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Attendance

At Swindon Academy, we expect all students to attend regularly to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. Regular school attendance and educational attainment are inextricably linked.

We recognise that regular attendance at school is essential for good learning and continual progress and ensures that students get the best possible outcomes from their period in compulsory education. All school staff will work with students and their families to ensure each student attends school regularly and punctually.

We expect all of our students to aspire to 100% attendance and appreciate the full support of parents and carers in encouraging this. The minimum level of attendance for this school is 96%; we keep parents updated regularly about progress to this level. The school has targets to improve attendance and your child has an important part to play in meeting these targets.

Ensuring your child’s regular attendance at school is your legal responsibility and allowing your child to be absent from school without a good reason creates an offence in law and may result in prosecution. Failing to attend this school on a regular basis will be considered as a safeguarding matter. Only the school, within the context of the law, can approve absence. Parents cannot approve absence.

Parents do not have the right to take their child out of school during term time for holidays, and the academy does not have to authorise such absences. Taking holidays in term time will affect your child’s schooling as much as any other absence and we expect parents to help us by not taking children away in school time. There is no automatic entitlement to time off in school time for holidays.

Any period of leave taken without the agreement of the school, or in excess of that agreed, will be classed as unauthorised and will attract sanctions such as a Penalty Notice.

A full version of our attendance policy can be found here.

FAQs

My child is unwell/has a hospital/dental appointment and is unable to attend school, what should I do?

On the first day of absence, contact the school as soon as possible on 01793 426900 selecting the absence option and leaving a message or 01793 426973 (This is a 24/7 facility); alternatively you may text 07860 055826, providing your number is listed as a contact. Please leave a clear message that states your son/daughter’s name plus their tutor group and reason for absence and the date they are expected to return to school.

On the first day they return, send in a note with an explanation of the absence – you must do this even if you have already telephoned us. This can be a letter.

If you are unable to ring or email, you can call into school and report to reception, who will arrange for a member of staff to speak with you as soon as possible. You can also reply to the text message sent to you by the school.

We have a family bereavement

On the first day of absence, contact the school as soon as possible on 01793 426900 selecting the absence option and leaving a message. Please leave a clear message that states your son/daughter’s name plus their tutor group and reason for absence and the date they are expected to return to school.

On the first day they return, send in a note with an explanation of the absence – you must do this even if you have already telephoned us. This can be a letter or a signed and dated note in the student planner.

If you are unable to ring or email, you can call into school and report to reception, who will arrange for a member of staff to speak with you as soon as possible. You can also reply to the text message sent to you by the school.

This is an authorised absence. 

My child has been excluded/has written permission from the principal to be off school, what should I do?

You do not need to call the Academy but if your child has been excluded then you must arrange for a meeting with the Head Teacher before your child is authorised to return to school.

Although I understand that I should not take my child out of school, I want to take my child on a family holiday

You must first fill in a Holiday Request Form which you can get by calling the Attendance Office on 426909. The form must be authorised before you are granted an authorised absence.

Should a student’s attendance fall below 94% then a series of additional actions will be implemented to monitor and address all attendance concerns. 

We have a day exclusively set aside for religious observance by the religious body to which we belong

Please call the Attendance Office on 426909 prior to the day so that the school is aware of the impending absence.

On the first day they return, send in a note with an explanation of the absence – you must do this even if you have already telephoned us. This can be a letter or a signed and dated note in the student planner.

This is classed as an authorised absence. 

I want to take my child shopping/ attend family event for the day

This type of absence is unlikely to be authorised and we suggest you contact the Attendance Office on 426909 prior to taking leave to understand what the sanctions will be.

 This is an unauthorised absence where the school does not consider the absence as reasonable and for which no “leave" has been granted. This type of absence can lead to the academy using sanctions and/or legal proceedings.

Should a student’s attendance fall below 94% then a series of additional actions will be implemented to monitor and address all attendance concerns. 

I want to take my child on a family holiday, but I have not filled in the Holiday Request Form and /or my request has been declined

This Kind of absence is unlikely to be authorised and we suggest you contact the Attendance Office on 426909 prior to taking leave to understand what the sanctions will be.

 This is an unauthorised absence where the school does not consider the absence as reasonable and for which no “leave" has been granted. This type of absence can lead to the academy using sanctions and/or legal proceedings.

Should a student’s attendance fall below 94% then a series of additional actions will be implemented to monitor and address all attendance concerns. 

I need my child to stay at home to look after another child

This kind of absence is unlikely to be authorised and we suggest you contact the Attendance Office on 426909 prior to taking leave to understand what the sanctions will be.

This is an unauthorised absence where the school does not consider the absence as reasonable and for which no “leave" has been granted. This type of absence can lead to the academy using sanctions and/or legal proceedings.

Should a student’s attendance fall below 94% then a series of additional actions will be implemented to monitor and address all attendance concerns. 

My child is refusing to go to school what should I do?

This Kind of absence is unlikely to be authorised and we suggest you contact the Attendance Office on 426909 to discuss the situation as there will be sanctions.

Ensuring a child’s regular attendance at school is the parents’ legal responsibility and allowing their child to be absent from school without a good reason creates an offence in law and may result in prosecution. Failing to attend school on a regular basis will be considered as a safeguarding matter. Only the school, within the context of the law, can approve absence. Parents cannot approve absence. 

Should a student’s attendance fall below 94% then a series of additional actions will be implemented to monitor and address all attendance concerns. 

If your reason is not listed above then please consult the Attendance office on 426909 or refer to the Attendance and Punctuality Policy (L02) for clarification.

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