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Attendance & Absence
Research commissioned by the Department for Education shows missing school for even a day can mean a child is less likely to achieve good grades, which can have a damaging effect on their life chances. At King Edward VII Academy, our aim is to work with parents to ensure that all our pupils receive the most from their education and reach their full potential.
View the video below by Mr Stek, Assistant Principal, leading on attendance, to find out the ways in which we are supporting our students to increase their attendance.
This information is to remind all parents/carers regarding the law that requires them to ensure that their child attends school regularly. The Government remains very clear that no child should miss school apart from in exceptional circumstances and schools must continue to take steps to reduce absence to support children’s attainment.
In the DfE policy document entitled, ‘School Attendance: Guidance for maintained schools, academies, independent schools and local authorities’ it states, ‘Principals should not grant leave of absence unless there are exceptional circumstances. The application must be made in advance and the Principal must be satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case which warrant the leave. Where a leave of absence is granted, the head teacher will determine the number of days a pupil can be away from school. A leave of absence is granted entirely at the Principal's discretion’.
If the school does not receive a request for leave, the Principal will be unable to consider your individual circumstances and the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. There will be no obligation on the Principal to reconsider authorising the leave if an application has not been made in advance.
The online form for requests leave of absence for students can be found hereThe Local Authority operates a system where any pupil will meet the criteria for legal intervention where they have at least 9 sessions (4.5 school days) lost to unauthorised absence by the pupil during the last 6 school weeks.
The intervention could be in the form of a Fixed Penalty Notice. Any pupil at KES Academy who meets the criteria, will be referred to the Local Authority for action to be considered.
If a Fixed Penalty Notice is issued the arrangement for the payment will be detailed on the Penalty Notice. The penalty is £60 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice, rising to £120 if paid after 21 days but within 28 days of the receipt of the Notice. The Fixed Penalty Notice is per parent per child. You should be aware that failure to pay the total amount within the timescale will result in legal action being taken.
We hope we can count on your support in this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us on the details below if you have any questions.
If you have any issues relating to your school attendance please contact our Attendance Manager on extension 257 or email janeedwards@kesacademy.org.uk.
Read our Local Attendance Policy here
Resources
Attendance Email - Thursday 25th January 2024
Listen to: Audio Attendance Email - Thursday 25th January 2024
