If we achieve 90% on a test, that feels like a real success. But, 90% attendance means that your child has missed a day of school every fortnight.

Students who achieved 8+ grades 9-7 (inc.English & Maths) in their 2018 GCSEs had an average attendance of 98.3%.

Students who did not achieve any grades higher than a 3 in their 2018 GCSEs had an average attendance of 91.5%.

90% attendance isn’t good enough!

We run a breakfast club from 8.00am so that students are able to be on site in good time for the start of the school day. All students should arrive at the academy by 8.20am, which is when we open the doors. Any student arriving between 8.30am and 9.00am will be marked as late. Any student arriving after 9.00am will be marked as unauthorised absent. This is when the academy closes its register.

It is important that you contact the school if your child is going to be late.

Any student late for school will attend a 20 minute detention at break the same day. Failure to attend will result in the detention being scaled up. Frequent latecomers will be issued with a detention until 4pm on Friday. This is in addition to the daily detentions.

Find some top tips on keeping well over winter with our Assembly that has been delivered to all students.

Speak to us, as soon as possible about any issue which may impact on your child’s attendance. Inform the Attendance Team or the Head of Year at the earliest point.

Telephone calls are made to every parent/carer of a student who is absent from the academy each morning. If we cannot make contact, a text message will be sent. A possible follow up home visit may be made.

Time off for illness should be a last resort. But, if your child is off ill, please contact us on each day of your child’s absence.

If your child is off for 3 days or more we will visit you at home and assess what additional support, you may need. We will also do this if there are concerns for your child’s attendance.

Please note that medical appointments are still absences. They damage your child’s learning if taken during school hours. Every effort should be made to arrange appointments outside of school hours. If this is not possible students should attend school before and after their appointment. Most appointments do not justify a full day’s absence from school.

We celebrate good attendance here at the Academy. We will always recognise excellent and improving attendance. We also acknowledge continued attendance in difficult or challenging circumstances. Students are recognised at awards ceremonies and are offered rewards throughout the school year. Those students that have achieved excellent attendance will be able to attend trips.

We also run a competition for each form. The attendance competition runs continuously every two weeks. The competition identifies those best attending forms in the previous two week period, so everyone has a chance of winning. The winning prize(s) is chocolates!

We close for 70 days of holidays each academic year. We expect all parents/carers to take their family holidays whilst the academy is closed. If you want to take your child on a leave of absence from the academy, you should inform the Principal in writing. You will need to give at least 10 days’ notice. The application will be looked at on an individual basis and you will be informed by letter of the outcome.

Only those holidays that satisfy exceptional circumstances will be authorised. This is what The Department of Education guidelines state.

It is highly unusual to grant a leave of absence during term time.  Any holiday taken without permission from the Principal will be unauthorised. This will be referred to the Local Authority for possible legal action. This can result in a substantial fine.

We will try and accommodate all religious celebrations within our use of the flexible working day and prayer rooms. All leave of absence requests, must be applied for in advance to the Principal.

Absence without authorisation on these occasions may result in the absence being unauthorised and possible referral to the local authority for legal action.

Please find our Holiday Request Form here.

Persistent absence is when a student has below 90% attendance  or a student has 5 days absence or 10 sessions (half days) in a 30-day period.

Where we have concerns about your child’s attendance, you will be asked to attend a meeting with the Attendance Officer and the Head of Year. You will be required to provide medical evidence for every day that your child was absent.

We will work with you to identify barriers to good attendance. We will offer you every possible support to ensure your child attends school regularly.

If over a period of time, we have not seen an appropriate improvement in your child’s attendance, we may refer the matter to the Local Authority for legal action.

Please see below Important information for parents regarding absence from school from September 2024. 

Please contact @Attendance (Walkden) if you require any further information or explanation. 

Department of Education