Quick Links

Quick Links Open/Close

Haberdashers' Borough Academy

Staff Links

Staff Pages

Attendance

Pupils should aim for a consistently high attendance rate; the target is a minimum of 97% for all pupils over the course of the academic year.

Attendance Counts, Moments Matter

School attendance is important for equipping your child with skills for life. High school attendance is directly correlated with high attainment. Attending the school at least 97% of the time ensures that students leave school with the strongest qualifications. Furthermore, school attendance can improve overall wellbeing and support young people in developing friendships.

Attending school every day can help your child to achieve their aspirations, and the aspirations you have for them.  

You can support your child’s physical, social and mental wellbeing by ensuring they are in school every day. We know that parents and carers worry about their children’s mental health. Rather than keeping your child off school, let us know about your concerns. We can then work together on supporting your child.  

It can be difficult to know whether your child is too ill to attend school. NHS guidance is clear that it’s fine to send them in with a minor cough or common cold, provided they don’t have a temperature. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/  

We know that coming to school every day makes all the difference. That's why we are striving for 97% attendance.

If your child is going to be absent, please inform us of the reasons before 8am by:

- Emailing boroughstudentabsence@habstrustsouth.org.uk or

- Telephoning 020 3764 1321

Please do not email individual staff about student absence. 

If the school are not notified of the reason for absence before, or on the day of absence, it will automatically be unauthorised. This is because the updated ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ states that schools cannot retrospectively grant leaves of absences.

 

 

Medical Appointments

Medical or dental appointments should not be made during school hours, unless this is absolutely unavoidable.

If it is unavoidable, please request a leave of absence in advance by emailing boroughstudentabsence@habstrustsouth.org.uk and include confirmation of the appointment in the email (confirmation email or text or appointment card). We ask that parents/ carers give as much notice as possible when making such a request (a fortnight where possible).

If a student has an appointment in the afternoon they should attend school in the morning, and vice versa. Please note that a parent or carer will need to collect the student from school for their appointment (unless the student is in sixth form).

Lateness

A child who is late will be expected to attend a late detention. Parents/ carers will be informed by text and it is therefore important that the school has the most up to date mobile numbers for parents/ carers.

Pupil Illness During School Hours

Any pupil who feels ill during school hours should let their class teacher know. We have a team of first aiders on school site and where necessary support will be provided.

Holidays in Term Time

Holidays are not allowed during term-time, as this is disruptive to both the pupil and to the group, especially where coursework is concerned.

The Government has made it clear that schools should not authorise any leave of absence during term time unless there are very exceptional circumstances. Please note that an unauthorised holiday may result in a penalty notice.

Requesting Authorised Leave

Only exceptional circumstances warrant a leave of absence. Applications for authorised leave will be considered individually, taking into account the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind the request.

All requests for special leave of absences must be made in writing by emailing boroughstudentabsence@habstrustsouth.org.uk. We ask that parents/ carers give as much notice as possible when making such a request (a fortnight where possible). For such absences we may require supporting documentation in order to grant authorised leave of absences.

Senior Attendance Champion

To discuss any concerns regarding attendance policy or practice please contact the Senior Attendance Champion, Annabelle Jameel, a.jameel@habstrustsouth.org.uk.
Our full attendance policy can be found here