Attendance & Absence
Attendance Matters & so do you!
Our vision is for all our students to be exceptional by consistently fulfilling 100% attendance and punctuality goals
Why getting to school on time, every day, matters!
Regularly missing lessons puts children at risk of falling behind their peers.
Our aim is to make sure every pupil receives a full-time education that gives them the best possible chance to reach their full social and academic potential.
Across five school years, a pupil attending only 90% of the time will have lost the equivalent of half a year of schooling. Likewise, frequent lateness results in lost learning time, and when this happens often, it can seriously hinder a child’s progress.
what does attendance look like for you?
We expect outstanding attendance for all, however we do recognise that there are times when pupils will absent from school.
If attendance drops below 97% the school will contact parents immediately to put a plan in place to make improvements.
We work relentlessly to support pupils and parents achieve 100% attendance
Parents
As a Parent or Carer you can help by:
- ensuring your child understands the importance of excellent attendance and punctuality
- taking an interest in their education – asking about school work and encourage them to get involved in school activities
- discussing any problems they may have at school and inform their Pupil Support Officer to pass on concerns quickly
- not allowing them take time off school for minor ailments – particularly those which would not prevent you from going to work
- arranging appointments after school hours, at weekends or during school holidays will help to prevent disruption to your child’s education and to the school
- being open and willing to work with us to improve your child’s attendance
Students
You can improve your attendance by:
- speaking to a trusted adult about the reasons why you might not want to come to school
- trying hard every morning to get up and get to school, unless you are really unwell
- getting an early night, feeling tired on a morning can make getting to school harder
- make sure you get to school on time every day
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if my child is not well enough to go to school?
If you believe your child is too unwell to attend school, please call and leave a message before 8:30am on each day of their absence, including your child’s name, year group, and the reason they are not in school.
Email: absence@asa.weareauthentic.education
Phone: 01305 830650
Whenever possible, medical appointments should be arranged outside school hours. If your child’s attendance is a concern, we may request evidence of any medical appointments.
What does authorised and unauthorised absence mean?
As an academy, we are required to follow national legislation, which means we cannot approve requests for holidays during term time.
For this reason, any absences—or repeated lateness—that have not been authorised may result in a penalty notice. These fines are issued by the local authority, and we do not have control over when or how they are applied.
Leave of absence during term time can only be granted in exceptional circumstances, and therefore we cannot guarantee approval. If permission is not obtained from the Head of Academy, the absence will be recorded as ‘unauthorised’, including late arrivals.
If you wish to find out whether an absence can be approved, you must contact the school beforehand and seek authorisation from the Academy Headteacher.
What will happen if my child misses school?
We regularly update parents about their child’s attendance and check in with them to confirm any absences. This helps us ensure every pupil receives the support they need to make good progress at the Academy.
Our Attendance Team works hard to assist pupils and often identifies emerging patterns of non‑attendance. They always collaborate with parents and carers to understand these issues and explore ways to improve attendance.
Exceptional Leave of Absence Form
The school will not authorise holidays during term time.
If you do take you child out of school for a holiday for more that 10 sessions (5 days) the school will issue a fine via Dorset County Council. For more information please visit: Children's Services code of conduct
However, on occasions, there may be valid reasons for applying for an authorised absence. An absence request form should be obtained from the school office or via the link below, completed by the parent/carer and returned by the student to the Head of House.
Attendance Policy
Discuss your child's absence
If you wish to discuss your child’s absence with their Head of House, please telephone the absence line (01305 830650) or email office@asa.weareauthentic.education