“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Psalm 32:8
New National Guidance on Attendance - Please see below the summary of the new national framework for attendance from Derby City Council. We would be grateful if you could take time reading this summary as it highlights very important changes coming into effect in August 2024.
Attendance Guidance from Derby City Council
Attendance Policy 24-25
How to report a student absence
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Day 1
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Email attendance@derbycathedralschool.org.uk before 8.30am |
In the email please confirm:
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Each additional day of absence |
Email before 8.30am |
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Day 5 |
Email medical proof of the absence to attendance@derbycathedralschool.org.uk
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It is a parent/carer’s responsibility to automatically provide this information. The absence will not be authorised without it. Proof could include a GP’s appointment card, a surgery stamp in a planner, copy of prescription or proof of medication taken. Please note that we are aware that doctors do not routinely provide medical certificates, but if a student is absent for 5 days or more there is an expectation that they are ill enough for you to have consulted a medical professional and therefore there should be some proof that the consultation has taken place. |
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Attendance
Derby Cathedral School believes that in order to facilitate teaching and learning, good attendance is essential. Pupils cannot achieve their full potential if they do not regularly attend school.
Our attendance target for all students is 97% or more. We will regularly reward students who achieve attendance at or above this level.
If your child’s attendance falls below 97%, we will get in touch with you to try to better understand the reasons for absence. It is our responsibility as a school to ensure good attendance. Should your child’s attendance reach levels we deem unacceptable, for example below the national average for secondary school students (95%) or worse, we will follow the steps mentioned in our Attendance Policy as published on our website to redress the situation. This could include letters, in-person or virtual meetings, attendance contracts or otherwise.
If attendance reaches a very concerning level, for example below 90%, it is our duty to inform Derby City Council’s Education Welfare Service.
We are committed to:
- Promoting and modelling good attendance.
- Ensuring equality and fairness of treatment for all.
- Intervening early and working with other agencies to ensure the health and safety of our pupils.
- Rewarding regular attendance.
Ensuring parents follow the framework set out in Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 which states that:
“The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive efficient full-time education suitable:
a) to age, ability and aptitude and
b) to any special educational needs he/ she may have
Either by regular attendance at school or otherwise”.
We have created a Parent Information leaflet regarding Attendance that you may find useful.
Term-Time Absence
Parents should not take students on holiday during term time. All holidays taken in term time will be unauthorised and a fine may be issued.
Leave during term time will only be authorised in exceptional circumstances, for example bereavement of a close family member, serious illness or military staff returning from active service.
Any requests for leave during term time will be considered on an individual basis and the pupil’s previous attendance record will be taken into account. Requests for term time absence must be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance of any absence in writing to the Headteacher. If term time leave is not granted, taking a pupil out of school will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and may result in sanctions such as a penalty notice. Holidays taken during term time will not be authorised and a penalty notice is likely to be issued.
Medical Appointments
Where possible please make appointments out of school time. However if this is not possible please email attendance@derbycathedralschool.org.uk at least 24 hours in advance informing us if your child will be coming in late or leaving early due to an appointment. All appointments will require medical proof.
Medical appointments, whether authorised or unauthorised, will affect your child's attendance percentage.
Days off school add up to lost learning!
Leave of Absence Form
FFT National Attendance Award 2023/24
We are extremely proud to share that we have received a FFT National School Attendance Award for the 2023/24 Autumn Term for being in the top 25% attendance rates of similar schools in England!
Regular attendance at school is extremely important for all year groups and we are thrilled to see that our students share our focus on this!
