The number one way to succeed at school is to be at school every day!
As a result, St Ivo Academy are unapologetic about insisting on attendance to school, not just for academic purposes, but also to ensure our students can access enrichment opportunities, pastoral care, careers conversations, arts and sporting events and where required, links to external services and support.
In addition to this, we consistently observe that students with excellent attendance not only perform better academically but also show greater confidence, engagement and wellbeing.
Regular attendance helps establish strong routines, fosters a sense of belonging and ensures no learning opportunities are missed.
We know through research that:
- Students with 97%+ attendance typically achieve a full grade higher than those with 90%
- Students with around 80% attendance often see a further drop of another grade.
Research has also shown that those who perform just one GCSE grade better than their counterparts across nine subjects have been shown to earn on average over £200,000 more throughout their lives. Essentially, great attendance isn’t just something that matters in school each day, it will have a huge impact on young people’s lives well into the future.
Punctuality
Arriving at school on time is just as important as good attendance and punctuality is a characteristic not just appreciated by school but also by post-16 providers, universities, and employers. Lateness to school is ultimately losing learning time, potentially having a negative impact on your child’s long-term success:
- 5 minutes late each day = over 3 days lost learning a year
- 10 minutes late each day = over 6 days lost learning a year
- 20 minutes late each day = over 12 days lost learning a year.
The Academy site opens at 8.15am with all gates closing at 8.30am.
The Academy has a legal duty to mark any child absent after the registers close. This means that:
- If you child arrives after 9.00am they’ll be marked with a U code.
- A U code is an unauthorised absence and will affect your child’s overall attendance.
How to report an absence due to illness
If a student is going to be absent, it is vital that a parent contacts the school at the earliest opportunity and no later than 8.30am, to provide a sufficient reason for absence. This should be: attendance@astreastivo.org
When reporting absence, the information you share should include:
- Name & DOB of student
- Tutor group
- Reason for illness/absence.
Absence can only be authorised where there is good cause. If no sufficient reason for absence is provided, attendance will be recorded as unauthorised. Parents cannot authorise absence. This is a decision which rests with St Ivo Academy in accordance with the boundaries set by The Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations.
Before you report the illness, we would always ask parents to see if their child can ‘give it a go’ we know that sometimes over the counter medication can help.
- The NHS ‘Pharmacy First’ allows you to access medication for certain aliments and illnesses without needing a GP appointment https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/
- The NHS ‘Is my child too ill for School’ page can also help you make the decision https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
We know that were all at risk of coughs and colds. St Ivo Academy will support students whilst on site who are feeling a little bit unwell. If your child gets worse during the academy day, staff will contact you and let you know.
Our day-to-day processes are there to ensure everyone is safe and accounted for, if your child contacts you to ask you to collect them the Academy will:
- Ensure that you and your child are seen by a senior member of staff prior to leaving the academy site.
- Ask for confirmation of who will be supervising your child throughout the day
- Log this as an unauthorised absence
Home Visits
The Academy has a duty of care to all its students and families which means that we complete home visits. When students are absent, we may just drop by and see you to check on you and plan for your return to the Academy.
If a home visit takes place, we will want to talk to you as the parent/carer and your child. This is not unusual and is important for us to do so.
If we miss you, we will leave a note to let you know we’ve called.
Who are the Attendance Team
Our attendance team are here to support you – a who’s who of the team is here:
| Senior Leader Responsible for Attendance | Dave Varey |
| Attendance, Welfare Manager | Deborah Morris |
| Attendance Officers | Caroline Palazzo, Christie Jones |
Term Time Leave
Holidays will not be authorised during term time and will likely result in a fixed penalty notice. The decision to record a holiday as unauthorised rests with St Ivo Academy.
For exceptional circumstances only, to apply for a student leave of absence, parents should complete a Term Time Leave Request Form which can be found on the Academy Website, collected in person from our Reception or via email if you email the Attendance Team. Forms must be fully completed, with evidence provided, then returned to reception for consideration by the Principal.
Unauthorised leave for holidays will result in a fixed penalty notice being issued.
Key Points for Attendance
- Students should attend school for 187 days per year.
- Holidays should not be taken in school time.
- We will on occasion need to send you letters to let you know about potential effects of your child’s attendance, should it drop below 96%. In each of these letters there is specific legal wording which has to be used. Please respond to letters or telephone calls regarding attendance and punctuality as required by the content of the letter or if you wish to discuss the impact of attendance further.
- As a parent or carer you are committing an offence if you fail to ensure that your child attends school regularly and punctually, even if they are missing school without your knowledge.
Key Points for Absence
- If your child is ill, contact the school on each day of absence.
- If no contact is received regarding the absence, it is recorded as unauthorised. Ultimately the school is responsible for deciding if the absence is acceptable or not. Only genuine absence will be authorised. You must to provide medical certificates or evidence of appointments if you wish us to consider them, or if your child has a poor attendance record.
- All requests for leave of absence in term time must be made in writing at least two weeks in advance of the required date.
- Ensure that medical appointments are made outside of school time if at all possible.
FAQ’s
Q. What action should I take if my child is too unwell to attend school?
All absences must be reported by 8.30am on a daily basis. You can do this by sending an email to attendance@astreastivo.org before 8.30am including your child’s name, tutor group, reason for absence, your name and a contact telephone number.
The school should be advised of any medical condition. A doctor’s certificate may be requested if it affects your child’s attendance.
If my child is late for school, what should they do?
Registration takes place in tutor rooms from 8.30am – 8.55am. If your child arrives after 8.30am they must sign in at reception.
Persistent lateness will not be tolerated and further action will be taken. If there is a valid reason for lateness, or a change in your home circumstances that is affecting your child’s attendance at school, please advise us immediately.
My child has a medical appointment?
Appointments should be made outside of school hours. If this is not possible, please notify the school in advance by email or telephone.
More Information
Lateness
Parents/carers are asked to support the school by ensuring that their child arrives at school on time. The school has electronic registration with a register being taken at each lesson. If a student arrives late to school they must sign in at reception and then go straight to their lesson. Any student who is late without a valid reason may be given a detention after school.
Signing in and out
A student who has to leave school for a medical or dental appointment or other valid reason needs an absence note. They report to reception to ‘sign out’ of school, and ‘signs in’ on returning to school. Parents/carers can either telephone or email the Attendance Manager with advanced notice of any appointments. Any student without an appropriate absence note cannot be allowed to leave school.