Good attendance is crucial if students are to do well at school and receive a reference which will encourage colleges or employers to offer you a place in their organisations.
No one wants to employ a young person who is often late or who is absent without a very good reason!
Do not miss school for any reason unless there are exceptional circumstances
Try to make appointments (e.g. dentist) outside school time
If you must take family holidays in term time a holiday request form must be completed and authorised by Mrs Kitchen, Assistant Headteacher (holiday request forms obtained from the school office) There are legal limits on how often this can be allowed.
Attendance Rates
+97% - Outstanding
94% - School Average
90-93% - Below Average
85-89% - A matter for concern
Less than 85% - Poor / Referral
Penalty Notice
Students' with below 85% attendance as a result of unauthorised absence are monitored by the School and EWO on a regular basis. Parents' / guardian are kept informed and if no improvement is made a Penalty notice will be issued to parents' / guardian by Cheshire Location Education Authority.
Payment of a Penalty Notice is required within 28 days at a charge of £50 and payment after this time but within 42 days is charged at £100. - Penalty Notices cannot be paid either in part or by installments (outside the set payment period).
Procedure if students are absent from school
Send a note to students Form Tutor explaining reason for absence as soon as student returns to school
If students are likely to be away from school for other reasons for more than 3 days Parents' / guardian should contact the school
Unexplained absences
Unexplained absences are considered as unauthorised. This means that they will be followed up by both the school and the Local Authority.
In the case of persistent unauthorised absence or persistent truancy the LEA may take legal action as outlined in Penalty Notice.
Lateness
Students' arriving at school late should go immediately to the Main School Office explaining clearly the reason for lateness - the Office Staff will mark the student present
Provide a signed note to Form Tutor or Subject Tutor from parents' / guardian confirming the reasons for the late arrival
Appointments out of school during school time
Parents' / guardian should write a letter explaining why and when students need to leave school. The note should be given to the Form Tutor who will provide a slip to take to the main school office
The student should take the slip to the main school office who will issue the student with an out of school pass
Students' returning to school after the appointment should report back to the main office where they will be signed back into school.
Malbank School Attendance Policy (RTF, 135KB)
