At Astrea Academy Dearne, we have a phrase: ‘amazing attendance accelerates academic achievement’.
In other words, the number one way to succeed at school is to be at school every day! As a result, we are unapologetic about insisting on attendance to school, not just for academic purposes, but also to ensure our scholars can access enrichment opportunities, pastoral care, careers conversations, arts and sporting events and where required, links to external services and support.
In addition to this, we consistently observe that scholars with excellent attendance not only perform better
academically but also show greater confidence, engagement, and wellbeing. Regular attendance helps establish strong routines, fosters a sense of belonging, and ensures no learning opportunities are missed.
To illustrate the impact:
Scholars with 97%+ attendance typically achieve a full grade higher than those with 90%
Scholars with around 80% attendance often see a further drop of another grade.
Research has also shown that those who perform just one GCSE grade better than their counterparts across
nine subjects have been shown to earn on average over £200,000 more throughout their lives.
Essentially, great attendance isn’t just something that matters in school each day, it will have a significant
impact on young people’s lives well into the future.
Punctuality
Arriving at school on time is just as important as good attendance, and punctuality is a characteristic not just
appreciated by school but also by post-16 providers, universities, and employers. Lateness to school is ultimately losing learning time, potentially having a negative impact on your child’s long term success:
- 5 minutes late each day = over 3 days lost learning a year
- 10 minutes late each day = over 6 days lost learning a year
- 20 minutes late each day = over 12 days lost learning a year.
How to report an absence due to illness
If a scholar is going to be absent, it is vital that a parent contacts the school at the earliest opportunity to provide a sufficient reason for absence. This should be by telephone on 01709 892211 or by texting via the MCAS app by 8:15am.
Absence information should include:
- Name & DOB of scholar
- Tutor group
- Reason for illness/absence.
Absence can only be authorised where there is good cause. If no sufficient reason for absence is provided,
attendance will be recorded as unauthorised. All absences should be evidenced by the parent either telephoning the doctors or by a medical note. Parents cannot authorise absence. This is a decision which rests with Astrea Academy Dearne in accordance with the boundaries set by The Education (Scholar Registration) Regulations
Holidays will not be authorised during term time and will likely result in a fixed penalty notice. The decision
to record a holiday as unauthorised rests with Astrea Academy Dearne.
For extreme circumstances only, to apply for a scholar leave of absence, parents should complete a Term Time Leave Request Form which can be accessed below or collected from reception. Forms must be fully completed, with evidence provided, then returned to reception for consideration by the Principal.