Attendance, Holidays, and Punctuality 

Attendance Matters at St John Bosco

Everyone is engaging in our ‘Attendance Matters’ project during form time and we’re looking forward to rolling out our Attendance Rewards. Please check ClassCharts for more details on upcoming incentives.

Remember, every day off is 5 lessons missed! Miss 4 days this half term and attendance will be less than 90% - this is classed as being Persistently Absent (PA):  

Please keep in touch with the Attendance Team on the usual school number (press 1 for Attendance) and let us support you in achieving good attendance this year!

Attendance & Punctuality Policy

Aim High, Achieve More

Every pupil at St John Bosco Arts College has an attendance target of 100%. However, the expectation is that every child maintains an attendance of 97% or above. It is the responsibility of parents, carers, pupils and staff to ensure they achieve this.

If a pupil has 6 days off in a school year they will achieve 97% attendance and will have missed 30 lessons.

We understand there will be occasions when children are unwell. The following NHS Guidance is available to help you decide whether to keep your child off school:

Please think carefully about keeping your child off school as missing days for minor ailments has a negative effect on progress - there is a strong connection between attendance and achievement, this is illustrated below in the GCSE results from 2017/18:

Known Absence, Medical and Dental Appointments

All appointments should be made outside of the school day. In instances where this is not possible an appointment letter needs to be provided to the Pupil Progress Coordinator.

Holidays

Holidays in term time are not permitted. There is no entitlement in law to time off school to go on holiday, therefore the Headteacher will only authorise leave of absence in EXCEPTIONAL circumstances. Leave is unlikely, however, to be granted for the purposes of a family holiday as a norm and therefore will not be authorised.

Any applications for leave of absence should be made to the Headteacher, in writing, at least 2 weeks in advance. It should not be assumed permission is granted if written confirmation has not been received.

Any period of leave taken without the agreement of the school, or in excess of that agreed, with be classed as unauthorised and may attract sanctions such as penalty notices issued by the Educational Welfare Officer.

Rewards & Incentives

A free breakfast is available every school day to all students that arrive before 8.25am.

Those that have 2 days or less absence each term (#2daysorless) will be eligible for an end-of-term reward. Previous trips have included the Trafford Centre, Blackpool, the Crocky Trail and Alton Towers. ‘Pop-up’ incentives also occur throughout the year, including rewards such as tickets to the Staff Dance Show, the Advent Attendance Concert, and treats like ‘Daughter’s Day’.

Punctuality

Pupils are expected to arrive in school by 8.25am, with morning registration taking place at 8.35am. Arriving in form after the register has been called will mean the pupil receives a Late mark. The pupil is then required to attend a 20 minute lunch detention on that same day. If a pupil does not attend the 20 minute lunch detention they will attend 30 minutes after school that day.

Pupils arriving after 8.55am will receive an hour detention after school on the same day.