STUDENT Attendance

Academic success and good attendance come hand in hand, which is why it is one of our main priorities. We appreciate the support of all our parents who encourage their children to attend school regularly and offer rewards to students with good and improving behaviour. For a child to reach their full educational achievement, a high level of attendance is essential and is subject to education law.

The link between attendance and attainment is firmly established, and those who attend school more frequently ultimately achieve greater qualifications and can access higher education, employment or training.

The school and local authorities check a student's attendance in school to monitor their welfare and wellbeing and support their attainment.

At Harper Green School, our whole school attendance target is 96%. Therefore, we expect all students to have an attendance rate above this figure.

The table below is a guideline for attendance; it's based on the percentage attendance for a whole school year and indicates whether attendance is currently impacting your child's potential attainment and future achievement.

Attendance Guideline
100%	No absences all school year	An outstanding attendee. These students will almost certainly achieve their true potential, giving them real opportunities for their future.
Above 97%	Absent for less than 6 days in a school year	An excellent attendee. These students are highly likely to achieve the best grades for their ability, giving them real opportunities for their future.
95% - 97%	Absent less than 10 days in a school year	A good attendee, however, attendance has begun a cause for concern and has dropped into the monitoring zone. They are likely to achieve grades that will give them opportunities for their future, however, further absences will jeopardise this.
90% - 95%	Absent for up to 20 days in a school year	Attendance is a cause for concern and being monitored. Absence could be making it difficult for the students to achieve their target grades; action to improve attendance is needed.
80% - 90%	Absent for between 20 and 40 days in a school year	Attendance is a cause for concern and action to improve is needed immediately. Students are missing so much time from school that it will be difficult for them to keep in touch with lessons or work. They are very likely to underachieve unless their attendance improves.
Below 80%	Absent for more than 40 days in a school year.	Attendance is a serious case for concern and action to improve is needed immediately. Students are missing so much time from school that it will be very difficult for them to keep in touch with lessons or work. They will underachieve unless their attendance improves.

Should there be a valid reason for absence, please ensure you phone the Student Welfare Officer on 01204 576207. We will need the following details:

Your name
Your child’s name and year group
A reason for the absence

If no reason is given for the absence, or the reason isn’t valid, the absence will be marked as unauthorised.

Please note: Where there are unauthorised absences, parents may face legal action from the Local Authority, in line with Bolton LA Penalty Notice Procedure.

Information for parents

FAQ's

What is our duty as parents/carers?

By law, you are legally responsible for;

Ensuring your children receive full time education
Their regular attendance at school

As a parent, you are committing an offence if you fail to make sure that your child attends school regularly, even if they are missing without your knowledge. You risk being issued with a penalty notice or being taken to Court.

The Local Authority may decide to prosecute a parent. If this happens:

Parents can be fined up to £2,500 or imprisoned for failing to ensure that their child attends school regularly. Magistrates can also impose a Parenting Order, which means that the parent has to participate in a counselling and guidance programme, usually a parenting class.

The Local Authority may issue a penalty notice. This is £60 if paid within 21 days or £120 if paid within 28 days. Failure to pay will typically lead to prosecution.

What can we do if our child is absent?

If your child is absent from school, as early as you can on the first day of absence, you must:

Phone the school, or
Send a note to school, or
Call at the school

When your child returns to school, always send a signed note which should:

Be dated and
Give the reason for absence.

The reasons your child should NOT be kept away from school include:

To look after brothers or sisters
To mind the house
To visit relatives
For long weekends
For shopping trips
For birthdays

Where possible all appointments at the dentist, doctors etc should be made outside of school time.

How can we work together with Harper Green School to make a difference for our child?

Help your school ensure that:

Rules are observed
Discipline is maintained
Other pupils and school staff are respected
All tasks and homework are completed
Your school's buildings and facilities are cared for

Your schools will inform you of:

The daily starting and finishing time
Term and holiday dates
Other days when the school will be closing

Your school will inform you if:

Your child is not attending
Your child is frequently late
Homework is not being completed

What is the student attendance target?

Harper Green School's student attendance target is 96%.

One school year at 90% attendance is the equivalent to four whole weeks of lessons missed!

90% attendance over five years of school is the equivalent to half a school year missed!

How can Harper Green School help?

Your children are very important to us all at Harper Green School and they deserve the best possible education. But sometimes, things can go wrong.

We can offer help by providing advice on any related problems your child may be experiencing.

How to contact us

Senior Pastoral Officer - 07733263375
Attendance Officer - 01204 576207
Reception - 01204 572941/574991/573540

Term Time Holidays

Taking a holiday during term means that students miss important school time both educationally and for other extracurricular activities. It is also difficult for them to catch up on work on their return.

Parents can be fined for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school. By law, you are legally responsible for ensuring your children receive full time education, and the government legislation states that school's are no longer able to authorise any term time holidays as outlined below.

Find out more about term time holidays