Attendance

The Department for Education launched a campaign in 2024 to raise awareness of the importance for pupils to be in school: "Improving school attendance in everyone's business and, to tackle the challenge school's face, we need to work together."

The campaign aims to support schools and local authorities in navigating attendance challenges; amplify the importance of school attendance; reassure parents/carers with the NHS and Chief Medical Officer recommendations around illnesses and general cold symptoms; encourage schools to participate in the campaign.

Having a good education is an important factor in opening up more opportunities in adult life. We are supporting the Moments Matter, Attendance Counts national campaign to improve school attendance.

Regular school attendance has a significant impact on a student's academic achievement and future prospects. Students attendance rates below 92% will achieve one GCSE grade lower than the target grade. They are much less likely to achieve their full potential. This impacts students by limiting their options for further education and employment. At Coombe we strive to provide an environment where all students feel valued and welcome. Regular attendance helps our students to develop important routines, cope better with schoolwork and friendships, and find learning more engaging and rewarding. The habits formed around attendance and punctuality in school mirror the expectations of future employers and school facilitates positive peer relationships, contributing to better mental health and wellbeing. Regular attendance at school ensures that children get the best possible start in life and research demonstrates the link between regular attendance and educational progress and attainment. We are grateful to you for your encouragement of your young person and your support outside of school.

We all play a vital role in encouraging students to attend school regularly. We can aid young people by establishing a routine at home and at school to help them prepare for the day ahead. Here are a few more collaborative actions:

• Communicating the importance of school and the value of education is key. We want to help students understand how regular attendance contributes to their future success and is essential for achieving their short and long-term goals. Each term, we celebrate their achievements related to attendance with Headteacher Awards, certificates, house points and other encouragements. We aim to lead by example, by demonstrating our commitment to our own responsibilities, commitments and punctuality in school.

• It’s important that we all foster positive relationships and encourage connections with peers and staff. This not only helps enhance their enjoyment of school but is proven to aid their wellbeing and mental health. We aim to keep open lines of communication and listen to a child’s concerns and work together with families to find solutions. We encourage our students to seek support if peer challenges or academic difficulties arise and communicate these concerns home so we can address issues quickly.

• We would love for all our students to take part in an extracurricular activity. There is an array of clubs to choose from - no sign-up necessary! - and your help in encouraging their participation would be appreciated.

• We expect that medical or other appointments to only be scheduled outside of school hours whenever possible.

Our social media reelsOur awareness posters

Department for Education Resources for Parents/Carers

Working together to improve school attendance (DfE link) improving school attendance (Eductation Hub link)Mental Health & Attendance at School (Cambridge University Press link)

Please report your child's absence by 8:20 am for that day and for everyday of the student's absence.

A form needs to be filled in for each student and for each day of absence.

Please contact the school via our enquiries if you have any issues with the form.

Report your child's absence via our form

This form is also accessible from our "useful links" in the top section of our website.

If your child has an appointment during the school day please write a note in their diary with the date and time that they need to leave school and a reason for the absence. Your child should show this to their tutor at morning registration for their signature, and then their class teacher when they need to leave school. They should go to reception and will be signed out there.

Please do not call the school on the day of the appointment as we do not have the capacity to respond to lots of messages at very short notice, and may result in your child being late for their appointment.

We take punctuality very seriously and will work with you to ensure that your daughter has a good start to the working day.

All late arrivals will be counted and will lead to a variety of support to improve punctuality and understand the reasons for this.

Absence requests are rarely granted and almost never to those whose attendance is below 98%.

Requests for holidays during term time are never authorised. 

Requests for all forms of absence (including medical appointments) must be made well in advance and in writing. 

Parents must print and complete the pro forma below and return it to the school; we ask for a month’s notice. 

The Headteacher will then make a decision as to whether the absence is approved or not and this decision is final. 

Any absence taken without authorisation, without suitable notice, or taken after the school has refused permission, will be treated as unauthorised. 

A pattern of such absence, or a one off absence of more than one day, will trigger further intervention.

The school will always inform the appropriate staff at the Local Authority about any unauthorised absences.

We need to be advised each day of your child's absence.

Request for Leave of Absence Form

The Coombe Trust Attendance Pledge and Home School Collaboration 

Read the pledge here