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Attendance
Our School strives for 100% attendance for all pupils, however we appreciate that children can be ill or have rare unavoidable absences for other reasons. Therefore our overall school target is at least 96% attendance.
Kemnal Technology College is committed to providing a full and efficient education to all pupils, and embraces the concept of equal opportunities for all. We will endeavour to provide an environment where all pupils feel valued and welcome.
For a child to reach their full educational achievement a high level of school attendance is essential. We will consistently work towards a goal of 100% attendance for all children. All available evidence shows a very strong correlation between attendance and academic outcomes, with those children with less than 90% attendance half as likely to achieve 5 good passes at GCSE when compared with those who have 100% attendance.
Every opportunity will be used to convey to pupils and their parents or carers the importance of regular and punctual attendance. School attendance is subject to various Education laws and this school attendance policy is written to reflect these laws and the guidance produced by the Department for Education and Skills.
Absence Procedures
The front gate opens from 8:20 am, the school day starts at 8:45 am and ends at 3:05 pm (Mon-Fri). Students should arrive no later than 8:40 am to give them enough time to get to line-ups for 8:45 am.
If Your Child is Absent You Must:
If your child is not well enough to attend school, we ask that you notify the school via the following channels before 8:30am on each morning of absence and every further day of absence until they return:
More information on the Arbor app can be found here.
If the school has not been contacted, we will endeavour to phone home to find out the reason for absence, and/or a text message will be sent to parents/carers. It is the parent’s responsibility to inform the school of the reason for absence in order that it can be authorised. This must be completed each day that your child is absent, unless there is an ongoing medical condition that we are aware of.
There may be occasions where medical evidence is needed to support the reasons for your child’s absence from school, especially if their attendance has fallen below 96%. The school will not approach your doctor to obtain that evidence; it is your responsibility as a parent/carer to provide a medical certificate or doctor’s letter, as appropriate.
Lateness
Our school day starts at 8:45am with line-ups and we expect your child to be there on time for registers to be taken. Registers are marked and your child will receive a late mark if they are not in by that time. Sanctions are given to any students that arrive late to line-ups and after the student gate has been locked.
In accordance with the Regulations, if your child arrives after that time they will receive a mark that shows them to be on site, but this will not count as a present mark and it will mean they have an unauthorised absence. This may mean that you could face the possibility of a Penalty Notice if the problem persists.
School Objectives
- To ensure that all students and Parents/Carers are aware of the importance of good attendance.
- To implement effective strategies in improving attendance in college.
- To minimise the negative impact of non-attendance on teaching and learning.
- To minimise absence levels.
- To minimise unauthorised absence.
Attendance Policy
Our Expectations of Parents/Carers
In line with government guidelines, we expect parents and carers to:
- Ensure your child attends every day the school is open except when a statutory reason applies.
- Notify us as soon as possible when your child has to be unexpectedly absent (e.g. sickness).
- Only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances and do so in advance.
- Book any medical appointments outside and around the school day where possible.
The Law – Education Act 1996
Under Section 7, parents are responsible for making sure that their children of compulsory school age receive efficient and suitable full-time education.
Under Section 444, parents who fail to ensure their children receive efficient and suitable full-time education, are guilty of an offence.
Such offences are dealt with by means of court appearances or incremental fines, per parent/carer and per child, and in aggravated circumstances, a prison sentence could be served.