What do we ask parents to do?

• If your daughter/son is unavoidably absent please contact the attendance team by telephoning 01623 623149 option 1 on the FIRST DAY of absence.
• Please maintain contact with the Academy every day while they are absent. For absence longer than five days medical evidence is required.
• Failure to contact the Academy could result in your child receiving an UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE.
• Holidays during term-time are not allowed only under extreme exceptional circumstances, these should be agreed with the Principal through completion of a absence request form.
• Make medical and other appointments out of school time and ensure evidence of appointments is provided prior to the event.
• Contact the Academy straight away if there are any problems with attendance.
• Ensure that your child is on site for the times specified in the new timetable.

What will the Academy do?

• The Academy will send a text alert by 9:30am if your child is absent and there is no known reason.
• The importance of attendance will be regularly raised with students and positive attendance rewarded.
• Students with poor attendance will be supported by relevant staff within the Academy.
• The Academy will provide parents with attendance data alongside students’ reports and communicate through standardised letters should attendance concerns arise.

HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME

We understand that it is often more expensive to take a family holiday during the school breaks. The law says that parents do not have an automatic right to take their child out of school for holidays during term time. The Academy will not authorise term-time holidays.

If your request for a term time holiday or other absence is refused, and your child is still taken out of school, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and a penalty notice will be actioned.