Attendance

Good school attendance gives you the opportunity of success and helps develop skills for life. You should attend school every day unless there is an unavoidable cause such as illness.

Missing school damages pupils' learning and grades (research shows that missing school often leads to a drop in GCSE grades), disrupts routines and can make children vulnerable to crime.

Pupils should never miss school for reasons like shopping, birthdays or to wait in for a repair person.

Missing school can seriously impair learning and affect life opportunities.

Thomas Hall School’s target attendance is 100%

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I A PUPIL IS ABSENT FROM SCHOOL?

• Telephone 01392 757371 and choose option 1, as early as possible and before 9.00am on each day of absence to provide the reason for the absence, year and tutor group. You can also email attendance@thomashallschool.org
• Ensure you follow the school’s attendance policy with regards any absence.
• Make routine dentist and doctor appointments after school or during school holidays.
• If you have to make an appointment during school time, try and attend school before and after the appointment. Let the school know about the appointment in advance.

Other absence

The law requires that parents ensure all children of compulsory school age attend school during term-time. We regard any unnecessary absence as educationally detrimental.

In exceptional circumstances, a request for pupil absence may be made to the Headteacher.

Requests for any absence from school other than medical or illness should be made at least 2 weeks before the requested absence begins and should be made on an S2 form that is available from reception or click here.

If you have unusually high absences than is expected your school may inform you, they will not be authorising any more absences, however, you are invited to provide the school with additional information or documentation to enable us to make an informed decision regarding authorisation for each absence.

Schools are committed to supporting you and really want the opportunity to talk to you to see if they can offer any additional support.

If your child has an ongoing diagnosed illness you are advised to inform the school and keep copies of letters from health professionals and appointment cards or prescriptions.

The link between attendance and attainment is clear:

• In 2018/19, just 40% of persistently absent (PA) children in KS2 achieved expected KS2 standards, compared with 84% of pupils who were regular attenders.

• And 36% of PA children in KS4 got 9 to 4 in their English and maths GCSEs, also compared with 84% of regular attenders.

It’s never too late to benefit from good attendance:

• More than half (54%) of pupils who were PA in Year 10 and then rarely absent in Year 11, passed at least 5 GCSEs, compared to 36% of pupils who were persistently absent in both years.

Attendance is important for more than just attainment:

• Regular school attendance can facilitate positive peer relationships, which is a protective factor for mental health and wellbeing.