Behaviour, Attendance & Welfare
BackATTENDANCE
The Blue School is committed to providing high quality inclusive learning opportunities for all students. We believe excellent attendance is crucial in supporting students to reach their full potential.
We will actively promote and encourage excellent attendance (above 96%) for all our students. We recognise that parents / carers have a vital role to play and that there is a need to establish strong home-school links and communication systems that can be utilised whenever there is a concern about attendance.
Where problems arise which affect a student’s attendance, the school will investigate the matter and attempt to work in partnership with parents / carers, students and the Education Engagement Service to resolve them as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The importance of good attendance is given a high profile within the school. Students will be reminded of the expectations regarding attendance and punctuality regularly through lessons, assemblies and the rewards systems.
Absence
If you consider your child too unwell to attend school you should call 01749 678 799 and press 1 to report their absence on every day of their absence. You should leave a clear message detailing your child’s name, tutor group and the reason for their absence.
Please be aware, the Department for Education regard any student’s attendance below 90% as a persistent absence. A 90% attendance rate over a child’s whole time at school (average 19 days’ absence each year) would mean that by the end of Year 11, the equivalent of nearly half a school year will have been missed.
• Annual attendance of 95% is 10 days that your child has been absent
• Annual attendance of 90% is 19 days absent, that is almost 4 school weeks missed
• Annual attendance of 85% is 29 days absent, that is almost 6 school weeks missed
• Annual Attendance of 80% is 38 days absent, that is over 7 school weeks missed
Punctuality
Punctuality is an important part of attendance. There are five hours of learning per day; lateness to school and poor punctuality to lessons will have a significant impact on learning.
- If a student is 15 minutes late to school each day they will miss two full weeks of learning in one year.
Students are expected to be on site by 8:40am in the morning. They need to be at their tutor room by 8:45am promptly.
Students who arrive after 9:05am will be marked with an unauthorised late (U code). This has a negative impact on overall attendance and could be a factor in triggering attendance action.
Students who arrive late to school are expected to attend the “late gate” and sign in at the Pastoral Office. Students without an acceptable reason for lateness can expect a sanction.
Lateness to lessons impacts on the learning of the whole class. It will be addressed by staff, and students can expect a sanction. Repeated lateness to lessons will incur greater sanctions.
Combining good attendance and good punctuality ensures that your child has the best possible preparation for taking their place in the wider community. We ask for your support in working with us to ensure good attendance and punctuality.
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