Attendance

Please note that from August 2024, there will be changes to Education Penalty Notices for unauthorised absences. See this news item to learn more

If you need support, help or advice with your child’s attendance, there are a number of people within the college who can help, from the year teams, members of our Attendance team, Team tutors and teachers.  In the first instance, please contact the college on 01744 678 030.

If a student’s attendance has fallen below the expected 97% attendance target, then the Principal has made the decision that we are unable to authorise future absences until medical evidence is provided.

Please see further down this page for more information, including the examples of medical evidence that are acceptable.

A short video about why good attendance is important

Recent DfE changes to unauthorised absences

Barriers to attendance and how we can help

The Education Hub by the Department for Education is a site for parents, pupils, education professionals and the media that captures all you need to know about the education system. You’ll find accessible, straightforward information on popular topics, Q&As, interviews, case studies, and more.

Everything you need to know about school attendance – The Education Hub (blog.gov.uk)

 

Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy here

Unauthorised absence fines from August 2024

Please note that the fine for unauthorised school absences will change from August 2024. Please view this leaflet – Penalty Notice Edited or read this news item for more details.

Please follow the link for the Publication that will start from the 19th August 2024 Working together to improve school attendance (applies from 19 August 2024) (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Enrichment at Cowley

There’s so much to be part of at Cowley.  Take a look at our enrichment timetable here to see the clubs and activities that your child could take part in.  There’s so much that a child can gain from being part of clubs, such as new friendship groups, new hobby and improved wellbeing.

Enrichment Timetable – Cowley International College – St Helens

Persistent absence

What is a ‘persistent absence’ student?

The following in italic was taken from https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk:

What does it mean if a child is persistently or severely absent? 

Children who are registered at a school but regularly fail to turn up are officially referred to as being ‘persistently’ or ‘severely’ absent. 

The school day is split into two sessions – one session counts as a morning or afternoon spent in school. Pupils who have missed more than 10% of school sessions are considered persistently absent, while children who have missed more than 50% of school sessions are referred to as severely absent. 

 

If your child takes too much time off school they will become categorised as PA or persistently absent. (Attendance below 90% = persistent absence).

Missing school will make your child fall behind in lessons and will impact on their academic progress and achievement.
Don’t allow your child to become a PA student.
This information below shows how many days missed each half–term will make your child a PA student:

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How many days off will make your child a persistent absence student?

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  •  3 ½ days off school from September until October half-term holiday will make your child a PA student.
  • 7 days off school from September until the Christmas holiday will make your child a PA student.
  • 10 days of absence from September until February half-term will make your child a PA student.
  • 12 ½ days of absence from September until the Easter holidays will make your child a PA student.
  • 15 ½ days of absence from September until May half-term will make your child a PA student.
  • 19 days of absence for the full academic year (September to end of summer term in July) will make your child a PA student.

Why is good attendance important?

We place great emphasis on excellent attendance.  To be successful at school and to take advantage of all the amazing opportunities and enrichment that the school can offer, your child should aim for 100% attendance.

In order to support your child in achieving 100% attendance, we request that whenever possible, medical appointments are made outside of the school day, as losing time during the school day will impact upon their overall attendance figure and also hinder their progress.

Attendance to school is vital in achieving true potential.  1/2 a missed day per week equates to one grade lower at GCSE across all subjects –this is a proven fact.

Our school target is 97% which mean to achieve this, all pupils must have an attendance of at least 97%.

The start of the school day

  • Students should arrive on the school site by 8.35am.
  • If students arrive after 8.35am, they will be marked as late (L)
  • If a student arrives after 8.55am, they will need to sign in at reception and wait for a uniform/equipment check

Absences

If your child is too ill to attend school, we ask that you contact school on the first day of absence wherever possible before 8.35am on 01744 678 030 or send a message via Class Charts.  We ask to receive daily updates from parents/carers until the child returns to school.  If we do not receive an explanation for an absence, the parents/carers will be contacted via Class Charts and/or by phone requesting a reason for the absence.  Until we have been updated, it will be recorded as Unauthorised.

If your child’s attendance is below the Cowley target of 97%, you may also receive a home visit from a Family Liaison Officer.

Medical Evidence

If a student’s attendance has fallen below the expected 97% attendance target, then the Principal has made the decision that we are unable to authorise future absences until medical evidence is provided.

School will accept the following medical evidence:

  • A signed, dated medical appointment card
  • A copy of a hospital appointment letter
  • Sight of prescription medicine (must include name of child and date issued)
  • Signed, dated ‘Care at the Chemist’ evidence

Medical evidence can be required to better understand the needs of the pupil and identify the most suitable provision in line with the statutory guidance.

Where a parent cannot provide evidence in the form requested but can provide other evidence, school will take this into account. Where a parent cannot provide any written evidence, they can request a conversation or home visit from the Attendance/Year Team with the parent and pupil being present which may in itself serve as the necessary evidence to authorise the absence.

Requesting time out of school during term-time

By law, you are legally responsible for ensuring your child receives full time education, and government legislation states that schools are unable to authorise any term time holidays as outlined below.

Parents can be fined for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school (see the Education Penalty Notice Information Below). There will be gaps in your child’s learning and education, that will impact upon their progress in the long term, making it difficult for them to catch up on work when they return.

The school closes for 70 days during the year, providing plenty of opportunities for holidays to be taken when it has the least impact upon your child’s education.  Any parent wanting to take a holiday during term time should apply in writing to the Principal, Mr Cormack.  Each application will be considered on an individual basis and you will be informed by letter, of the outcome.

However, we should inform you that it is highly unusual for leave of absence to be granted for holidays during term time.  Any holiday or leave from school, taken without the Principal’s permission, will be unauthorized and legal action may be sought from the Local Authority.

REQUEST FOR TERM TIME LEAVE IN EXCEPTION CIRCUMSTANCES_March2023

Education Penalty Notice

Please be aware that penalty notices are changing from August 2024.  See this news item to learn more

Please be aware that we will not authorise holidays in school time and if necessary, we will issue Fixed Penalty Notices.  Take a look at our Penalty Notice letter link for more information: PenaltyNoticeWarning 23

In severe cases, we will monitor attendance over a 6 week period; if attendance does not improve we would refer to the Educational Welfare Service with a view to prosecuting.

School refusal

Take a read of our 2-page PDF about school refusal and some advice for parents/carers, plus the support that we, and external agencies, can offer.
School-refusal-leaflet.pdf

Minor ailments

Take a read of our guide all about minor ailments and when your child can attend school.

Minor Ailments

Appointments during school time

We ask that any medical and other appointments are made out of school time, where possible.

We understand that this is not always possible though and we ask that we are notified in advance. This can be done by telephone, email or a note provided from home or appointment letter/card to confirm the appointment.

Where possible, the child should attend School before the appointment and return to lessons afterwards.