Attendance and Absence

On The Day Absence  

To report your sixth form student absent please do the following on each day of absence.  

1. Call KES Academy on 01553 773606 and follow the prompts.   

2. If you are leaving a message on the answer machine, please state:

a. Your child’s full name. 

b. Your name and relationship to your child. 

c. The reason for the absence – please provide a brief description of the reason.  If the absence is due to ill-health, please give a brief description of the symptoms.   

d. Restate the student’s full name again (as this can be poorly recorded at the start of a message) 

e. Let us know if there is any support that we can provide. 

The absence report will be acknowledged with a follow up email to the contact details that we hold for you on the school Management Information System.     

Planned / Known Absence: 6thformattendance@kesacademy.org.uk 

To request a known absence for your sixth form child please do the following.  

1. Please send an email to 6thformattendance@kesacademy.org.uk  

2. In the email please: 

a. Write your child’s full name. 

b. Write your name and relationship to your child. 

c. The duration of the requested absence  

d. Write The reason for the absence – please provide a brief description of the reason.  If the absence is due to a medical appointment, please give a brief description.   

e. Attach a screen shot or a document to support the reason for the absence (see below) 

f. Let us know if there is any support that we can provide. 

3. If you are unable to email us, please call the Sixth Form Year Team on 01553 773606 

The absence report will be acknowledged with a follow up email to the contact details that we hold for you on the school Management Information System.     

Alternatively for family holiday requests you may still use this form. 

Authorised and Un-Authorised Absence 

Authorised Absences - likely to be approved 

• Illness – Genuine sickness that prevents attendance. Please provide details.  
• Medical or dental appointments – When unavoidable and ideally arranged outside school hours.  Please provide a screenshot or document to confirm this appointment.  
• Religious observance – For days within the recognised faith calendar. 
• Family bereavement – Close family member’s death or funeral. 
• Exceptional circumstances – Such as a serious family crisis or other situations agreed by the headteacher. 
• Approved educational activities – Off-site provision arranged by the school or local authority  

Unauthorised Absences - unlikely to be approved 

• Holidays during term time – Generally not considered exceptional; parents can be fined. 
• Shopping trips, birthdays, or leisure activities – Not valid reasons. 
• Absence without explanation – If no reason is provided or evidence requested is not supplied. 
• Parent decides to keep child home without school agreement – Even if they believe the reason is valid. 
• Late arrival after register closes – Recorded as unauthorised (Code U). 
• Unapproved term-time travel – Including extended trips abroad.  

The above lists of examples do not include all types of absence.  If you would like further information, please contact the KES Sixth Form Team above.  

The Impact of School Absence on a Sixth Form Student  

The impact of school absence on lifetime earnings 

• This report estimates the monetary impact of one day of school absence in state-funded secondary schools. 
• The report investigates the link between school absence and earnings. 
• We find an additional day of absence for the typical student is associated with a decrease of £750 in future earnings. 
• We also find increased absence increases the odds, at age 28, of not being in stable employment 
• We also find a reduction in earnings at age 28 of 0.8% per day for the typical student. 

The impact of school absence on Mental Health and Wellbeing 

• Children who miss school are significantly more likely to experience mental ill health, and those with mental health conditions are more likely to be absent.  
• Analysis of 1.1 million pupils in England shows:  
  • Risk of mental ill health rises from 1.82% with no absence to 3.7% with 20% absence, and 5.27% with 30% absence. 
  • Children with mental health conditions miss almost three times more school (16% of sessions) than those without (6%). Research Link 
• Sixth Form students face high academic pressure and transitional stress. Absence can:  
  • Increase isolation, reducing resilience and coping skills. 
  • Exacerbate anxiety and depression, especially during exam preparation. 
  • Lead to lower attainment, which further impacts self-esteem and future opportunities. 

Sixth Form communication of Student Absence 

As part of our statutory duty of care, the Sixth Form is committed to safeguarding all students and promoting their academic success. Attendance in lessons is a fundamental expectation, as it ensures that students are on site, actively participating in learning, and benefiting from the expertise of subject specialists. To uphold these standards, the Sixth Form operates a robust attendance monitoring system. 

Whenever a student is absent from a scheduled lesson without prior authorisation, parents or guardians will be notified promptly. This communication serves two key purposes: firstly, to confirm the student’s whereabouts and safety; and secondly, to reinforce the importance of consistent engagement with the curriculum. Regular attendance is directly linked to academic achievement and personal development, and maintaining open channels of communication with parents enables us to work collaboratively in supporting students to meet these expectations. 

Parent Actions to Improve Your Child’s Attendance 

1. Set Clear Expectations

a. Emphasize the importance of attendance for future success (university, apprenticeships, careers). 

b. Agree on a minimum attendance target (e.g., 95%). 

2. Monitor Attendance Regularly 

a. Use school portals or apps to track attendance. 

b. Address issues early before patterns develop. 

3. Establish Routines 

a. Ensure consistent sleep schedules and morning routines. 

b. Prepare essentials (uniform, resources) the night before. 

4. Communicate with School 

a. Inform staff promptly about any barriers (health, transport). 

b. Work collaboratively on support plans if needed. 

5. Positive Reinforcement 

a. Praise and reward good attendance (e.g., privileges, recognition). 

b. Celebrate milestones (e.g., 100% attendance weeks). 

Student Actions to Improve Their Own Attendance 

1. Understand the Impact of Absence 

a. Recognize that missing lessons means missing key content and feedback 

b. Absence negatively impacts references, predicted grades, and future opportunities. 

2. Plan Your Time 

a. Use planners or digital calendars to organize deadlines and sessions. 

b. Schedule independent study around lessons, not instead of them. 

3. Identify and Solve Factors that Reduce Your Attendance 

a. Seek help for stress, workload, or transport issues early. 

b. Use pastoral or academic support services. 

4. Work With Your Peers 

a. Form study groups and encourage each other to attend. 

b. Share notes only as a backup, not as a substitute for lessons. 

5. Keep Yourself Motivated 

a. Set short-term goals (e.g., attend all lessons this week). 

b. Connect attendance to long-term aspirations (university, career). 

School Support to Maintain and Improve Student Attendance 

1. Clear Attendance Policy 

a. Publish expectations for sixth form attendance (e.g., 95%+ target). 

b. Share consequences for persistent absence and rewards for excellent attendance. 

2. Flexible Support 

a. Offer catch-up sessions or supervised study for missed lessons. 

b. Provide mental health and wellbeing support for stress-related absences. 

3. Positive Reinforcement 

a. Recognise high attendance through certificates, newsletters, and assemblies. 

b. Include attendance in sixth form awards and UCAS references. 

4. Communication 

a. Send regular attendance updates to parents and students. 

b. Use texts/emails for same-day absence notifications. 

5. Rewards and Support 

a. Praise and reward 100% attendance.  Celebrate success with guardians.  

b. Attendance awards to those with 100% attendance each week and half term.  

c. Support as above, change in curriculum offer.  

d. Mentoring.  

KES Academy Sixth Form Team  

Communication Regarding Student Absence 

In accordance with safeguarding requirements, the school will notify parents or guardians when a student is absent without explanation. This procedure ensures that the student’s safety and wellbeing are verified promptly. Maintaining clear and timely communication between home and school is essential for safeguarding and for supporting consistent attendance. Parents and guardians are expected to provide accurate information regarding absences to enable the school to fulfil its duty of care. 

6thformattendance@kesacademy.org.uk 

Rachelgedge@inspirationtrust.org 

Alexspindler@inspirationtrust.org 

Alistairwhite@inspirationtrust.org