Attendance - Every Moment Matters
- Did you know that 1 School year at 90% attendance = 4 whole weeks of lessons and School work missed?
- Research suggests that 17 missed School days a year is equal to a GCSE grade drop in achievement.
- 90% attendance over 5 years of secondary School = half a School year missed.
Email Attendance here Call 01326 372379 & Press 1
At Penryn College
At Penryn College we expect high levels of attendance and punctuality from all of our students. We believe that regular attendance promotes positive social development, develops self-discipline and improves student progress. There is a clear link between attendance and attainment and as a school we expect all students to aim to achieve at least 97% attendance. Outstanding attendance is regularly recognised and rewarded throughout the year.
Poor attendance can have a detrimental effect on progress. A student who has 90% attendance misses almost 4 weeks of the school year, which equates to over 100 hours of learning.
Our attendance team is made up of an Attendance Manager, an Attendance Officer, and an Education Welfare Officer. Together, they ensure student attendance is recorded accurately and maintain clear communication with staff, students, parents, and external agencies, all while following both the Government’s and the school’s attendance policies. The team also meets regularly with Heads of Year, Heads of Key Stage, and the Senior Management Team. Some members work directly with parents and provide support to families when needed.
What do I do if my child is ill and cannot attend school?
In order to ensure the safety and whereabouts of our students, we require parents/carers to contact the Attendance Officer before 8.30am on the day of absence, if your child is going to be absent from School for either all, or part of the day. We have a 24-hour dedicated line, so messages can be left at any time, day or night. Absence Line – 01326 372379 or email attendance@penryn-college.cornwall.sch.uk or it can be logged directly on Class Charts (24hr answer machine)
When leaving a message, you will be asked to state:
- Your name
- The name of the student
- Their Tutor Group (this is important as we often have two children with the same name)
- A reason for the absence
- An expected date of return, if possible.
Attendance Matters! Read here for reasons why and more ...
Five reasons why attending School is so important:
- Students have the right to an education
- Parents/Carers have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends School. Colleges and Local Authorities have a duty to ensure that students take up this right
- There is a direct link between high student absence and low attainment in School.
- Getting students to attend School regularly and be on time is a very important skill for life beyond School.
- Poor attendance can potentially lead to students being isolated from their friends, risk of bullying, poor and unsettled behaviour, anti-social behaviour or criminal activity.
Ten Attendance Tips: How can I help my child attend School regularly?
- Ensure they pack their bag the night before.
- Ensure that their uniform is ready, especially after the holidays or weekend.
- Get them to bed at a reasonable hour so that they get a good night’s sleep – Don’t let them take their phone to bed.
- Set the alarm clock early enough to allow plenty of time to get ready properly.
- Make sure they have some breakfast.
- Remind them to set off in the car, the train, the bus, or start walking early enough so that they are not late: punctuality is important (students on School site by 8.40am).
- Check to make sure they have everything they need – I-pad, books, PE kit, bus/train pass, etc.
- Talk to your child about what they did in School today.
- Ensure your child has completed any homework or revised for any tests (as this can cause undue anxiety if not completed and can lead to non-attendance). Use Class Charts to stay up to date on what homework is being set.
- If you are at all worried about your child’s School attendance please contact the School and their Tutor and/or Pastoral Leader as soon as possible so that we can offer support.
Some facts and figures on Attendance
- 90% attendance equals half a day of School missed every week
- One School year at 90% attendance = 4 whole weeks of lessons and School work missed
- 90% attendance over 5 years of secondary School = half a School year missed
- There is a direct correlation between low student attendance and future employment prospects
- Research suggests that 17 missed School days a year is equal to a GCSE grade drop in achievement (Department for Education and Skills).
Punctuality
- It is very important that your child is on the School site before 8.40am
- Students arriving after this time without an acceptable reason and/or parent note will be marked as late.
- If you are aware your child is going to be late please telephone the Absence Line – 01326 372379 or email attendance@penryn-college.cornwall.sch.uk or it can be logged directly onto Class Charts (24hr answer machine)
- If your child arrives late to School they must sign in at Student reception before they go to their first lesson.
Leave of Absence During Term Time
The School will not routinely grant permission for leave of absence to be taken in term time and discourage parents/carers making an application for leave except in special or exceptional circumstances.
Support
Useful links:
· How to improve your child’s school attendance and where to get support – The Education Hub
· Is my child too ill for school? – NHS
If your child is absent from school without authorisation ...
If your child is absent from school without authorisation, you will be committing an offence under the Education Act 1996. We may submit a request to Cornwall Council for a Penalty Notice to be issued, in accordance with Sections 444A and 444B of the said Act. Penalty Notices are issued per liable parent, per child and each carry a fine of £80 if paid within 21 days or £160 if paid after this but within 28 days.
If your child is further absent from school without authorisation within any 3-year period, you will be committing a further offence under the Education Act 1996. We may submit a request to Cornwall Council for a Penalty Notice to be issued, in accordance with Sections 444A and 444B of the said Act. Penalty Notices for a second offence are issued per liable parent, per child and each carry a fine of £160, payable within 28 days. Importantly, fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action such as a parenting order or prosecution will be considered.
'Parent’ as set out in Section 576 of the Education Act 1996, defines parent to include: natural parents, whether they are married or not; any person or body who has parental responsibility for a child (as defined by the Children Act 1989) and; any person who, although not a natural parent, has care of a child. Having care of a child means a person with whom a child lives and who looks after a child, irrespective of what their relationship is with said child.
Failure to pay the Penalty Notice ...
Failure to pay the Penalty Notice may also result in legal action. If you are prosecuted and attend court because your child has not been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500. Cornwall Council may also apply for the costs incurred in taking the matter to Court, including legal costs. Absence not authorised by the school may also result in a prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court under Section 444(1) or Section 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996, leading to a fine of up to £2,500 and/or a custodial sentence.
Again, Cornwall Council may also apply for the costs incurred in taking the matter to Court, including legal costs. Money raised from fines is only used by the local authority to cover the costs of administering the system, and to fund attendance support. Any extra money is returned to the government.
Read the Attendance letter from The Headteacher here Download a Leave of Absence Exceptional Circumstance Request Form here