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Attendance and School Day

As parents will be aware, full school attendance has a direct impact on students' learning, development and future success. Over the years, we have worked in partnership with parents to ensure that all students achieve excellent records of attendance and punctuality. The school regularly monitors attendance and reports to both the Local Authority and the DfE the percentage of authorised and unauthorised absences and details of any students who are persistently absent. High attendance, above 95%, is expected; if a child’s attendance drops below this percentage we will contact parents. A summary of attendance is below, however to view the full Attendance policy please click here.

The Attendance Improvement Officer (AIO) who works in partnership with the school and Local Authority, visits the school regularly to monitor patterns of absence and to make contact with parents, particularly in situations where attendance falls below the expected rate.  

Where attendance becomes problematic and persistent, further action may be taken which could involve legal proceedings.

The school site is open to students from 8.00am with the school day finishing at 3.30pm. The school is open for compulsory attendance 33.3 hours a week, although there is also a range of after school clubs and activities available which would require parental consent. 

Registration

All students must register at the start of the morning with their Form Tutor in their designated form rooms and with the teacher of their period 4 lesson for the afternoon. Times for registration each day are 8.40am and 1.25pm. Students must arrive promptly.

Late arrivals/early departures

If a student is late into school, he or she must complete the signing in book in Student Reception. 
If a student arrives after 9.30am attendance will be marked as an unauthorised absence. Any student leaving before the end of the school day for medical reasons must complete the signing out book, also located in Student Reception. 

Students may only leave early if there is a signed note from a parent explaining the reasons. This note must be shown at Student Reception when signing out.

Absences due to illness

If a student is absent or late due to illness, the parent must inform the school by telephone by 10.30am at the latest on the day that the student is absent, and on each subsequent day the student is absent. A specific reason must be given for the student’s absence. There is a designated extension to report absences and the telephone system will prompt you to access this if the main reception is not open.

In addition, all absences must be explained in writing via a note to the Form Tutor on the day that the student returns to school. Please note that the school is not able to accept e-mail notification alone of student absence. Informing the school by telephone on the day of the absence and following up with a letter is a legal requirement and we would appreciate parents’ support over this matter.

Other absences

Absences during term time can have a serious and detrimental effect on students’ learning and we would urge parents not to take children out of school other than for wholly exceptional or unavoidable circumstances. Parents are requested to make medical and dental appointments after school or in holidays.

Leave of absence during term time

The school and the Local Authority take the view that taking children out of school during term time can be damaging to a child’s educational progress. Children find it very difficult to catch up on the learning that they have missed and in the longer term this can have a negative impact on their progress. Leave of Absence will not be granted during exam/coursework/controlled assessment times and the period leading up to this.

An exceptional absence during term time must be formally requested at least three weeks in advance using the necessary form. The only exception to this is a family funeral. Authorisation will only be granted at the Headteacher’s discretion.

To request such an absence, please download the Leave of Absence Form, complete and return it to Student Reception.

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Posted on: 23rd April

STEM Club’s Trout-in-the-Classroom Project

  This year, students once again had the exciting opportunity to take part in the Trout-in-the-Classroom project, run by Laura from the Chilterns Chalk Stream Project. The initiative provided a hands-on learning experience, allowing students to explore biodiversity, conservation, and the challenges facing local ecosystems. In the first week after the Christmas holidays, STEM Club took charge of a school of brown trout alevins—tiny fish in their early life stage, just after hatching. Housed in a specially set-up tank in the Science Department, the students observed their development while learning about the unique characteristics of chalk streams, their rich biodiversity, and the environmental threats they face. Over the following weeks, as the alevins matured, they transitioned from relying on their yolk sacs to swimming freely and feeding. STEM Club members took responsibility for caring for the trout, feeding them daily and monitoring their growth. Just before Easter, twelve STEM Club members, along with Laura, Dr. Lowe, and a few A-level Biology students, set off on a trip to the River Chess near Chenies to release the young trout into the wild. This marked the beginning of the fish’s challenging journey in their natural habitat. While at the river, students also conducted an invertebrate survey, discovering first hand the abundance and diversity of aquatic life. They even had the opportunity to discuss river management and conservation with the landowner, gaining valuable insight into real-world environmental stewardship. This fantastic project continues to inspire and educate students about the importance of protecting local ecosystems. Well done to all involved!