Attendance Guide for Students
Why is good attendance so important to you?
Attending school every day will help you to make the most of the opportunities here at King Edward VI School. It will help you to:
- keep up with your school work and get the best results you can;
- get a job – employers like people who are reliable.
Remember, your attendance at school is shown on all future school reports and references.
You should arrive at school in good time for registration eg by 8.55am The morning register will be called promptly at 9.00am. Being late for registration may result in a lunchtime detention, except where there is a good reason.
What to do if you are late
- If you arrive after 9.00am you should go to your tutor base, where you will be marked late and the number of minutes recorded
- If you arrive after 9:15am you should report to Reception and sign in, writing down your time of arrival and why you were late.
In both instances it is likely that you will receive a late detention.
Absences
Acceptable reasons for emergency absences include:
- Illness
- Emergency dental/medical appointments (please make routine appointments after school or during the holidays)
An unforeseen absence would require your parent or carer to contact the school each day to let us know the situation. You would need to bring in a note in your planner, evidence of medical appointments or have an email sent to the school on your return. This will be kept on your file.
Other foreseen absences include:
- Day of religious observance
- Family bereavement
- Attending an interview for a job, school, university etc.
- Extended family visits abroad
All of which would require the completion of a Leave of Absence form before the event. The school will not authorise absence for day trips, visiting relatives, shopping, birthdays or looking after brothers or sisters, or family holidays.
You will need a note in your planner or a message left on the absence line from your parents to explain all absences from school. You will also need a note in your planner if you arrive at school after 9.15am. If you do not bring a note, or the explanation on the note is unsatisfactory, the absence will count as unauthorised and will be shown on your end of year report.
Need help?
Are you having problems with your school work? Are you being bullied? Are your friends giving you a hard time? Are things difficult at school? Are things difficult at home?
You may feel that missing school is the answer. It is not – it may even make things worse. Talk to someone – your Form Tutor, another member of staff, your parents. We will do everything we can to help you to get over the problem.
