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96% or Above

Our School Attendance
This leaflet aims to provide parents and carers with information about Walton High School’s attendance and punctuality procedures.
Good attendance is vital to raising standards in school and to ensure every pupil reaches their potential. Every pupil is entitled to a full time education.
The government expects schools to promote good attendance and reduce absences.
Parents have a legal obligation to ensure their child’s regular attendance at school. Further information about this can be found on The Department for Education Website: www.education.gov.uk
We would like to say thank you for your continued support with regards to attendance. We understand that students are absent from school for a variety of reasons and often this includes genuine illness, urgent medical appointments and other essential absences.
Please help your child by trying to maintain their attendance above 96% as this is our school target.

Each day pupils are registered in the morning and afternoon during tutor time. If a pupil is absent, school requires notification from a parent or carer with a justifiable reason BEFORE 9.30am on the day of absence. If school is not informed of an absence we are required to follow this up to ascertain the reason for absence and safeguard our students. Parents/carers should inform school and can leave a message for the Attendance Officer on 01785 334917 option1 which operates 7 days a week 24 hours a day.
If your child is absent for more than one day you must inform school on a daily basis.
Please make appointments for routine check-ups during the holidays or after the school day.
If appointments during the school day are unavoidable please inform the school and if possible give us prior notice. Please be aware that medical appointments will still have an affect your child’s attendance if they are not present for their morning and afternoon registration. Please make appointments as late as possible to cause less disruption.
Absence due to medical appointments or illness may be unauthorised unless you provide medical verification to support the absence. Medical evidence may be requested if your child exceeds 10 sessions (5 days) of absence due to illness or is or has been below 90% attendance. This evidence could be in the form of an appointment card, prescription, doctor’s note or photocopy of the packaging from the medication, all evidence of absence must be dated by the medical service that your child has visited.
In advance thank you for your support.

All absences for Sixth Form must be reported to the Sixth Form Centre either on 01785 334917 Option 4 or via email on j.wellings@walton.staffs.sch.uk
Please note this extension is connected to voicemail so messages can be left.
The reporting of absences can only be authorised by a parent or carer, not by the student themselves.
Walton High School’s policy regarding holidays in term time applies to Sixth Form.
All students must wear their Lanyards and I.D Cards provided

Be Punctual
School Starts: 8:40am
All students should be on site.
AM Registration: 8:45am
Late: 8:46 - 9:15am
If you arrive after registration you MUST sign in at Reception.
If you arrive after 9:15am without good reason this will be an Unauthorised late Please provide a note from your parents/carer.
PM Registration: 13:35
Please try to make all non emergency medical appointments after school or as late as possible to reduce the disruption and help maintain good attendance.

Those students who have 100%
attendance over a whole year are invited to a celebration event and receive a certificate.

We like to encourage excellent attendance throughout the year. We will send traffic light letters home to inform you what percentage attendance your child is on. You can also see this through the Staffordshire Learning Gateway (SLG).
Pupils who achieve 100% will be awarded with certificates. Each week the House with the highest attendance gains Epraise points and at the end of the academic year a trophy is awarded to the House with the best overall attendance.

Find out regularly your child’s attendance and check this coincides with your own record.
Talk regularly with your child about school and how they feel about it. They are more likely to attend if they feel supported and their anxieties are listened to.
Phone us as soon as possible to tell us why your child is absent.
Only grant days at home for genuine illness (you will know)
If you have concerns please ring us. We will check attendance and be discreet
Talk to us to resolve issues or concerns.
You are not alone, we are here to listen and support so please don’t hesitate to contact school if you have any concerns
01785 356300 option 1 for Attendance

100%
Perfect!

91% - 95%Be Careful

Persistant Absence 90% or below
below

90% attendance represents an average of half a day absence each week.
Over a year, it represents a massive four weeks of absence.
Over five years it represents an astonishing half year absence.
Just 17 days absence a year equals a GCSE grade drop in achievement in each subject area. (DfE)
The gap in achievement between those students who miss less than 7.5 days and those that miss 17.5 to 20 days is massive. Those in the first category have a three times better chance of attaining five or more GCSEs at grade C than similar pupils in the second.
Even a small improvement in attendance can result in significant academic improvement.

If you can improve your attendance by 1%, you will see a 5-6% improvement in attainment. (Department for Education)

As from February 2015, according to Local Authority Guidelines, schools are not allowed to authorise leave of absence in term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
A request leave for exceptional circumstances in term time should be made in writing at least two weeks prior to the period of leave. The headteacher will consider the request on an individual basis.
When a child has more than 10 days or more unauthorised absence over two half terms in a row, then a penalty notice may be issued to the parents/carers of that child.
A fine of £60 per parent / carer (per child) if paid within 21 days from the date of issue. If this Penalty is not paid, the amount rises to £120. If after 28 days of the date of issue the £120 is not paid the Local Authority will prosecute you under section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996. This will lead to a hearing in the Magistrates Court and may result in a fine of up to £1000
If you have any questions with regards to this, please contact your Local Support Team.
Contact details can be found online at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/LST

School Days
Children can only work a maximum of 12 hours a week including weekends
A maximum of 2 hours on school days and Sundays Not before 7am or after 7pm No more than 1 hour before school
Saturdays and school Holidays
Five hours a day max (max 25 a week) if you are 13/14
Eight hours a day (Max 35) if 15/16
No more than 4 hours without a 1 hour break
Sundays, work up to 2 hours between 7-7pm
All rules apply until the END of year 11 not when you are16
Further information 01782 278965
Restrictions on employment
without an employment permit issued by the education department of the local council, if this is required by local bylaws
in places like a factory or industrial site
during school hours
before 7am or after 7pm
for more than one hour before school (unless local bylaws allow it)
for more than 4 hours without taking a break of at least 1 hour
in most jobs in pubs and betting shops and those prohibited in local bylaws
in any work that may be harmful to their health, well-being or education
without having a 2-week break from any work during the school holidays in each calendar year

Theses rules apply until the end of year 11 They do not end as soon as you are 16

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