Absence Policy
The Government and the School attach particular importance to regular school attendance. Failure to attend regularly can lead to educational disadvantage and can disrupt continuity of learning not only for the pupil concerned but for others within the class. Sunderland High School has a clear policy that regular attendance is vital to the smooth and successful running of the School. Parents are asked to give this policy their full support.
All schools, including independent schools, are required by law to keep and to publish attendance figures which are compiled on an annual basis by the School for the Department for Employment and Skills.
Within the School, it is the responsibility of Form Teachers to keep accurate records of the number of half days (sessions) missed through authorised and unauthorised absence for pupils of compulsory school age. Although Sixth Form students are usually beyond compulsory school age, they are required by the School to adhere to the same rules concerning attendance and registration. Attendance registers are marked at the beginning of the morning and afternoon sessions and pupils marked present or absent.
Pupils who miss registration through lateness are required to report to the school office so that their time of arrival can be noted. The DfES guidelines state that repeated absences at the beginning of a school session can amount to failure to attend regularly. Parents are strongly urged, therefore, to ensure that, as far as possible, pupils arrive at school in time for registration. Senior School registration is at 8.40 a.m. and Junior School registration is at 8.45 a.m.
It is the School's responsibility to decide whether an absence is authorised or unauthorised. The School is given guidelines by which to judge whether an absence is authorised or not.
Authorised absence would normally include the following reasons:
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Medical/dental or any other unavoidable cause (to be specified);
- Day of religious observance in the religious body to which the parents belong;
- If suitable transport is not available and the school is not within walking distance;
- Annual family holiday for which leave by the School has been granted, though only in exceptional circumstances may the leave granted total more than two weeks in any school year. Parents are asked to avoid asking for leave for pupils to go on holiday except in situations when it is impossible for the dates to fit with the term dates.
- Exclusion for a fixed or indefinite period.
Other authorised absences include activities which are organised by the School or which are part of the normal school programme. They will include such things as Work Experience, educational visits, approved sporting activities, etc.
Absences which are unexplained or unjustified are not authorised.
In all cases of absence or lateness, parents are asked to ring the school office with the reasons for a pupil's absence as soon as possible on the day in question, and to follow that up with a note to the Form Teacher. In the case of annual family holidays, approval for leave must be requested in good time (four weeks where possible) before the planned absence. Parents are urged to keep a careful note of School dates so that holidays are scheduled within the school holiday periods as far as possible.
Dr Angela Slater
Reviewed : May 2004 | Download PDF | Return to School Policies | Top of Page
