There is a clear link between high attendance and positive academic outcomes. We will do everything we can to ensure that students meet their target grades; however, the most important factor in this is full attendance. Attendance in the Sixth Form is expected to be above 95%.
All students are expected to attend all timetabled sessions including:
Students must not leave the Sixth Form site unless specifically authorised to do so by the Director of Sixth Form. This includes during study sessions unless leave to do so has been granted by the Director of Sixth Form.
Alsager Sixth Form applies the following procedures in deciding how to deal with individual absences:
Illness and other legitimate reasons for absence
If a student is unfit to attend sixth form, parents/carers are asked to contact the school using the absence line by telephone on 01270 871107 or email: absence@alsagerschool.org on each day of absence no later than 9am, providing a reason for absence. Examples of reasons why a student may be unfit for school are as follows:
Requests for absence also may be authorised for the following reasons:
Absence without explanation
If a student is absent at morning registration, and the school has not received an explanation by 9.00am, the nominated attendance officer will contact the parent/carer by either text, telephone or email from 9:30am. For safeguarding reasons, it is important that we as a school address any absent students and speak to parents about this.
Unauthorised Absence
It is for the Head of Sixth Form to determine whether an absence will be authorised. Examples of absence that will not be authorised are:
Punctuality
Students must attend on time to be give a mark for a session or lesson unless the lateness is unavoidable (e.g. late bus or medical appointment). Students who arrive late will not receive a registration mark unless they have signed in with the School Attendance Officer. Students who arrive after registration has closed (half an hour after the register has opened) will be marked as Late After Register has Closed (U). Incident of truancy will be dealt with by the teacher of the lesson and also contribute to the 3 instances of not meeting expectation that will trigger and after school detention. Truancy to lessons and independent study periods are dealt with in exactly the same way.
Truancy
Truancy is defined in sixth form as any instance where a student has been marked present for the day but not attended lessons, independent study periods, tutor sessions, assemblies, or enrichment sessions. An unauthorised absence will be recorded for that session, with the sixth form behaviour management processes followed (see page 10).
Attendance Monitoring
The Sixth Form Pastoral Administrator and Attendance Officers monitor student’s attendance on a regular basis and can take the following actions if attendance is causing concern.
Attendance Action Flow Chart Step | Trigger | Action | If successful… | If unsuccessful… |
Step 1 | Attendance falls below 95% | Discussion with tutor – two-week monitoring period put in place | Student returns to usual monitoring | Step 2 intervention |
Step 2 | Attendance has fallen after two weeks monitoring period. 90% attendance or lower (4 weeks of possible attendance) | Meeting with Pastoral administrator and phone call home to share agreed action plan for further two-week period. Letter of Concern sent home. | Student returns to step 1 | Step 3 intervention |
Step 3 | Attendance has fallen following Step 2 meeting. 85% attendance or lower | Verbal warning issued by Director of Sixth Form w/confirmation of verbal warning by letter. | Student returns to step 1 | Step 4 intervention |
Step 4 | Attendance has fallen following Step 3 meeting. 80% attendance or lower | Parent/carer meeting with written warning letter issued. Attendance contract put in place. | Student returns to step 2 | Step 5 intervention |
Step 5 | Student has failed to meet targets of attendance contract | Meeting with Headteacher to discuss continuation of Sixth Form placement. |
