ATTENDANCE  &  PUNCTUALITY

The school is keen to work in close partnership with parents to ensure that all pupils attend school regularly and punctually, and that any attendance problems are quickly resolved.

In order to take full advantage of the opportunities for learning available at Beaumont, all pupils need to be in school on time every day and we attach high priority to ensuring that our excellent record in this respect is maintained. Parents have a vital role in building up good attendance attitudes and we encourage parents to ensure as far as possible that their children are in school on time, and to avoid allowing children to stay at home unnecessarily or taking them out of school without authorisation, and to make medical and other appointments wherever possible outside school hours.

We monitor punctuality closely in order to avoid patterns of lateness developing which would compromise our pupils’ learning. Lateness is recorded and persistent lateness results in the first instance in detention after school. Continued lateness will be followed by action either through the Form Teacher, Head of Year or in exceptional cases, the Attendance Improvement Officer.

Beaumont, in common with all schools, is obliged to record the absence of pupils of compulsory school age either as authorised or unauthorised, that decision being made by the school, depending on whether an acceptable reason has been given.   Where a student is absent unavoidably, due to illness for example, parents or carers should contact the school on the first day and any subsequent days of absence by 9.30 am.  For Years 7-11 the 24 hour dedicated Absence Line on 01727 732987. Where a parent is aware of future absences such as those for medical or dental appointments which cannot be made outside school hours, advance notification should be given via either the absence line, or a note to the form tutor. Where a pupil is absent from school and no reason has been given, the school Absence Administrator will contact parents/carers to establish the reason for absence, which will then be recorded.

The school understands that it is sometimes necessary for pupils to be granted leave of absence from school, for example, to attend a music exam or for a family occasion such as a wedding or funeral.  Nevertheless, parents must appreciate that absence from school has been shown to have a negative effect on pupil's achievement and attitudes and so the school will not routinely authorise absences arising from family holidays.  This is in accordance with guidance from the Local Authority.  It is important that requests are made in good time so that the school can give a considered response.  Any absence that is not "authorised" will be shown as such on the record of both the individual pupil and the school.

It is difficult to construct a set of rules which covers all eventualities, but the following conveys the spirit of the school's position.

Scope

This policy applies to the absence of pupils from school for any reason other than illness, urgent medical treatment, school trips and visits, and fixed-period or permanent exclusions.  It covers holidays, compassionate leave and special family events.

Policy

The headteacher has the discretion to grant leave of absence outside the following limits if there are sound educational or social reasons for so doing.

Parents are asked to apply for leave of absence in writing to Mr Cross, Assistant Head, preferably by using the special form available from the office.  These requests should be made in good time (at least two weeks before the proposed absence) although the school will be able to give a quick response if unforeseen circumstances arise.  Leave of absence will be granted only for up to 10 days in any academic year.  Absences arising from a family holiday will be recorded as ‘unauthorised by the school’ in all but the most exceptional circumstances

Leave of absence will not normally be granted for pupils:

 - in Year 11, Year 12 or Year 13;

 - who would be taking internally or externally-set examinations at that time.

The school calendar, issued to all parents in September, will show the relevant dates. Parents of Parents of Year 10 and 11 pupils will also need to be mindful of GCSE controlled assessment and the Year 10 module examinations which are all part of the external assessment.

It is the responsibility of the pupil to copy up all work missed within a reasonable time after return from leave of absence. Staff will not normally be expected to set special or additional work for the pupil to carry out whilst on leave.

Any absence that has not been authorised will be recorded as unauthorised and marked as such on the pupil's termly and annual reports. Pupils who have been granted leave of absence will not be eligible for the school's "100% attendance" awards.