Our Senior Attendance Champion (the senior leader responsible for the strategic approach to attendance in our school) is Alex Brooks
At The Oaks Academy, we are proud to be part of a Trust that places high value on excellent attendance. It is not just a school expectation—it is a Trust-wide commitment that every pupil attend school regularly to maximise their learning and development.
At The Oaks Academy we view attendance as being pivotal in successfully progressing through from Year 7 through to Year 11. As such the school has an attendance target for all students of 96%. The school sets such an aspirational target to help support students feeling fully engaged with the life of the school, securely embedded in a good friendship group and able to best achieve their academic targets.
Research has shown that good attendance can have a significantly positive impact on academic outcomes :
- Students with attendance in excess of 90% have an 84% chance of achieving Level 4-9 in both Maths and English. Students with attendance below 90% only have a 36% chance of achieving the same grade in both subjects.
- Research by the DFE has shown that students who miss 15 days (three weeks) in an academic year will achieve at least one grade lower in all of their GCSE courses.
Good attendance habits developed in childhood also build good habits for life and help create positive momentum in their learning ensuring that they are best able to keep up with work completed in all subjects.
Attendance Target for 2026/2027
The Trust’s attendance target for all pupils is 96% across the academic year. This equates to no more than 7 days of absence per year. This target aligns with the Government’s national expectation and reflects our shared belief that consistent attendance is essential for academic success and personal growth.
Why Attendance Matters
Regular attendance ensures that children do not miss vital learning opportunities, especially in Evidence shows that children with good attendance are more likely to achieve their full potential.
We ask parents and carers to support us by avoiding holidays during term time, as these can significantly disrupt a child’s progress.
Understanding Attendance Percentages
What could happen if attendance drops below 96%?
How to Report an Absence
Please contact the Office preferably before 8am on each day of absence.
Telephone:
We require the following information:
- Your child’s name and year group
- The reason for absence
- The expected date of return
Lateness to School
Arriving Late
Pupils who arrive after 8.30am are considered late and this will be recorded on the register.
We expect punctuality from all pupils. Being “just a little bit late” every day has a significant impact on learning time over the course of a school year.
Being late to school on a regular basis quickly adds up to a significant loss of learning time.
|
“They only missed just…” |
That equals… |
Which is… |
And over a school career… |
|
10 minutes per day |
50 minutes per week |
Nearly 1.5 weeks per year |
Nearly 0.5 school years |
|
20 minutes per day |
1 hour 40 minutes per week |
Over 2.5 weeks per year |
Nearly 1 school year |
|
30 minutes per day |
Half a day per week |
4 weeks per year |
Nearly 1.5 school years |
|
1 hour per day |
1 day per week |
8 weeks per year |
Over 2.5 school years |
Absence During Term Time
The Headteacher will only authorise absences in exceptional circumstances. You will be informed whether the absence is authorised or not. Unauthorised absences can have serious consequences. We urge all families to follow the correct procedures and prioritise school attendance.
What is Leave for Exceptional Circumstances?
Leave for Exceptional Circumstances is where parents or carers of a child decide to take their child out of school during term time. This may include holidays, religious observance, child performance and funerals or for another reason.
What does the law say?
Under The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024, a penalty notice may be issued unless:
“On application by a parent with whom the child resides to the proprietor, or a person authorised by the proprietor considers that leave of absence should be granted due to exceptional circumstances. Schools may grant a leave of absence in term time, but only if they consider it to be for exceptional circumstances. Any application for a leave of absence must be made in advance and, if granted, it is for the school to determine the number of days a pupil can be away from school.”
What are exceptional circumstances?
Neither the regulations nor the Department for Education define what might be considered exceptional circumstances. It may include serious or terminal illness of a close relative, significant family trauma, a major one-off never-to-be-repeated experience. These events are examples only and it is for the school to decide if they consider any request to be exceptional circumstances.
How do I make an application for a Leave for Exceptional Circumstances?
The Leave for Exceptional Circumstances form is at the bottom of this page. The completed form should be returned to Mrs Nina Lockett either as a hard copy or via email 10 working days prior to the first day of absence.
Will my application just be dismissed?
No. All applications must be judged on their own merits. Schools will consider why the application has been made and balance this against the child’s record to ensure it does not have a negative impact on any educational progress. Schools can take in a range of considerations before making a decision. This may include previous requests, school policy, attainment and progress, impending tests, exams or significant school events and frequency of applications.
How will I be informed about my application?
Parents will be informed in writing by the school if the Leave for Exceptional Circumstances has been granted or not, in accordance with the school attendance policy.
Can I appeal the school’s decision?
No, there is no right of appeal, as the discretion to authorise is the schools alone.
Can I get a penalty notice if I take the leave without permission?
Yes, if your child has five days (10 sessions) or more within a consecutive 10-week period due to an unauthorised leave of absence then you could be issued with a penalty notice.
Who is responsible and what is the penalty notice?
Each parent is individually responsible for the child’s attendance and commits a separate offence if the child does not attend school on a regular basis.
• The penalty notice amount is £160 (per parent, per child) if paid within 28 days, reduced to £80 (per parent, per child) when paid within 21 days. This relates to the first Leave of Absence in term time.
• A flat rate of £160 (per parent, per child) for a second penalty notice within a three-year period. • No more than two penalty notices can be issued within a three-year period, after which an alternative route (e.g. prosecution) should be considered instead.
If you do not pay the penalty notice issued to you, after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child’s absence from school.
If receive a penalty notice, can I appeal it?
No, there is no right of appeal. If, however, the penalty notice was issued to the wrong person, should not have been issued or contained material error, then it may be withdrawn.
Penalty Notices and Legal Responsibilities
Under the Education Act (1996), parents are legally required to ensure their child attends school regularly. If a child has 10 consecutive sessions (equivalent to 5 full school days) of unauthorised absence, parents may be issued with a Penalty Notice.
Initial Penalty Notice: £160 per parent, per child (reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days).
Failure to Pay: May result in prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
From August 2024, if a second penalty notice is issued within a 3-year rolling period, the fine will remain at £160 with no discount. A maximum of two penalty notices may be issued per parent, per child in that period. Further offences may lead to legal action by the Local Authority.
We appreciate your continued support in ensuring your child attends school every day. Together, we can give every child the best possible start in life.