Attendance and Punctuality
School Attendance
St Thomas More VC Academy seeks to ensure a full time education for all, which maximises opportunities for each pupil to realise his/her true potential. We strive to provide a welcoming, caring environment, where each member of our school community feels wanted and secure. All school staff work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually.
We have an effective system of incentives and rewards that acknowledges the efforts of pupils to improve their attendance and timekeeping and we challenge the behaviour of those pupils and parents who give low priority to attendance and punctuality.
We have an effective and efficient system of communication with pupils, parents and appropriate agencies to provide mutual information, advice and support.
Attendance expectations are set out in the following documents:
Punctuality
Our school day starts prompt at 8:50am and morning registration closes at 9:20am.
Your child will be marked ‘late’ if they arrive into school before registration closes (8:51am – 9:20am).
Our afternoon session starts prompt at 1pm and registration closes immediately. If your child has been taken home for lunch, please ensure their prompt return to school.
Lateness to school can be a very upsetting and isolating experience for a child who may feel awkward arriving into a classroom when everyone else is settled. They also miss out on essential instructions given at the beginning of a lesson and are less prepared for learning.
Leave of Absence
Leave of absence during term time is not a parental right and can only be granted by the Head of School under exceptional circumstances as determined by the Trust Directors. It is always strongly discouraged to prevent a child missing valuable learning and falling behind.
Exceptional circumstance criteria will focus on:
- arrangements for access determined by a Court Order
- Service personnel and other employees where annual leave is dictated by an employer
- acute family crisis
- religious observance
Providing at least one month’s notice, an application should be made to the Head of School using the following form:
All requests for leave of absence will be responded to within 10 days of receipt.