Attendance

Corpus Christi tries to ensure that all pupils attend school for the maximum number of days possible. If children are not in school, they cannot develop their educational potential to the full.  

Good attendance can only be achieved through a partnership between parents and teachers.

We ask parents not to arrange family holidays during term time. We appreciate that costs are considerably lower during school weeks but this cannot be a justification for depriving pupils of vital schooling.

To encourage good attendance, every form is monitored weekly and every child is monitored almost daily to identify areas of concern.  Letters of commendation every half-term are sent to parents of children who have achieved 100% attendance in the preceding half-term.  Similarly, letters are sent to parents of pupils whose attendance has fallen below 95%.  Prizes are also given every half-term to the form in each year group with the best attendance.

Some practical points

1.  Extended periods of unauthorised absences are reported to the Education Welfare Officer and any absence that is condoned by parents may result in corrective action on the part of the Local Education Authority.
2. If a pupil is likely, for whatever justifiable reason, to miss more than two days of schooling, parents are asked to notify the school in writing.  This courtesy avoids an unnecessary home visit by the Education Welfare Officer. 
3. Just a reminder that pupil absences should be reported to the school before 9.00am daily.
4. In relevant cases a medical certificate may need to be forwarded to the school.
5. All absences, authorised and unauthorised, are reported to parents at the time of the annual report

Fixed Penalty Notices & Absences From School

If your child is absent from school for any reason, for example, a medical appointment or illness, an absence note or medical appointment card will need to be given to the school explaining the reason for the absence. If an absence note or appointment card is not provided, the absence will be treated as ‘unauthorised’ and could result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued.

Fixed Penalty Notices

In some circumstances, the school may request that the Educational Welfare Service issue parents/carers with a Fixed Penalty Notice under The Education (Penalty Notices) (Wales) Regulations 2013. A warning letter will first be sent if:

• There have been a minimum of 10 unauthorised sessions (5 school days) in an academic year (these do not need to be consecutive).
• Pupils persistently arrive after the close of the registration period i.e. more than 10 sessions in an academic year (these do not need to be consecutive).
• A period of absence from school due to a holiday that was not authorised by school (a minimum of 10 sessions).
• Parents/carers have failed to engage in attempts to improve attendance;
• A pupil has regularly come to the attention of the Police during school hours and is absent from school without an acceptable reason and there have been 10 unauthorised absences.

A Fixed Penalty Notice will be issued if:

• There is one further unauthorised absence within 15 school days of a warning letter having been issued;
• An unauthorised holiday is taken during term time (note that no warning letter will be received).

Holidays during Term Time

A Fixed Penalty Notice will be issued if:

• An unauthorised holiday is taken during term time (note that no warning letter will be received).
• If there are exceptional circumstances, these can be put before the Governors who have the authority to make the decision NOT to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice.