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Summerhill School

Summerhill School

Attendance

Attendance Facts

  • Summerhill School expects students to have at least 97% attendance*.
  • 97% attendance = 6 school days missed per year. This is the equivalent of 36 lessons.
  • 95% attendance = 9.5 school days missed per year. This is the equivalent of 57 lessons.
  • 90% attendance = 19 school days missed per year. This is the equivalent of 114 lessons.
  • 17 missed school days could result in you dropping 1 grade
  • 5 years at 95% attendance = 2.5 grades less than expected. If you hoped for a Grade 9 at GCSE this could actually be a Grade 6 or 7.

*except in exceptional circumstances

Leave of Absence Requests

Every LOA request will be considered on a case by case basis with exceptional circumstances always considered. Unauthorised LOA requests may result in a fixed penalty notice from the Local Authority.

  1. Parents/carers/guardians must complete an official LOA request form and submit it to the school.
    LOA forms can be downloaded from the website or picked up from reception.
    All requests must be submitted to the school 15 days prior to the planned absence.
  2. LOA requests will be considered by the school and parents/carers/guardians will be notified of the decision in writing by the school and a copy of the LOA request form will be returned with the LOA decision letter.

Reporting Absence

If your child is absent you must:

  • Contact the school as soon as possible on the first day of absence before 8:55am
  • Provide the school with a note or medical evidence, that details the reason for absence – you must do this even if you have telephoned the school
  • Alternatively you can call in to reception to report the absence

If your child is absent we will:

  • Telephone, text or email you on the first day of absence if we have not heard from you or to confirm details and reasons for absence
  • Invite you in to discuss the situation with your child’s Head of House, House Tutor and other members of the attendance team if the absence(s) persist(s)
  • Refer the matter to the Local Authority if the number of Unauthorised Absences reaches LA attendance thresholds

Please leave a message on each day of absence.  It is for school to decide if an absence is authorised or unauthorised.  Stating ‘Unwell’, ‘Poorly’ or ‘Not sure if they’re unwell, I’m keeping off to see’ gives insufficient information for us to make a decision and the absence may be unauthorised.  School reserves the right to stop authorising absence for a pupil if they are reporting ill frequently.  In this instance you will receive a letter informing you to provide medical evidence from that point.

Contact details:

Summerhill School Phone Number: (01384) 816165; Select: Option 2 to report a student absent

Please ensure that the school always has the most up to date contact details at all times, so you may be contacted at required times. You have a duty to notify school as soon as possible of any changes to contact and personal details.

Education Investigation Officer: If you would like to contact the EIO directly for independent and impartial advice, in accordance with their statutory duties, their telephone number is 01384 814137.

Children that are absent from school for 3 days or longer with no contact from parents are classed as missing from school.  In this instance a member of school staff will conduct a ‘safe and well’ check by visiting the family home to ensure that everything is ok

If your child is unwell during the school day

If your child is unwell during the school day they should report to the lead first aider in the first instance who will examine their symptoms, make a judgement and provide advice. If the lead first aider feels the child is too unwell to remain in school they will contact home. Students should not call home themselves to arrange to be collected, this may result in an absence without authorisation and potentially an unknown whereabouts of the student, which is a health & safety risk in the event of an emergency evacuation