Attendance and Absence

Parents have a legal duty to ensure their children attend school regularly and there are strict Government rules on absence from school. If your child is absent from school, we must be notified of the reason by written note or telephone by 9.20 a.m. on the first day of absence. Failure to do so will mean the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. You will be contacted by the school by telephone if we have not heard from you by 9.30 a.m.

At the beginning of each school year parents are given notice of Hampshire County Council school holidays for the next two years. A school calendar of events is issued to all families in September which include details of training day closures for the coming year.

Each year there are only 190 statutory school days, which leaves 175 days (weekends and school holidays) for non urgent medical and dental appointments, treats and holidays.  Holidays should not be taken in term time and leave of absence for a family holiday will not be authorised unless circumstances are deemed to be exceptional. Any request for leave of absence should be made in advance to the Headteacher.

Regular absence and lateness is monitored by the school and by the local authority and any child who regularly misses school sessions (a session is either AM or PM and therefore 1 missed day counts as 2 sessions) will be issued with a penalty notice which will lead to a fine of £60 per parent per child, which rises to £120 if you don’t pay within 21 days.  This webpage serves as a Penalty Notice Warning to parents/carers.

The following table shows the school absence rates for September 2018 – July 2019;

The government suspended absence reporting for the academic year 2019-2020 so this is the latest data available.

Attendances 96%
Authorised Absences 3.4%
Unauthorised Absences 0.6%
Possible Attendance Including:
Approved Educational Activity 0.02%
Lates Before Registration closed 0.48%
Lates After Registration closed 0.04%
Unexplained Absences 0.0%

Please click on the links below to view or print:

Pupil Attendance Policy 2017

Absence Request – To request leave in exceptional circumstances only