Attendance
Every day counts. Every lesson matters.
As a school we strive to create an inclusive, calm, safe, supportive environment where all students are keen to learn and want to attend. However, we do acknowledge and understand that some students may find it more difficult than others to attend school. Our ethos is built on developing trusting relationships with students, parents/carers and supporting student wellbeing, and so we endeavour to work with families to remove any barriers to attendance to ensure that the right support and provision is in place. Our approach to attendance is available to download via our Attendance Policy below.
Regular school attendance enables students to get the most from their education as well as develop important personal and social skills. Furthermore, students with excellent attendance, (and who are punctual), are attractive to potential employers and colleges as they have been able to demonstrate that they are reliable.
We also know that there is a strong correlation between absence and exam results. We have analysed our own GCSE results data and were not surprised to find that students with high attendance perform exceptionally well when compared to students with poor attendance.
We understand that students may occasionally feel unwell; however, unless they are genuinely too ill to attend or have been advised by a medical professional to stay at home, we encourage attendance.
Here is a list of general tips to consider:
- Your child should attend whenever possible — even part days make a difference
- Do not keep your child off for minor illnesses (e.g. headache, cough, cold)
- Avoid medical appointments during the school day - if they don't need to attend one ensure they come into school before or after their appointment
- Avoid booking holidays during term time
- Ensure your child arrives on time as this can lead to poor attendance
- Send your child in if unsure — we have a team of pastoral staff who can support them
- If your child is unwell in the morning, consider a later start
- Every session attended helps build strong attendance and develop healthy habits
- Parent And Carer Attendance Tips
Throughout the year, you will receive updates on your child's attendance through termly emails. If attendance falls below expected levels, particularly where it reaches 90% or below, we will contact you to offer support and raise concerns.
Please use the information table below which outlines the impact of absence over a year.
Meet the Team:
If you need to contact us regarding an attendance issue, alongside your child's tutor, we also have the Attendance Team below:
Miss J Fawcett - Attendance officer
Mr I Foster - Junior Assistant Vice Principal
Mrs E Goodaire - Junior Assistant Vice Principal
Term-time Holidays:
We are obligated to consider issuing a penalty notice (a fine) to parents/carers for taking their child out of school for 5 days over a rolling period of 10 school weeks. Therefore, a term-time holiday of one week would meet this threshold. Parents/carers should be aware that fines have increased to £160 if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days. Where there is more than one child, each parent/carer may be issued with a penalty notice in respect of each child. Holidays will only ever be authorised in exceptional circumstances.
If you have planned a family holiday please let us know by completing the form below;
Illness and medical appointments
We appreciate that there may be genuine reasons why your child may miss school, but we ask that if your child is well enough that they come to school every day. We have a dedicated team of pastoral staff who can be on hand to support your child should they feel unwell.
We ask that you arrange medical or any other appointments for your child outside of the school day as it causes disruption and leads to lost learning. However, we do appreciate that in some instances this may be difficult.
We will always work with students and their families where any support may be helpful if there is a need or issue preventing a student from attending school. We will also always seek to involve parents/carers of students who are anxious about attending school and look at ways we can help. If you would like to discuss an attendance related issue, please contact your child's tutor or Head of Year in the first instance.
In order that students can achieve their best with us and we can look after them, we ask students to do the following:
- In the morning, be at school and on the school yard for 8.20am;
- Arrive at all lessons on time;
- Students who arrive to school late will be asked to hand their phone in at main reception and this will be returned at the end of their one hour detention. We will notify you via email if they have detention for being late to school.
Parents/Carers can help us by:
- Contacting the school if your child is ill;
- Trying to arrange, whenever possible, appointments with a doctor, dentist, etc. for after the end of the school day, at weekends, or in the holidays;
- Booking holidays in official school holiday periods and not in term time.
- Telephone on the first day of absence if at all possible;
- Monitor punctuality and attendance carefully/closely.
Year 6 to 7 Transition
Starting a new school is an exciting opportunity for a fresh start, and we look forward to working with parents and carers to help every student thrive at Castle View Enterprise Academy.
For students who may have experienced attendance difficulties in the past, Year 7 offers a chance to establish positive routines and build strong habits from day one. We are committed to supporting families throughout this transition.
Please download the guide below for useful advice and practical tips on helping your child make a successful start at Castle View Enterprise Academy.
News and Updates:
95%+ attendance almost doubles odds of GCSE pass?
The DfE has published research which has shown missing just 10 days of year 11 halves the odds of getting a grade 5 in English and Maths. The odds of year 11 pupils achieving a grade 5 in English and Maths almost double if their attendance is over 95 per cent, compared to those who miss between 5 and 10 per cent of lessons, government attendance research suggests. The research is available to download below.
Please also take time to view the video guidelines below, which will support your child's attendance.
This video is for advice for starting secondary school and supporting your child's attendance.
Supporting Students With Starting Secondary School
Our next video is for our Year 10 and 11 students, parents and carers.
Starting KS4 And Supporting Your Child's Attendance