At Five Acres High School, we recognise that good attendance is crucial to our students succeeding. Our expectations are:

• Children should be in school every day and arrive on time.
• Please ensure that you communicate reasons for absence to school by 8:45am on the morning of each day of absence.
• School attendance that drops below 95% is considered a cause for concern (95% equates to 10 missed days across a whole school year).
• To help, please try to make medical appointments (where possible) outside of the school day, take holidays out of school term time, and communicate any reasons for absence clearly with school staff.
• Excellent attendance at school is important to allow a child to fulfil their potential.

Absence from school during term time

Legal background and Department for Education (DfE) guidelines

While schools are required to consider parental requests for absence from school in term time, it still remains the legal duty of parents to ensure the regular attendance of a child of compulsory school age. Failure to do so could result in the local authority issuing a penalty notice or prosecuting the parents in the magistrates’ court.

DfE guidelines clearly state that absence from school can be taken in exceptional circumstances, and this means that the parent must make a strong case for taking a child out of school in an academic year. Exceptional circumstances must be explained fully to the school who will then consider the request. Any medical appointments/procedures during school time are always authorised but the school does require evidence, such as appointment cards or letters.

Parents should not expect that schools would automatically agree to an absence from school during term time. All requests are at the discretion of the Headteacher and can only be authorised by the Headteacher or the member of staff with designated authority in the absence of the Headteacher.