Punctuality and Attendance

At St Bede’s, we believe that good attendance is essential for your child’s learning, wellbeing, and future success. Regular attendance means being in school every day unless there is an authorised reason to be absent, in line with the Education Act 1996 and the Registration Regulations 2006.

Why good attendance matters:

• Children who attend school regularly make better academic and social progress.
• Regular attendance helps children cope with school routines, lessons, and friendships.
• Learning is more enjoyable and satisfying when children attend consistently.
• Good attendance encourages responsible habits and prepares children for higher education and future employment.
• Research shows a clear link between poor attendance and lower achievement.

How Parents Can Help

You play a vital role in supporting your child’s attendance:

• Make sure your child attends school every day the school is open unless there is an authorised reason. Only the school can authorise absences.
• Contact the school by 9:00 am on the first day of any absence, giving a clear reason.
• Provide a satisfactory reason for absence in a timely manner; otherwise, it will remain unauthorised.
• Arrange non-emergency medical or dental appointments outside school hours or during holidays wherever possible.
• Avoid taking holidays during term time.
• Keep the school updated with any changes to contact details, including phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contacts.

Attendance and Lessons Missed

Missing school adds up quickly. Even small amounts of absence can impact learning:

• 95% attendance: ~10 days missed (~50 lessons)
• 90% attendance: ~20 days missed (~100 lessons)
• 85% attendance: ~30 days missed (~150 lessons)
• 80% attendance: ~40 days missed (~200 lessons)
• 75% attendance: ~50 days missed (~250 lessons)

Punctuality

Being late to school also affects learning. Over a year, the impact adds up:

• 5 minutes late every day: over 3 days lost (~20 lessons)
• 15 minutes late every day: 2 weeks lost (~55 lessons)
• 30 minutes late every day: 19 days lost (~123 lessons)

At St Bede’s, we aim to:

• Promote a school culture that values high attendance and punctuality.
• Keep parents and pupils aware of the importance of regular attendance.
• Support all children to achieve their full potential academically, socially, and personally.