Class Attendance Percentages
The percentage of attendance for this week back is to 96.7%. Mrs Abson’s and Mrs Thirkell’s classes are joint top of our classes this week 97.4%.
Please note our new Leave of Absence information for parents (see below).
Attendance percentages for week ending 15th October 2021.
| Class | Percentage 8/10/2021 | Percentage 15/10/2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 97.1% | 97.1% |
| Class 2 | 97.3% | 97.4% |
| Class 3 | 97.5% | 97.4% |
| Class 4 | 95.9% | 96.3% |
| Class 5 | 95.8% | 95.8% |
| Class 6 | 94.9% | 95.7% |
| Whole School | 96.5% | 96.7% |
The Importance of School Attendance
We want our children at Kirk Merrington Primary School to enjoy coming to school. Our ‘floor target’ is 96%, but we hope for 100%.
Research has proven that there is a high correlation between school attendance and academic performance and success.
Absence from school is often the greatest single cause of poor performance and achievement.
Why is it so important to attend every day?
- Learning is a progressive activity; each day’s lessons build upon those of the previous day(s).
- Reading the material and completing work independently does not compensate for direct interaction with the teacher.
- Many classes use discussions, demonstrations, experiments and participation as part of the daily learning activities, and these cannot be made up by those who are absent.
Are there other benefits to my child?
- Pupils with good attendance records generally achieve higher grades and enjoy school more.
- Having a good education will help to give your child the best possible start in life.
- Regular school attendance patterns encourage the development of other responsible patterns of behaviour.
What are the risks of frequent absences?
- A child who does not attend school regularly will be unlikely to keep up with the work.
- The more pupils miss school, the lower their grades; the lower their grades, the less they want to stay in school.
What can parents do to help?
- Parents must model the value of education, including the importance of regular attendance.
- Make sure that your child goes to school regularly and arrives on time-you will establish a good habit that they will carry through life.
- If your child starts missing school, work with the school to put things right. Make sure your child understands that you do not approve of him/her missing school.
- If your child is ill or must miss school for some other reason, contact school immediately. If you ask for homelearning, make sure your child completes it.
- Do not expect school to approve of shopping trips, birthday treats etc. during school hours. Arrange family holidays so that your child will not miss any learning.
- Take an interest in your child’s school work and be involved in the school as much as possible-your child will value school more if you do.
Leave of Absence in Term Time
Head teachers are no longer able to grant leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Governors have discussed and agreed that the circumstances below are seen as exceptional and authorised leave of absence will be granted for the following only:
-
- Wedding of a parent
- Funeral of a close relative
- National sporting activity
Any other request which does not fall into one of the above category’s will be unauthorised.
An application for leave of absence must be made in advance on the appropriate form (available from the school office, school website or you can download the Request for Leave of Absence form below). A leave of absence is granted entirely at the headteacher’s discretion. As stated in the most recent DFE guidance on attendance, if an application for leave of absence is not made prior to the time of the required absence then the absence will be recorded as unauthorised regardless of circumstances.
Please note that absence will not be authorised under any circumstances during any period of public examinations or internal assessments.
Penalty Notice
A penalty notice is a fine issued to parents or carers who fail to ensure their child/children attend school regularly. If your child accrues more than 7 days unauthorised absence, parents could be issued a penalty notice. This includes taking holidays in term time without the schools permission.
Penalty fines are £60.00 per child per parent if paid within 21 days, and £120 if paid between 22 and 28 days. If the fine is not paid, parents will be reported for prosecution.
REMEMBER – Regular attendance is necessary for success in school. Help ensure that your child has the best opportunity for success by making sure he/she is in school every day
