All student absences should be reported by calling school
01429 273790 (option 1)
Key Letters Home
Changes to Students Leaving Site During the School Day - Click to Read
The Importance of Attendance
Our Catholic ethos calls us to nurture each child that attends our academy to give them the opportunities to grow and develop academically, socially and morally. Attending school daily is essential for each child to develop our school virtues. While occasional absences may happen, we want to emphasise that students should attend school even if they have a common cold - staying home is only recommended if they have a high fever or contagious illness. It is our expectation that all students make every effort to be present and punctual daily.
The Results of Poor Attendance
Poor attendance, missing lessons or being late to lessons/school has a significant effect on a students learning and can be detrimental to the grades that they will achieve at the end of their studies.
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Our Attendance Team
Whilst all staff are here to support, there are some key staff who have a direct responsibility for attendance. These staff are named above and can be contacted via email. attendance@ems.bhcet.org.uk
All our staff are trained to listen, understand, empathise and support students and families with ensuring high levels of attendance but they are also trained not to tolerate absences and poor attendance. Please do not be offended by their approach; your child’s right to an education is important.
The Law
If a registered pupil of compulsory school age fails to attend school regularly, the parent could be guilty of an offence under section 444 Education Act 1996. In April 2017, the Supreme Court held that attending school “regularly” means attendance in accordance with the rules prescribed by the school and not “sufficiently frequent attendance “. This means that a child must attend school every day that the school requires him or her to do so and failure to do this may lead to the commission of an offence.
Please click below to view the DfE's Attendance Guide For Parents. The rest of this page highlights the importance that good attendance has on your child's education.
Student Responsibilities
- To attend the school on a regular basis and to be punctual.
- To inform a member of staff/form tutor if there is a reason which may prevent them from attending school.
Parental Responsibilities
- On the first day, and subsequent days, of absence parents/carers must contact the attendance officer to explain the nature of the absence to ensure that their children attend the school regularly and are on time.
- To work with the school to improve student attendance where necessary.
- To contact the school when situations other than illness arise that may hinder school attendance or performance.
- To avoid taking holidays or medical appointments during term time. Parents will be reminded of the detrimental effect that such absences can have on a student’s potential achievement.
School Responsibilities
What Parents & Students can Expect from school:
- Clear policies and procedures for accurate recording, supporting and improving student attendance.
- Good attendance and punctuality are recognised and rewarded.
- Early contact with parents when a student fails to attend, initially via email/phone.
- To put individual strategies in place to support attendance to help improve student attendance, working in partnership with parents. In serious cases of non-attendance this can mean issuing fixed penalty fines and making parents and students subject to procedures for prosecution.
- Referrals will be made to external agencies such as Social Services, Early Help and the Local Authority to ensure the students are given specialist support and input where necessary.
- The school has an appointed Attendance Officer whose primary responsibility is to monitor and review attendance of students and to ensure that everyone complies with the attendance policy. This role also helps to maintain a link between the school and parents, carrying out home visits where necessary to resolve any issues relating to attendance and punctuality.
- If parents do not make contact to confirm the reason for their child’s absence and the school is unsure of their whereabouts the school will automatically conduct a safe and well check. A member of the Attendance Team or a member of the Pastoral team will visit the home address to ensure the safety of the child.
Punctuality
Students must be on site by 8:45 am. Pupils are recorded as late after the bell at 8.45 am. If students arrive between 8:45am and 9:00am, their name will be taken on the late gate. Students who arrive after 9:00am will need to sign in through Main Reception. All students who are late to school, will be issued with a late detention unless we have had prior contact from a parent/carer explaining why they will be late to school.
Holidays
We publish our term dates well in advance of the next academbic year so you can plan when to take your child on holiday without affecting their time in school. Our term dates can be found here: https://ems.bhcet.org.uk/parents/termdates
Any holidays needed within term time, must be requested prior to taking a child away from their studies. A term time holiday request form, available from the school office or attendance team, must be completed and submitted for approval. If you take your child out of school on holiday without authorisation, fines maybe issued. Please see the following guidance from Hartlepool Borough Council.
Penalty notices for Term-Time Holidays
You may be fined if you take your child out of school for a holiday during term time without the headteacher’s permission.
First offence: (within a 3-year rolling period): £160 (reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days)
Second offence: £160 (no reduction)
Third offence: no fine issued; case referred directly to court
Each parent may be fined separately for each child. There is no right of appeal.
More information is available on their website. https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/schools-education/school-attendance-absence
Leaving School / Appointments
Details of procedures for leaving school throughout the school day and appointments can be found in the letter at the top of this page.