Attendance and Punctuality

Policy updates active from September 2024

At Blaise High School we know that good attendance and punctuality is crucial to student success.

We expect that all students will:

Attend school every day
Attend school punctually and be welcomed through the school gates by 8.35am
Attend school appropriately prepared for the day

We expect that all parents/carers who have day to day responsibility for the children and young people will:

Encourage regular school attendance and be aware of their legal responsibilities;
Ensure that the child/children in their care arrive at school punctually and prepared for the school day

We celebrate and reward students who demonstrate excellent attendance and recognise this has a positive impact on their climb of their own personal mountain to the best universities in the country and careers of their choosing. Students with high attendance will be recognised and rewarded on a regular basis

Reporting absence due to illness

If you think your child is too unwell to go to school, use this NHS guide to help you:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

We encourage all parents to send their child to school if you’re unsure. We have a first aid team on site, and our team will send your child home if we feel they are too unwell to access school.

If you are sure that your child needs to stay at home, please contact the school before 8.30am on the morning of each day of the student's absence by calling our Attendance Officer on 0117 903 0104. You should explain the full reason for the absence, giving the student's full name and year group. Please call for every day they are unwell.

On the third occurrence of illness in a term, we would expect medical evidence to be provided either via email at attendance@blaisehighschool.co.uk or by bringing in the evidence to school reception.

Any unexplained absence is treated as unauthorised absence. Please contact the school promptly whenever any problem occurs that may keep the child away from school.

School attendance that drops below 95% is considered a cause for concern (95% equates to 10 missed days across a whole school year). If this does not improve there is a graduated response which could result in legal action.

To help, please try to make medical appointments outside of the school day, take holidays out of school term time, and communicate any reasons for absence clearly with school staff.

Absence from school during term time

Legal background and Department for Education (DfE) guidelines

While schools are required to consider parental requests for absence from school in term time, it still remains the legal duty of parents to ensure the regular attendance of a child of compulsory school age. Failure to do so could result in the local authority issuing a penalty notice or prosecuting the parents in the magistrates’ court.

DfE guidelines clearly state that absence from school can be taken in exceptional circumstances, and this means that the parent must make a strong case for taking a child out of school in an academic year. Exceptional circumstances must be explained fully to the school who will then consider the request. Any medical appointments/procedures during school time are always authorised but the school does require evidence, such as appointment cards or letters.

Parents should not expect that schools would automatically agree to an absence from school during term time. The school is not able to authorise any leave of absence during term time unless it is for an exceptional circumstance. Requests for exceptional leave of absence should be sent to the Headteacher in writing.

Appointments and holidays

Doctors, dental, and hospital appointments

Please try to book any appointments outside school hours. It is really important that interruptions to your child’s learning are kept to a minimum. We understand that there are occasions when appointment times are out of your control.

Request for absence — key points for parents

Requests for absence during term time will not be authorised.
Any requests for the purpose of visiting family, attending family occasions, or celebrations will not be authorised.
Parents are at risk of receiving a penalty notice for unauthorised absence. This is a fine of £60 per parent, per child, if paid within 21 days or £120 if paid within 28 days.
If a pupil's attendance is below 95% and the request for absence is more than 5 days, parents may be prosecuted.
If prosecuted and found guilty, the parent faces a punishment of a fine of up to £2,500 and/or 3 months' imprisonment.
Request for absence of 21 days or more may result in pupils being removed from the school register.
If a pupil is removed from the school register:
- The pupil cannot return to school
- Parents will need to register their child with the local authority to apply for a new school place.

Supporting students with poor attendance

If you have concerns for your child's attendance, we would encourage your communication with us so that we can support you and your child in improving their attendance. Our Attendance team are on hand to provide advice and guidance, and also offer parent and student attendance clinics to support with this.

Bristol City Council also provides guidance to parents to support attendance - please see the attached link here.

Punctuality

All students are expected to be on time to school, and will be welcomed through the student gate by 8.35am. This is crucial for students to be able to feel ready and prepared for the school day, and receive all the important messages for the day.

If your child is late, they will receive a same-day detention for their lateness. We do not expect this to happen as a regular occurrence, as this would have a detrimental impact on their education. If your child is late three times in a week, they would be directed to the Ready for Learning Centre.

If your child is late due to an unforeseen circumstance, please contact our School Reception. The school will then be able to decide whether the detention is warranted.