School Attendance Matters
Please read our Attendance Policy and Leaflet below:
If your child is going to be absent for school parents and carers are requested to complete the Pupil Leave of Absence Form in advance of the expected absence
School attendance is the key to enabling students to maximise the educational opportunities available to them, allowing them to become emotionally resilient, confident and competent adults who are able to realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to their community.
With this in mind, Bellerive aim to do all we can to ensure that pupils are attending school every day. This will give them the best possible outcome and opportunities when leaving school and moving on in life as young adults. We will continue to implement and review the approach outlined below to encourage good attendance:
- All parents/carers will regularly receive messages encouraging positive attendance routines or statistics relating to attendance.
- Parents/carers will be notified if their daughter’s attendance falls to 95%; our school expectation is that pupils have at least 97% attendance.
-
If pupils attendance drops to 92%, equating to 65 – 95 hours of lost learning in an academic year, an additional letter will be sent home and parents/carers may be invited into school for a meeting to help identify any barriers or challenges impacting attendance. Support will be offered if required.
-
If pupil's attendance drops to 90% or below, equating to 95 - 145 hours of lost learning in an academic year, they classify as a 'persistent absentee'. Parents will likely be invited into school for a meeting and the Educational Welfare Officer may become involved.
-
5 or more days unauthorised absence in any 10 consecutive school weeks may lead to a fine of £80 per parent, which can increase to £160 per parent if it is not paid within 21 days.
-
Please see new DfE statutory guidance in place from August 2024 for further information: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bf300da44f1c4c23e5bd1b/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_-_August_2024.pdf