Attendance

Focus on Attendance & Punctuality

Research has shown that regular attendance and good punctuality are crucial factors in students achieving their full potential in education. At the Albion Academy, we wish to work in partnership with parents and carers so we are seeking your full support in ensuring that your child attends school every day and on time. We are always pleased to work together with parents/carers in resolving any difficulties but we are also committed to improving attendance levels at the school.

The target attendance figure for all pupils is a minimum of 95%. Based on current attendance figures, your child will be placed in one of the following groups and informed which group they are in.

Green Group: No Concern (96% – 100% attendance)

Yellow Group: Concern (92% – 95.9% attendance)

Amber Group: Risk of Underachievement (85% – 91.9% attendance)

Pink Group: Severe Risk of Underachievement (70% – 84.9% attendance)

Red Group: Extreme Risk of Underachievement (0% – 69.9% attendance)

Your child will be informed of their attendance group by their form tutor. The Albion Academy are closely monitoring students whose attendance falls below 90% and will contact you if your child’s attendance does not improve. As a parent/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. It is important that parents/carers monitor single day’s absence, as these days soon add up to weeks.

Impact on attainment

Attendance of 96% or above: 82% achieved 5 A* -C including English and Mathematics

Attendance of 94% or above: 62% achieved 5 A* -C including English and Mathematics

Attendance of 90% or above: 52% achieved 5 A* -C including English and Mathematics

Attendance of 80% or above: 36% achieved 5 A* -C including English and Mathematics

Attendance of 70% or above: 18% achieved 5 A* -C including English and Mathematics

If you are concerned about this new 'Focus on Attendance', there are important steps that you can take:

Ensure your child attends every day, on time, equipped and ready to learn. Lesson time begins at 8.40am. Students should be in the building by 8.30am. Students arriving after 9.30am will be marked absent and will require an explanatory note or the absence will remain unauthorised.
Ensure the school has up-to-date addresses and telephone numbers. We will contact you by text through the automated ‘truancy call’ system if your child is absent and you have not contacted the school. This ensures that truancy is quickly identified.
If your child is ill, contact the school on the first day of absence and provide an explanatory note on their return to school.
If you wish to check that your child has arrived at school, contact the Attendance Officer. She will inform you if your child has been registered.
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 will be asked to provide medical certificates if your child has a poor attendance record.
Ensure that medical appointments are made outside of school time.
Avoid trivial absences such as, ‘buying new shoes’. This would not be accepted as a reasonable absence.
Respond to letters or telephone calls regarding attendance and punctuality.

Contact your child’s form tutor if you are experiencing difficulty in getting your child into school.

Thank you for working in partnership with us to achieve the highest possible levels of attendance and punctuality at The Albion Academy.

Holidays should not be taken in school time.

Leave of absence for holidays will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances. Only the Principal can agree an exceptional leave of absence.

Parents should be advised that absence without the consent of the Academy could result in further action and sanctions including a Penalty Notice.