At Hurworth School, excellent attendance and punctuality are expected for every student. Attending school every day helps students make the most of their learning opportunities, build positive relationships and fully engage in school life. We encourage students to develop strong attendance habits so that they can achieve their potential and enjoy a successful school experience.
Parents and carers play a vital role in promoting positive attendance habits. We ask for your support in ensuring that students attend school every day whenever possible, arrive on time, and avoid unnecessary absences or term-time leave.
We closely monitor attendance and will follow up any unexplained absences through the appropriate communication channels, as outlined in our Attendance Policy. Where attendance becomes a concern, we will work in partnership with parents and carers to identify any barriers and provide appropriate support.
Please refer to our Attendance Policy for further details.
Reporting an Absence
If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, it is essential that you notify the school as soon as possible and before 8.30am on each day of absence.
You can contact the school office by telephone or email, providing:
- The reason for the absence.
- The expected duration of the absence, where possible.
If we do not receive notification before 8.30am, a member of staff will contact you to establish the reason for your child’s absence. This is an important safeguarding measure to ensure all students are safe and accounted for.
Medical and Dental Appointments
Wherever possible, medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside of school hours or during school holidays to minimise disruption to learning.
If an appointment must take place during the school day, please inform the school as soon as possible. Evidence of the appointment will be required, such as:
- An appointment letter.
- A clinic card.
- A text message or email confirmation.
Providing evidence helps us authorise the absence correctly.
Leave of Absence
All schools are expected to restrict leave of absence during term time and can only authorise such requests in exceptional circumstances.
The Headteacher may only grant a leave of absence where exceptional circumstances apply. Requests must be made in advance by the parent or carer with whom the student normally resides. Each request is considered on an individual basis, taking into account the specific circumstances and context of the application.
Please be aware that family holidays are not normally considered exceptional circumstances and should be arranged outside of term time wherever possible.
Unauthorised leave of absence during term time may result in a Penalty Notice being issued in accordance with Local Authority and Government guidance.
For further information, please refer to our Attendance Policy or contact the school office, where our staff will be happy to offer advice and support.
Rewarding Good Attendance and Punctuality
At Hurworth School, we believe that recognising and celebrating positive attendance habits helps encourage students to attend regularly and arrive on time. Throughout the year, we acknowledge students’ commitment to attendance and punctuality through a range of rewards and incentives, including:
- Attendance prize draws for students who achieve 100% attendance.
- Reward for students with attendance of 95% or above.
- Tutor group rewards, with the tutor group achieving the highest attendance each week receiving an early lunch the following week.
- Regular celebration of good attendance through assemblies, ignite time and other school-based recognition opportunities.
Keeping Students and Families Informed
We work closely with students and families to ensure attendance remains a priority and that everyone is aware of their attendance levels.
- Students are regularly informed of their attendance through tutor time.
- Students whose attendance is causing concern may be invited to meet with the Attendance Officer to discuss any barriers to attendance and identify appropriate support.
- Attendance information is included in student reports sent home to parents and carers.
- Attendance data is reviewed regularly by school leaders to monitor trends and ensure students receive the support they need to achieve their best outcomes.
By working together, we can help every student develop strong attendance habits, maximise learning opportunities and make the most of their time at Hurworth School.
