The Winsford Academy expect high levels of attendance and punctuality from all of our pupils. Regular attendance promotes positive social development, develops self-discipline and improves pupil progress.There is a clear link between attendance and academic progress, as a school we expect all pupils to aim to achieve at
least 97% attendance. Pupils with no absence are over twice as likely to achieve 5 or more GCSEs at grades 5-9 including English and Mathematics.
The graphic below indicates the attendance levels we expect at the Academy and how we will reward good and excellent attendance, in addition to supporting attendance issues below 97%
Why is Attendance Important?
Poor attendance unfortunately 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 90 hours of learning.
As a parent you are legally responsible for ensuring that your child receives full time education. If you fail to ensure this you are committing an offence which could lead to a fine or more serious actions
Your child’s attendance and punctuality record will go on any references provided by the Academy, so it is important that you encourage high levels of attendance and punctuality throughout their academy journey.
The academy will communicate regularly with parents regarding attendance. Parents can now download the class charts app to monitor their child attendance on a daily basis. A regular check of registers will be made throughout the school day and we will contact you if there appears to be a cause for concern.
In the event your child’s attendance drops below the 95% threshold, letters will be sent home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if my child is absent?
- If your son/daughter is absent from school for any reason you need to contact us and explain why this absence has been necessary.
- Please call the school on each day of absence before 8:45am on 01606 592300.
- When possible please inform us of any planned absence in advance.
- The day your child returns to school, a note should be provided to explain reasons of absence to your son/daughter’s Form Tutor.
- The school operates an automated telephone call system and will contact parents if a student is absent without a reason. Please help us safeguard your son/ daughter; contact us and keep us up to date.
What do I do if my child is late for school?
- If your son/daughter is late for school through no fault of his/her own, provide a note in to explain the reason for lateness. If your son/daughter is arriving to school after 8.45am, s/he will need to sign in at reception. Our aim is to ensure that all our students adopt positive work habits for their future.
- Repeated lateness to school is unacceptable.
- Students who are late will be given a lunchtime or after school detention. Failure to attend these may result in a Principal’s detention.
- Reminder: Your son/ daughter should be in his/her form room by 8:45am every day.
What do I do if my child has an appointment in school time?
- Parents are asked to make medical and dental appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.
- If an appointment in school time is unavoidable, please provide your son/daughter with a note explaining the nature of the appointment.
- Where possible please provide the appointment letter. A maximum of half a day will be authorised for an appointment unless school is advised of an exceptional circumstance.
- Your son/daughter needs to take this note with him/her to the reception area to sign out of school.
What if I want to take my son/daughter on holiday in term time?
- Family holidays should take place during school holidays. If completely unavoidable, parents must apply for leave of absence in writing to the Attendance Manager at least 2 weeks in advance. Such absence will not usually be authorised.
- Under current law, parents and carers, do not have the automatic right to take their children out of school for holidays during term time.
- Unauthorised absence can lead to prosecution.
- Remember good attendance = good grades
If your son/daughter does need to miss a day or part of a day of school, please communicate the reason for this absence as soon as possible by:
Absences for dental or medical treatment should also be covered either by a letter, telephone call or email. Students must then sign out at Pupil Reception before leaving school and sign in on their return. It is in pupils’ best interests if such appointments are made out of school hours if at all possible, so that missing lesson time is avoided.