Attendance
Reporting an Absence
If your child is absent from school, parents and carers must inform reception each day of the absence before 8:30am.
This can be done by logging the absence on Arbor or by calling main reception on 01886 887105.
NHS guidance
If you are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend school, we recommend visiting the NHS guidance:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/
Illness Guidelines
- Please notify us of any infectious or contagious illnesses in your household
- Children with contagious illnesses should not attend school until medically cleared
- For ongoing medical conditions, please provide medical certificates as required
Did You Know?
Attendance levels have a direct impact on academic achievement:
- 90% attendance (missing half a day each week) = Equivalent to missing 6 months of school over 5 years!
- 80% attendance (missing one full day each week) = Equivalent to missing a whole school year over 5 years!!
| Attendance Level | Percentage | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 98% and above | Outstanding achievement level |
| Good | 96% - 97% | Above average performance |
| Requires Improvement | 94% - 95% | May affect progress |
| Cause for Concern | Below 94% | Significant impact on learning |
| Persistent Absence | 90% or below | Serious intervention required |
The school's attendance target for all pupils is 97%.
Reporting Absence
Appointments School Hours
If your child needs to attend a medical or other appointment:
- Advance notice: Send an email to attendance@chantryschool.com
- Evidence: Include appointment cards/letters if available
- Sign out: Your child must have an appropriate adult sign them out at the Attendance Office when leaving
- Sign In: Your child must sign back in at the Attendance Office on return
Lateness Procedures
- Pupils arriving late must report immediately to the Attendance Office
- They must sign in, providing the reason for lateness and arrival time
- Without prior notification, lateness may result in after-school detention
- Persistent lateness will be addressed through our pastoral support system
Leave of Absence Requests
Schools can no longer authorise holidays during term time. All absence requests for exceptional circumstances must be submitted to the Headteacher for consideration.
To Request Leave:
- Submit to the Headteacher for consideration
- Await formal written response before making arrangements
Penalty Notices:
If parents take a child out of school without authorisation:
- 5+ days unauthorised absence may result in a penalty notice
- Penalty: £60 per parent per child (if paid within 21 days)
- Late Payment: £120 if paid after 21 days
- Prosecution: Possible if payment not made within 28 days
- No right of appeal against penalty notices
Medical Appointments
- Wherever possible, please schedule medical appointments outside school hours.
- If this isn’t possible, we appreciate advance notice via email to attendance@chantryschool.com and evidence of appointments.
Contact Our Attendance Team:
- Phone: 01886 887105
- Email: attendance@chantryschool.com
- In Person: Visit the school reception during office hours (8:00am – 4:00pm)
Regular attendance is a partnership between school and home. Our pastoral team, including Heads of Year and tutors, are here to support families where attendance becomes a concern.