The College is rightly proud of the attendance of its students.
In February 2024 we were designated a National Attendance Hub for the East Midlands region and have advised and supported other schools locally and nationally on how to improve their attendance.
Why Attendance to College important?
- If your child is absent from College they can’t access the high quality pastoral care and academic education that we provide.
- When students do not attend College they miss out on vital learning in front of specialist staff and we know from years of evidence how important this time can be.
- Young people need the daily connection with other students and trusted staff members to help them develop fully within a busy and connected world.
- We know that success at school leads to better wages, better wealth, health and even happiness in later life! We want that for all our students.
- Education is a way for young people from deprived backgrounds to escape poverty.
What are we doing to encourage your child to attend?
- We are relentlessly ambitious for our students and have high expectations for every child.
- We have a culture in which students and staff feel valued.
- We provide access to trusted adults who provide excellent pastoral care and academic support.
- We have a strong focus on character education through our BEST ME programme that deliberately supports the wider personal development of our students.
- Where necessary and deserved, rewarding your child through a range of incentives including postcards, badges, invitation to a pizza party, Principal’s Awards etc.
College Attendance Ratings
The College attendance ratings are given below. Students should know which rating they currently fit into. We want all students to be attending 97% of the time or higher.
Lost Learning adds up!
Attendance of 90% across an entire academic year is the equivalent of 4 weeks of lost learning time.
This amounts to over 130 hours of learning that is similar to the number of hours allocated to a learning a single GCSE subject!
The impact of Attendance on GCSE results
- From our own results last academic year, students whose attendance in Year 11 was 90% or lower achieved on average 1½ grades lower per GCSE subject than their peers who had good attendance (97% or higher).
- This is a staggering difference purely based on students attending regularly.
How can I check my child’s Attendance?
- Satchel One app – You can check the up-to-date attendance of your child at any time using the app. If you do not have access, please contact your child’s personal tutor at the College
What support is available to get my child to College more regularly?
- Personal Tutor – Every child has a personal tutor whom they see daily at 8.30 am. This member of staff is the first port of call if there are any concerns.
- Head/Deputy Head of Year – all Year groups have a Head of Year and Deputy Head of Year team who work closely with students to ensure that they are happy and achieving in College.
- Medical Officer – The College has a full time medical officer on site. Please send your child to College unless they are obviously too unwell.
- Attendance Manager – Our Attendance Manager is Lucy Hawley. She can be contacted on 01332 386765. If you are struggling to get your child into College. We will help!
- Senior Attendance Champion – Mark Andrews, Vice Principal can be contacted at the College by emailing [email protected]
What if my child is too ill to come to College?
- Please contact the College on the first day and each subsequent day of absence. You can contact the College by telephone – 01332 386765, text 07860 050110 or email [email protected]
- Our Attendance Manager is Lucy Hawley
What if I want to take my child on holiday during term time?
We ask that you support your child and the College with their attendance and specifically request that you do not take your child on holiday during term time.
- Absence from College has a negative effect on a child’s education.
- There are 190 statutory college days a year, leaving 175 other days available for holidays that would not negatively impact your child.
- Taking a child on holiday in term time may imply that College is not important.
- Leave of absence requests will only be considered for special or exceptional reasons at the Principal’s discretion.
- These reasons would not include the availability of cheap term-time holidays or Holidays overlapping with the beginning or end of term.
- planned term-time absences must be supported by a completed Leave of Absence form which can be picked up from College Reception
