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Attendance update 3 - Half Term 3
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Dear Parents and Guardians,
Attendance Update 3 - Half Term 3 - February 2025
Salutation:
Below you will find the number of days that your child has missed from school during this academic year, dependant on their attendance percentage (Your child's attendance can be found on the Arbor app, you should be regularly checking this, to ensure you child's attendance is 95% or above).
Well done to all those pupils who have an attendance at 95% or above; every week that a student is present for 100% of the school sessions that week will see your child gain an entry into the raffle for an amazon voucher at the end of the term. Each week that your child is on time to school every day, they will also gain an entry into the punctuality raffle for an amazon voucher at the end of the term.
Where your child has attendance below 95%, it is important that you work to improve this, to ensure they benefit educationally and socially whilst being in school. Attending school every day ensures that our pupils gain access to the expert subject teachers, who will guide your child to achieve the very best during their time at St James’ Catholic High School.
Our own school attendance data from academic year 2023/2024 shows the impact that school attendance has on the achievement of pupils at the end of their GCSE studies. Pupils who had 100% attendance during the academic year 2023/2024 scored an average of half a grade higher per subject in their GCSE Exams, over those who had 90% attendance. Those pupils who had 85% and below scored on average two GCSE grades below that of pupils with 97% and above. This is a significant difference in attainment.
It is important to note that a child with an attendance of 90% or below is classed as a Persistent Absence from school and this attendance percentage is classed as unsatisfactory and requires immediate improvement.
How you can support improving your child's attendance to school:
● Establish a Consistent Routine: Encourage a regular bedtime and wake-up time, ensuring your child gets enough rest. A consistent morning routine can help them feel more prepared and less rushed for school, reducing the chances of them wanting to stay home.
● Open Communication with the School: Keep in regular contact with your child’s teachers or the school office. If your child is struggling with attendance, discussing any concerns with the school early on can help identify potential issues that may be contributing to absenteeism.
● Create a Positive Attitude Towards School: Show enthusiasm and interest in your child’s education. Encourage them to talk about their day and praise their achievements, no matter how small. A positive attitude towards school can help them feel motivated and eager to attend.
● Ensure you send your child to school everyday: All pupils should be sent to school everyday, if your child is in school and they are too unwell, we will call you and send them home. When a pupil is absent for more than two school days, medical evidence will be required, without this, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised (10 unauthorised absences in a 10 week period may lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice).
There have been a number of requests during this academic year so far for absence for a child to go on holiday; the school is unable to accommodate any requests for absence to go on holiday and will not authorise any holiday during school time. There are significant amounts of time during the school holidays in which children and families can go on holiday.
When an unauthorised holiday occurs, and should this take your child to 10 or more sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10-week period, the school will consider issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). In the first instance this is £160.00 per parent, per child - for example a family with two children, would receive two sets of £160.00 fines for each parent, in total the fine for the family would be £640.00, this would be issued by the Local Authority.
Please do refer to the schools attendance policy to ensure you are following the correct procedures for any absences, and so that we are all working together to support your child with attending
school every day.
Yours sincerely,
Mr A.Ellul
A Ellul
Headteacher
Mr S Wills
S Wills
Assistant Headteacher, Behaviour & Attitudes
Great Strand, Colindale NW9 5PE
Phone: 020 8358 2800
Email: admin@st-james.barnet.sch.uk