attendance
Reporting absence
If you are absent due to sickness or an emergency, your parent/carer must call school on 01422 483354 before 8.30am, giving the reason for your absence. Please note, we cannot take absence messages via other channels such as SMS or Facebook messages.
Attendance and punctuality are important
We expect all students to attend school every day unless absence is unavoidable due to illness or exceptional circumstances.
Parents and carers must notify the school on the first day of absence and keep us informed of any ongoing issues.
We work closely with families to support good attendance and to address any barriers that may prevent students from coming to school. Missed school day affect your progress, and arriving late disrupts others’ learning as well as your own.
Please do your best to be here on time each day.
Appointments and exceptional events
Where possible, please make medical appointments outside of school hours. If this isn’t possible, or for other planned events, you must call Student Services in advance. Students must sign out at Reception before leaving the site and can only do so with permission.
Should I be at school?
If you have a mild illness, it can be tricky to know whether you should be in school or not. Certain contagious illnesses require you to stay at home. For guidance see www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school. If in doubt, speak to Student Services.
Holidays
You should only take holidays during the school holiday breaks. Permission for holidays taken in term time cannot be granted and will be deemed as unauthorised absences, which may result in a penalty fine.
At The Brooksbank School, we believe that excellent attendance and punctuality are fundamental to every student’s success.
Regular attendance ensures that students make strong academic progress, build positive relationships and fully engage in the wide range of opportunities our school provides.
The more days a student is absent from school, the greater the risk of underachievement and social isolation. Good attendance and punctuality build positive life habits that lead to future success.
175
non school days in each year. Stick to these for personal commitments and give yourself the best chance of success.
Why does attendance matter?
Attendance in Numbers
In most contexts, 90% would be considered a good result, but in attendance terms, having around 90% attendance can have devastating consequences for a young person’s future. Over five school years, the impact of absence becomes significant:
90% attendance = the equivalent of 19 weeks (half a school year) missed
80% attendance = the equivalent of 38 weeks (a full school year) missed
Missing school just twice a month can result in nearly four weeks of lost learning over the academic year.
Research shows that students who miss between 10-20% of school have only a 35% chance of achieving five or more good GCSEs (Grade 4 or higher).
Working together to Support Students
In most contexts, 90% would be considered a good result, but in attendance terms, having around 90% attendance can have devastating consequences for a young person’s future. Over five school years, the impact of absence becomes significant:
90% attendance = the equivalent of 19 weeks (half a school year) missed
80% attendance = the equivalent of 38 weeks (a full school year) missed
Missing school just twice a month can result in nearly four weeks of lost learning over the academic year.
Research shows that students who miss between 10-20% of school have only a 35% chance of achieving five or more good GCSEs (Grade 4 or higher).
Student days in school
Half term
Full term
Autumn 1
33
Autumn 2
67
34
Spring 1
34
Spring 2
64
30
Summer 1
24
Summer 2
59
35
Total Days
190
190