Blackwater Integrated College seeks to ensure that all its students receive a full-time education which maximises opportunities for each student to realise his/her true potential. Promoting positive behaviour and excellent attendance is the responsibility of the whole College community. All college staff will work with students and their families to ensure each student attends school regularly and punctually. The law requires that children attend school regularly. The College has a legal duty to promote attendance and parents have a duty to make sure that their children attend. College staff are committed to working in partnership with parents to ensure the highest level of student attendance is maintained at all times.
Absence
Children can miss school for many reasons. Some are understandable, for example, illness. Schools are required to take an attendance register every day. The register shows whether the student is present, engaged in approved educational activity outside the school, or absent. If a child is absent, the register must show whether the absence was authorised or unauthorised. Authorised absence is where the school has either given approval in advance for the student to be absent or has accepted an explanation offered afterwards as satisfactory justification for the absence. All other absences must be treated as unauthorised.
Educational Welfare Service
If difficulties cannot be sorted out through the College the student may be referred to the Education Welfare Service.
Aims of College Policy for School Attendance
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To Improve the Overall Percentage Attendance of Students at School
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To Make Attendance and Punctuality a Priority for All Those Associated with the School Including Students, Parents, Teachers and Governors
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To Develop a Framework Which Defines Agreed Roles and Responsibilities and Promotes Consistency in Carrying Out Designated Tasks
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To Provide Support, Advice and Guidance to Parents and Students
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To Develop a Systematic Approach in Gathering and Analysing Attendance Related Data
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To Further Develop Positive and Consistent Communication Between Home and School
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To Implement a System of Rewards and Sanctions
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To Promote Effective Partnerships With the Education Welfare Service and With Other Services and Agencies
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To Recognise the Needs of the Individual Student When Planning Reintegration Following Significant Periods of Absence
