Attendance

Leave of Absence Form

The Headteacher has the discretion to grant leave, but only under exceptional circumstances.  As a guide, exceptional circumstances are considered to be those which are unlikely to happen again during the time that a child is at the Academy. In such circumstances, a leave of absence form must be completed, giving details and supporting evidence, prior to the absence, and at least 4 weeks before the required leave.  Retrospective consent will not be given. An application form for leave of absence can be obtained using the link below. Please email your completed form, with evidence, to [email protected]. 

Leave of Absence Form

Please click on the link to see our Attendance Policy.

Our attendance goal is 97%. We would love for children to attend 100% of the time but attendance above 95% is seen as good attendance. When a child’s attendance is less than 95%, we will look to make sure that any barriers to good school attendance are supported.

Working Together to Improve School Attendance

At Sir William Robertson Academy, we are committed to fulfilling our responsibilities in line with the Department for Education’s statutory guidance on improving school attendance. We promote a whole-school culture that values and prioritises excellent attendance and punctuality by:

• Setting high expectations for all students
• Promoting the importance and benefits of good attendance
• Actively reducing absence, including persistent and severe absence
• Ensuring every student can access the full-time education they are entitled to
• Identifying and addressing patterns of absence early
• Building strong, supportive relationships with families 

Attend Every Day

A strong school community relies on all students being present, on time, every day. Regular attendance ensures your child can fully benefit from the wide range of learning opportunities available, both within and beyond the curriculum.

We understand that every family’s circumstances are unique, and there may be times when you are unsure whether your child should attend. However, we will always encourage daily attendance wherever possible to ensure students do not miss valuable learning and development opportunities.

Good attendance is essential because missing school can lead to:

• Difficulty keeping up with lessons and coursework
• Missed opportunities for social development and friendships
• Reduced confidence and engagement with learning

Establishing positive attendance habits now also prepares your child for the future, as employers value reliability and commitment.

We recognise the vital role parents and carers play and are committed to maintaining strong communication and support systems to address any concerns quickly and effectively.

Our Commitment

Sir William Robertson Academy will:

• Ensure all students feel supported, valued and part of our community
• Encourage parents/carers to actively promote good attendance
• Keep families informed of attendance levels and missed days
• Foster positive reintegration following absence
• Regularly review attendance procedures with senior leaders and governors
• Maintain consistent and robust monitoring systems

Punctuality Matters

Arriving on time is essential. Lateness disrupts learning not only for your child, but also for others.

Important timings:

• Students should arrive between 8:20am and 8:40am
• Students must be in their base by 8:45am
• Registers open at 8:45am and close at 9:05am
• Arrival more than 30 minutes after the register closes will result in a U code (unauthorised absence)

Parents/carers are responsible for informing the school of any concerns so that appropriate support can be put in place. Please contact your child’s Head of Year and Attendance if needed.

Authorised Absence

Absence may be authorised in certain circumstances, such as illness. In such cases, please follow the school’s absence reporting procedures.

For clarity on unauthorised absences, please refer to the Attendance Policy.

Medical or dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours whenever possible. If this is unavoidable:

• Students are expected to attend school before and/or after the appointment
• Absence for a full day may be partially marked as unauthorised

All absences must be requested in advance and can only be authorised by the school.

Holidays During Term Time

All holiday requests must be submitted using a holiday form. However, the academy does not authorise holidays during term time, in line with government guidance.

· Term-time holidays are recorded as unauthorised (G code)

· Exceptional circumstances may be considered at the Headteacher’s discretion

· A Penalty Notice may be requested for unauthorised holidays

This includes cases where a student is taken out of school without prior permission.

Irregular Attendance

Schools are legally required to report poor attendance to the Local Authority. Parents/carers have a legal responsibility to ensure regular attendance.

Failure to do so may result in:

· A Penalty Notice

· Legal action

Under the national framework, a penalty notice may be issued when a student accumulates 10 unauthorised sessions within 10 school weeks.

How You Can Help

You can support your child’s attendance by:

· Contacting the school promptly if there are concerns or difficulties

· Making it clear that attendance is important

· Reporting all absences daily

· Ensuring your child arrives on time

· Taking an active interest in their education

· Encouraging and celebrating their achievements

For medical appointments, please notify us via: 📧 [email protected]

Need Support?

If you have any concerns or questions about attendance, please contact us: 📧 [email protected]