Attendance and Punctuality

Attendance and Punctuality

At John Flamsteed, we believe that all students should receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for every child to reach their potential.  As a consequence, this is a key policy and demonstrates the importance of the school working in partnership with families and external agencies to ensure that we do our best for all students whilst on roll in our school

We expect the highest level of attendance and punctuality from our pupils.  Evidence clearly shows that pupils who attend school regularly (at least 97%) make significantly better progress both academically and holistically than those that do not.  In addition to securing better outcomes in school, good attendance and punctuality support our students as they transition to the world of work and in becoming independent young adults.

All absences affect a child’s education and regular absence will seriously affect their learning. Regular absence can affect a child’s enjoyment of school (because they are trying to catch up) and in turn can affect their desire to attend school.

Statistics show that there is a clear link between good attendance and good academic achievement. 90% of young people who have attendance of 85% or below fail to achieve 5 or more GCSEs at grade 5 or above. Around 30% of them achieve no GCSEs at all.

How can we work together to secure good attendance and punctuality for all students?

  • Encourage your child to prepare the night before, make sure they are organised and have everything they need.
  • Make sure homework is completed on time, avoiding deadlines or catching up on work may affect their desire to attend (you can monitor this via Satchel:One)
  • Encourage your child to maintain a good routine, ensuring they are well rested and ready to face the day.
  • Talk through any social issues which may affect their attendance. The pastoral team are available to support with any concerns in this area.
  • Speak to a member of staff if you have concerns which are affecting your child’s attendance.

Please refer to the Attendance Policy for further guidance regarding support and interventions.