At Whitcliffe Mount Academy, we are committed to working closely with pupils, parents, and carers to support excellent attendance. We know that regular attendance gives children the best opportunity to succeed academically, develop positive relationships and make the most of every aspect of school life.

We also recognise that there can be a variety of reasons why attendance may sometimes be challenging. If you are experiencing difficulties that are affecting your child's attendance, we encourage you to speak to us as early as possible. By working together, we can identify any barriers and provide support where needed.

Our shared goal is to ensure that every child attends school regularly, feels happy and supported, and has every opportunity to achieve their full potential both now and in the future.

Reporting a Student Absence

Please notify school before 8:30am each morning of every day that your child will be absent:

Telephone: 01274 851152 (Extension 1)

Arbor App: Quick actions – attendance – log absence

Email: wma.attendance@sharemat.co.uk 

The parents/carers of children who are absent and have not informed school will be sent a text message to inform them of their child's absence.

Please be aware that an absence will initially be recorded as unauthorised until a satisfactory explanation has been provided and the school has determined whether the absence can be authorised.

We will contact parents and carers promptly if we have any concerns about a child’s attendance or punctuality.

Appointments During the School Day

Wherever possible, medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours to minimise disruption to your child's education.

If an appointment during the school day is unavoidable, please inform the school in advance and provide the appropriate evidence where required. Students are expected to attend school before and after their appointment wherever possible.

If you need to request a leave of absence during term time, please complete and return a Leave of Absence Request Form. Further information can be found in our attendance guidance.

Illness, Sickness and Medical Absence                                  

We understand that there will be times when your child is genuinely too unwell to attend school. However, many common illnesses and minor ailments can be managed whilst remaining in school, helping them to continue their learning and maintain good attendance.

Symptoms such as coughs, colds, sore throats, runny noses, headaches, and period pain do not usually require a child to stay at home. Where appropriate, pupils can bring prescribed or authorised medication to school and manage their symptoms throughout the day. In some circumstances, attending school later in the day, once medication has taken effect or symptoms have improved, may be a suitable option rather than missing the entire school day.

We recognise that some pupils may experience longer-term or ongoing medical conditions. Where attendance is affected by a medical issue, we are committed to working with families to provide support. To help us understand and appropriately support your child, the Attendance Team may request evidence of prescribed medication, medical appointments, or advice from healthcare professionals.

If your child is too unwell to attend school, we would encourage you to seek advice from your local pharmacy or GP, particularly if symptoms persist or become more severe. Medical advice can help ensure your child receives the appropriate treatment and can return to school as soon as they are well enough.

Our priority is to support every child to achieve the best possible attendance while ensuring that those who are genuinely unwell receive the care and support they need.

Attendance Matters

At Whitcliffe Mount, we are committed to achieving the highest possible levels of attendance so that every student can make the most of the learning opportunities available to them. Regular attendance plays a vital role in helping students achieve their academic potential, develop positive habits and prepare for further education, employment and adult life.

Every child has a fundamental right to an education, and parents and carers have a responsibility to ensure that their child attends school regularly and on time.

Good, consistent attendance is essential to a student’s academic progress, wellbeing and future opportunities. Evidence shows that students who attend school regularly, are better able to engage with their learning, build positive relationships and develop the knowledge and skills they need for their future.

Persistent or poor attendance can have a significant impact on educational outcomes. Students who miss school regularly can fall behind with their learning and may have fewer opportunities to achieve their full potential. Being absent from school can also reduce opportunities to develop important social skills and increase vulnerability to negative influences outside school.

At Whitcliffe Mount, we strive for 100% attendance for every student. We actively promote good attendance and punctuality and work closely with students, parents and carers to address any barriers to regular attendance.

We believe that establishing good attendance and punctuality habits from an early age helps prepare our students for the expectations of further education, employment and adult working life.

Every day matters. Every lesson counts.

Why is Good Attendance Important?

Regular attendance gives students the best possible opportunity to succeed, both in school and beyond. Attending every day helps students to:

• Keep up with their learning – regular attendance makes it easier to understand new work and build on previous learning.
• Feel confident and secure – being in school regularly helps students develop positive relationships and feel part of the school community.
• Enjoy their learning – consistent attendance gives students the opportunity to engage fully in lessons, activities and wider school life.
• Achieve better results – attending regularly supports stronger academic progress and helps students reach their potential.
• Build resilience – developing the habits of regular attendance, punctuality and commitment prepares students for future challenges.
• Improve future opportunities – good attendance helps prepare students for further education, employment and adult life.
• Develop a positive record – attendance and punctuality can contribute to references for future employment, college, university and other opportunities.

How we Celebrate Good Attendance:

At Whitcliffe Mount, we recognise and celebrate students who demonstrate excellent attendance and punctuality. We believe that positive recognition encourages students to develop strong attendance habits and take pride in their commitment to school.

Throughout the year, students can receive a range of rewards, including:

• Certificates – celebrating students who achieve excellent attendance.
• Letters and postcards home – recognising students’ achievements and sharing their success with parents and carers.
• Half-termly incentives – exciting rewards such as Pizza parties, Just Eat vouchers, ice cream van visits, cinema afternoons, boxing sessions with The Training Cave and much more.
• Weekly Zero Heroes – celebrating students who achieve zero absences and zero late marks during the week.
• Annual rewards – recognising and celebrating students who maintain excellent attendance throughout the school year.

Every day counts – and every success deserves to be celebrated!

Leave of Absence in Term Time

There is a clear link between regular school attendance and success in learning. Every lesson provides an opportunity for students to learn new knowledge, develop skills and make progress. When students miss school regularly, they can miss important learning and find it more difficult to keep up with their peers.

Research has shown that the amount of school missed can have a significant impact on attainment. For example, 17 days of absence across a school year is equivalent to around 90% attendance and can have a substantial impact on a student’s GCSE outcomes. Even small amounts of absence can quickly add up over time.

What does 90% attendance mean?

Although 90% attendance may sound positive, it means that a student is absent for:

• Half a day every week
• Around 4 weeks of school each year
• Approximately half a year of education over five years of secondary school

This is why we encourage all students to aim for the highest possible attendance. We are proud of the high standards we set at Whitcliffe Mount and want every student to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Parents and carers should be aware that there is no automatic right to take a child out of school during term time. Requests for leave of absence are considered individually by the Headteacher and will only be authorised where there are exceptional circumstances.

Any request for leave of absence during term time should be submitted at least four weeks before the requested dates.

We ask parents and carers to support us by planning holidays and appointments outside of school time wherever possible, helping to ensure that students do not miss valuable learning.

Penalty Notices

Penalty Notices may be issued where a child has an unauthorised absence from school during term time. This may include circumstances where:

• Permission has not been requested from the Headteacher before a child is taken out of school during term time.
• A request for leave of absence has been refused, but the absence takes place anyway.
• A child does not return to school on the agreed return date and there is no satisfactory explanation.
• The absence is recorded as unauthorised for at least 10 sessions (5 school days) during the current term.

If parents or carers continue to take their child out of school without authorisation after a Penalty Notice has been issued, the Local Authority may consider prosecution under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996.

Extended absence

Parents and carers should also be aware that if a child fails to return to school following 20 school days of absence, they may be at risk of losing their school place, in accordance with the relevant school and Local Authority procedures.

Applying for exceptional leave of absence

We understand that there may occasionally be exceptional circumstances where a request for leave during term time is necessary. All requests are considered individually by the Headteacher.

If you wish to request leave of absence due to exceptional circumstances, please complete the relevant form at least four weeks before the proposed absence.

Please complete our online Leave of Absence Request Form.

Please note that submitting a request does not mean that the absence will be authorised. Each application is considered based on its individual circumstances.

Student Absence Support

If you require support or advice regarding student absence, please refer to our Student Absence Booklet below.

A downloadable copy is available at the bottom of this page, along with an easy-read version.

STUDENT ABSENCE BOOKLET by Murphy, Laura

Contact the Attendance Team

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance or punctuality, our Attendance Team is here to help.

General Attendance Enquiries

Telephone: 01274 851 152 – Extension 4
Email: wma.attendance@sharemat.co.uk

Attendance and Punctuality Lead

Mrs J Piper
Email: jade.piper@sharemat.co.uk

Attendance Administration Officer

Mrs L Murphy
Email: laura.murphy@sharemat.co.uk

 

For further information, please read our Attendance Policy.