INTRODUCTION
We are committed to making Plymouth College somewhere that children want to be, and so we work hard to ensure our environment is safe, supportive and inclusive Where there are barriers to attending school, we want to work collaboratively with you to identify and remove them as quickly as possible. The approach taken will be supportive and we will not actively seek to take a penal route
Every child of compulsory school age is entitled by law to an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude and any special educational need they may have It is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives this education and that they attend school regularly.
WHAT IS MEANT BY REGULAR ATTENDANCE?
Less than 90% Persistent or severe absence 17+
HOW IS ATTENDANCE RECORDED?
Our formal registration points occur in the morning and after lunch. Pupils in the senior school are also registered at the start of every lesson
Pupils are recorded as either Present or Absent, or with an absence which is either authorised or unauthorised
Present marks include pupils on a school visit, work experience, educational trip or participating in a school sporting fixture
Authorised absence includes illness, medical appointments, and any requests for absence that have been made in advance and agreed by the school
Unauthorised absence will be recorded if no valid reason has been provided, if the child has truanted or if the school hasn’t agreed to an absence request.
Lateness is also recorded, including how many minutes late a pupil has arrived We are able to record the reason for lateness as well (e.g. widespread disruption to travel). The morning register closes at 9:10am. If a pupil arrives after this time without valid reason, it will be marked as an unauthorised absence
UNPLANNED ABSENCE
If a child is too unwell to attend school (please consult the guidance on the following page if you are unsure), parents and carers are asked to inform the School before 09:00am each day of their absence.
If there are exceptional circumstances other than illness which prevent your child from attending school for all or part of the school day, please notify us in the same way and copy in your child’s form tutor or head of year so we can provide additional support if necessary
If we have not received a notification for a student’s absence by 9.30am, we will contact parents / guardians either by email or phone call The office will attempt to contact all parents of unauthorised absences by 10:30am
If a boarding pupil is unwell before school, a member of the boarding staff will direct them to the School Nurse to make a decision on whether they need to be absent from school that day or not.
If a pupil attends school but becomes unwell during the school day, the School Nurse will make a decision about whether they need to go home They will be cared for in our Health Centre or Prep Medical Room until someone is able to collect them It is therefore important that the emergency contact details we hold for each pupil are accurate and up to date.
at least 5 days from the onset of the rash and until all blisters have crusted over 48 hours after their last episode
they no longer have a high temperature and feel well enough to attend. Follow the national guidance if they’ve test positive for COVID-19 their sores have crusted and healed, or 48 hours after they started antibiotics.
4 days after the rash first appeared
5 days after the swelling started they’ve had their first treatment
24 hours after they started taking antibiotics
48 hours after they started taking antibiotics
PREP PUPILS
Email your child’s Form Tutor and reception@plymouthcollege.com
SENIOR PUPILS
Email your child’s Head of Year and absence@plymouthcollege.com
Wherever possible, medical and dental appointments should be made outside of the school day in order to minimise disruption to the child’s education.
ABSENCE REQUESTS OF A DAY OR MORE
PREP PUPILS
Email the Head of Prep (Mrs Newnham, jnewnham@plymouthcollege com)
SENIOR PUPILS
Email the Head (Mr Watts via his PA, kfrench@plymouthcollege com)
Please give 4 weeks’ notice wherever possible
The decision to authorise a planned absence will be made based on the purpose of the absence, the length of time the absence is planned for and how much notice we’ve received. Consideration will also be given to the age of the child and whether they are preparing for internal or public examinations.
We completely understand the importance of spending time together as a family, whether for a special occasion or a holiday. We always aim to provide ample holiday time during the school breaks and we share term dates well in advance to help families plan accordingly.
IMPACT OF MISSED EDUCATION
Even missing the odd day here and there can affect a child’s attainment, wellbeing and wider life outcomes.
Not surprisingly, children who miss more days of school are likely to achieve worse grades in their GCSEs
If a child missed 13 days of school over a year (92% attendance), there is an approximate decrease in attainment of 1 grade
New research shows that this can have lifelong impacts and a study in March 2025 identified that an additional day of absence in Years 10 and 11 can cause a decrease in earnings of 0 8% by the age of 28.
By not being in school regularly, children can feel socially isolated, have a reduced sense of belonging and will miss out on the many amazing extra-curricular opportunities on offer at Plymouth College. This can all negatively impact their sense of wellbeing
WHAT IF MY CHILD EXPERIENCES BARRIERS IN COMING TO SCHOOL?
Some pupils will experience normal but difficult emotions that make them nervous about attending school, such as worries about friendships, schoolwork or exams. It is important to note that these pupils are still expected to attend school regularly We aim to work together collaboratively, supportively and quickly with parents, carers and pupils to implement any reasonable adjustment that will maximise school attendance.
Where there are more significant barriers (such as a long term health condition, including mental health, or a special educational need), we are committed to doing all we can to support your child back into school, to help them catch up on any missed learning and to integrate socially We also work closely with many external agencies who can also provide support to your child and your family, and can advise you on how to access this support yourselves
Please do not delay in contacting us if your child is experiencing barriers in attending school. Early and open communication is the best way for us to identify and remove these barriers.