Attendance

Rudheath Senior Academy is committed to ensuring that every child reaches their full learning and development potential. One of the most important aspects of gaining a great set of results and learning how to succeed in life is to ensure that you have a good record of attendance and punctuality. These two areas are tools for life and are two of the most important skills children acquire when at school.

Good school attendance gives every student the opportunity for success and helps develop skills for life. All pupils should attend school every day unless there is an unavoidable cause like illness.

Attendance Staff

Karen Black – Attendance Manager and Trust Lead

Julie Nevin – Attendance and Welfare Officer

Dawn Williamson – Attendance Officer.

Did you know that…

  • a child who is absent a day of school per week misses an equivalent of two years of their school life;
  • 90% of young people with absence rates below 85% fail to achieve five or more good grades of GCSE and around one third achieve no GCSEs at all;
  • poor examination results limit young people’s options and poor attendance suggests to colleges and employers that these students are unreliable
  • at least 1 million children take at least one half day off a year without permission;
  • 7.5 million school days are missed each year through unauthorised absence.

Students should arrive at school for 8.35am every day unless the reason for being late or absent is absolutely unavoidable. Permitting absence without good reason is an offence. We always aim for 100%. By insisting on high attendance we are helping students to reach their potential and achieve the best results they can.

Having a good education is an important factor in opening up more opportunities in adult life. High attendance for your son/daughter will improve their attainment in Key Stage 4. At RSA, we will work hard with you and your son/daughter to maintain high levels of attendance. This may include meetings to discuss attendance or general school concerns or home visits. Our experienced pastoral team will work to find positive solutions if concerns do arise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Feeling under the weather – colds, headaches, stomach pains etc affect us all, but not to the point that we need to miss school or work. Medication can be left with the school First Aid team, if your child needs to take it.

Sometimes your child may want to avoid school. This may indicate that there are wider issues that need addressing. Send your child to school and contact their Head of Year.

If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, please call 01606 42515 before 8.30am and press Option 1 to leave a message on the attendance voicemail for each day of absence.

Please always try to avoid doctors’ and dentists’ appointments during the school day. Doctors’ appointments are usually available after school hours as surgeries are open until at least 5pm. If your child really must attend an appointment, please ensure that he/she attends school for part of the day at least, leaving early or arriving late (with a note). This will give him/her the best chance to keep with the studies.

No. We cannot authorise holidays during term time. All requests for emergency leave must be put in writing to the Headteacher. If students are taken out of school by parents without our permission, it counts as an unauthorised absence.

Downloads

Request for Leave Form