Attendance Matters

We expect all students to arrive on time and achieve at least the DCSF minimum target of 95% attendance over the school year. All students should arrive no later than 8.40am. Breakfast Club is open in the dining room from 7.30am to 8.15am. Lessons start promptly at 8.45am.

Why is good attendance important?                                   

• School work is easier to cope with                                      
• Students feel more secure
• Work is satisfying
• Better results
• Better job prospects
• References

Rewards for good attendance

• Certificates and gift voucher for attendance
• Prizes for 100% attendance
• Certificates for attendance over 95%
• Entry in Record of Achievement
• Letters/postcards home
• End of year reward for outstanding attendance

What is meant by unauthorised absence?

Some absences are allowed by law. For example if a child is ill or there is a family crisis such as a funeral. However, there are times when pupils are absent which are not permitted. We need the help of parents to cut down this kind of absence.

• Going to have their hair done
• Looking after younger children or relatives
• Going out to buy shoes
• Sleeping in
• Waiting in for the gas man or other tradesman

We realise that on some occasions there may be a particular problem that causes your child to be absent. Please let us know and we will deal with it sympathetically.

Maintaining Excellent Attendance

Holidays in Term Time

There is a very clear link between a child's attendance record and their success in learning. There is a clear link between attendance and attainment. Research shows that the equivalent of 17 days absence from school can equate to achieving a grade lower at GCSE, meaning a C would become a D.

90% attendance means one half day per week, 4 weeks per year, and half a year off over 5 years in high school. We are proud of the high standards we set for attendance and are keen to encourage all our students to achieve the best possible attendance records. Holidays should be taken in school holidays and not in term time.

Holiday letter sent to Royds Hall Pyramid Schools November 2012

Holidays in Term Time & Penalty Notice Increase

In order to clarify the situation regarding holidays in term time, primary and secondary schools in the Royds Hall Pyramid of Schools have agreed to follow a common policy on holiday absence in term time, details of which are set out below. For these reasons, from 1^st January 2010, parents should not expect any holiday absence in term time to be authorised by any of the schools listed below except in the most exceptional circumstances.

Children must attend school regularly to achieve their potential and children who miss out on school can feel vulnerable and left behind. Family holidays in term time can be disruptive and seriously affect your child’s education. Research suggests that children who are taken out of school may never catch up on coursework they have missed. This may affect test scores and may be particularly harmful if the child is studying for examinations. On average children who miss 17 or more days in a school year lose one full grade in their GCSEs.

Parents do not have a right to take their children out of school for holidays during term time and by law you must ask permission for your child to miss school. Parents wishing to apply for their child to have leave from school should complete a holiday request form, available from your child’s school and return it for authorisation well in advance of the proposed leave. It is up to the Headteacher of your school to decide whether or not the absence will be authorised. 

If an absence is unauthorised and the child is still taken out of school, this will be recorded as unauthorised absence and noted in your child’s record. This may result in each parent of each child being issued with a fixed term penalty notice of £60 if paid within 28 days, which goes up to £120 if paid within 42 days. (Please note that Kirklees Council increased these fees from September 2012). Non-payment of a Penalty Notice will normally trigger a prosecution (under the provisions of section 444 of the Education Act 1996 or under the provisions of S103 (3) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006). The prosecution can only be for the original offence and NOT for the non-payment of the Penalty Notice.

If you have any query, please do not hesitate to contact the Headteacher at your child’s school.

Yours sincerely,

Melanie Williams, Head Teacher, Royds Hall High School

Signed on behalf of

Cowlersley Primary School, Crow Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School, Paddock Junior Infant and Nursery School

Spring Grove Junior Infant and Nursery School and Royds Hall High School.

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