Attendance
Outwood Academy, Adwick believes that high attendance rates are a significant factor in maintaining the quality of education that we provide. If we are to maintain the continuity of education for our students and prepare them for the world of work, we must ensure that absenteeism is kept to an absolute minimum.
What is good attendance?
Most students think that an attendance rate of 90% is good.
Why? Because, as an examination score, 90% means excellence.
However, as an attendance rate:
90% equates to missing 20 days per year!
The impact of attendance
How does this impact on a student’s attainment?
The facts speak for themselves:
Students attending over 95% of the time miss no more than 10 days a year!
6 out of 10 of these students gain 5 GCSE A* – C grades!
Almost ALL students with good attendance go on to leave the academy with qualifications that support their future training and employment!
Why is good attendance important?
- Make new friends
- Learn and enjoy new experiences
- Develop the skills that they will need in later life
- Take part in a wide range of activities
- Learn how to look after themselves and be healthy
- Feel safe and listened to
- Improve their chances of having a good career
- Make a positive contribution (to the community)
Did you know?
- Government research shows those children who have less than 90% attendance (20 or more days missed in a year) achieve, on average, a whole grade lower than expected in examinations.
- There is a link between the number of days a child is absent and their average earnings in later life.
- Children are much more likely to suffer an injury or have an accident when they are out of school.
- A child is not in school 175 days a year – plenty of time to go shopping, take holidays, visit family or attend routine appointments.
- A parent/carer has a legal responsibility to ensure that his/her child attends school regularly. Failure to fulfil this responsibility can lead to prosecution.
How can a parent/carer help?
- Tell your child how important school is.
- Praise your child for working hard and attending school.
- Organise non-urgent medical appointments outside of school time.
- Check that you child is organised for school (with a bag to carry their things).
- Encourage healthy eating and exercise.
- Make sure your child has a good night’s sleep and wakes up in good time for the new academy day.
- Take time to talk to your child about what they have done in school.
- Contact the academy at the first opportunity if your child is genuinely too ill to go out of the house.
- Talk to someone at the academy if there is a problem or reason why your child finds it difficult to attend regularly.