure of the whereabouts and safety of our pupils, we ask that parents/carers contact the school by 9.00am on the morning of the first day of absence to notify us of the reason for that absence. The method for doing is:

By phone: 01544 318159 (Option 1)

By Email: admin@weobleyhigh.hereford.sch.uk

If the absence extends beyond a day, parents/carers should ring each day to keep the school updated. On return to school, a member of staff may discuss the absence with the pupil.

In most cases, absences for illness which are reported by following the school’s absence reporting procedure will be authorised. That is unless the school has a genuine concern about the authenticity of the illness. The school may then ask the parent to provide medical evidence, such as a prescription, appointment card, or other appropriate form of evidence. We will not ask for medical evidence unnecessarily. In some instances, the school may ask the parent to obtain a letter from a GP, or the school may seek parental permission to contact a pupil’s GP directly.

Where any pupil we expect to attend school does not attend, the school will call/text the pupil’s parent/carer on the morning of the first day of unexplained absence to ascertain the reason. An additional PM text is sent if a response is not received. A call/text to the parent/carer will be made on each day that the absence continues without explanation to ensure proper safeguarding action is taken.

Poor punctuality is unacceptable. Where a child misses the start of the day they miss work and do not spend time with their form tutor, missing vital information and news of the day. Pupils arriving late also disrupt lessons, can cause embarrassment to the child and can encourage absence. Pupils should be on site by 8.50 am and registers will close at 9.00 am.

A pupil who arrives late:

• Before the register has closed will be marked as late, using the appropriate code

After registration has closed will be marked as absent, using the appropriate code

Medical and dental appointments should be made outside school time wherever possible. If a pupil does have to leave school for an appointment, where possible the appointment should be made at the start or end of the school day. A note should be made to the form tutor in advance, stating the time and date of the appointment.

Requests for a planned day of absence, for example to attend a family ceremony or music examination should be made in advance. The school will consider the request, taking into account the reasons given and the pupil’s attendance record.

Parents are expected to take family holidays during school holidays and should not take pupils on holiday in term time. Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Headteachers should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if the leave is granted. We expect everyone to aim for 100% attendance at school and to this end we do not support family holidays during term-time. Families who take unauthorised holidays in term time will be issued with a penalty notice. Parents planning a holiday due to exceptional circumstances should contact the school in writing at least a month in advance clearly stating the exceptional reasons for the need to take the holiday during the school term and the school will consider the request.

A Penalty Notice may be issued to any parent who fails to ensure regular and punctual attendance of their child at school. Headteachers and nominated deputies may request a Penalty Notice to be issued. A Penalty Notice is a fine issued and administered by Herefordshire Council.

Families who take unauthorised holidays in school term time will be issued with a Penalty Notice (fine) £60 per parent, per child which rises to £120 per parent, per child if not paid within 28 days. There is no appeal against a Fixed Penalty Notice. Failure to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice may lead to legal procedures under the Education Act 1996 Section 444(1).

Our school will monitor trends and patterns of absence for all pupils as part of our standard procedures. However, we are aware that sudden or gradual changes in a pupil’s attendance may indicate additional or a more extreme safeguarding issue. In line with government guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education we will investigate and report any suspected safeguarding concerns to the relevant authorities.

Our school will add and delete pupils from role in line with the law. The school will follow Herefordshire Child Missing Education process and make a CME referral as appropriate.

Whilst any pupil could be off school due to illness, sometimes they may become reluctant to attend school. Staff will work with families to address any issues or problems with attendance which may arise.  We advise strongly against families allowing a child to be absent from school and have professionals at school who are able to offer assistance if this becomes a problem. We will also help support you and your child to access support servives.

Members of Staff have regular conversations with pupils with regard to their attendance. Pupils are tracked and monitored through our pastoral system. If you have any concerns with your child’s attendance, please discuss it with their Form Tutor or Learning Co-ordinator.

Learning Co-ordinator for Year 11: Mrs Startin

Learning Co-ordinator for Year 10: Mr Dixon

Learning Co-ordinator for Year 9: Mrs Heath

Learning Co-ordinator for Year 8: Miss Evans

Learning Co-ordinator for Year 7: Mr Davies

Likewise, we may invite you in to discuss the situation with a member of our pastoral team. As a school we work closely with the Herefordshire Council to improve attendance within the school.

The designated senior leader responsible for attendance is Mr D. Nicholas (Deputy Headteacher Curriculum and Standards) and can be contacted via admin@weobleyhigh.hereford.sch.uk

All staff at Weobley High School are committed to working with parents and pupils towards the best way of ensuring as high a level of attendance as possible and that every child’s welfare and life opportunities are promoted.

At Weobley High School we use Epraise, an online platform for schools, that helps parents/carers to engage more with their children’s education. It can be used to access your child’s attendance.

At Weobley High School we promote attendance by:

• Raising the profile of attendance across the school and promoting good attendance.
• Promoting attendance in our careers guidance.
• Using assemblies to promote good attendance.
• Using posters and leaflets to promote attendance.
• Using rewards and incentives to encourage attendance.
• When welcoming and inducting new parents and pupils it is important to raise awareness of the importance of punctuality and attendance.

Pupil-level absence data will be collected each term and published at national and local authority level through the DfE’s school absence national statistics releases. The school will compare attendance data to the national average, and share this with the governing body.  The school uses Fisher Family Foundation (FFT) data to track and analyse attendance data and then compare against 9,500 other FFT schools.

The school will:

• Monitor attendance and absence data across the school and at an individual pupil level.
• Identify whether or not there are particular groups of children whose absences may be a cause of concern.
• Analyse attendance and pupil absence data regularly to identify pupils or cohorts that need additional support with their attendance, and use this analysis to provide targeted support to these pupils and their families.
• Look at historic and emerging patterns of attendance and absence, and then develop strategies to address these patterns.

Persistent absence is where a pupil misses 10% or more of school, and severe absence is where a pupil misses 50% or more of school.

The school will:

• Use attendance data to find patterns and trends of persistent and severe absence
• Hold regular meetings with pupils and the parents of pupils who the school considers to be vulnerable, or are persistently or severely absent, to discuss attendance and engagement at school.
• Provide access to wider support services to remove the barriers to attendance.

Further information can be found on the Herefordshire Council website at:

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/schools-education/school-attendance-absences

Reviewed on:                                                                   November 2023                                               

By:                                                                                     D. Nicholas (Deputy Headteacher)                          

Approved at:                                                                    SLT November 2023

To be reviewed:                                                               November 2024