Attendance at Torpoint Community College

 

 

At Torpoint Community College we recognise that attending College regularly and on time has a positive impact on learning, progress and achievement. Excellent attendance and punctuality are key for our student’s success. For that reason, we must ensure that attendance and punctuality are the highest they possibly can be to prepare our students for their future adult life. It is the responsibility of everyone in our school community – parents/carers, staff, students, and governors to ensure we achieve this. Therefore, we are committed to monitoring and reviewing the attendance of all our students regularly.

Lateness and Punctuality

The college day starts at 8.45am and we expect students to be in their tutor groups for that time.

Students must report to the reception to sign in if they arrive after this time. Arriving late, after registration, without a legitimate reason will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

After 30 minutes the registers will be closed. If a student arrives after that time, they will receive a mark that shows them to be on site, but this will not count as a present mark and will be marked as an unauthorised absence (unless a satisfactory explanation and evidence has been provided).

If a student needs to leave school early the parent/carer will need to contact Reception with the details or provide medical proof such as an appointment card or booking confirmation to ensure their absence can be coded correctly.  Students will need to inform Reception when they leave to be signed out accordingly. The school will contact you if we have concerns about punctuality and ask that you support our detention procedures for student lateness.

Poor punctuality is not acceptable. If a student misses the start of the day, they can miss work and lose vital tutor time. Late arriving students also disrupt lessons, it can be embarrassing for the child and can also encourage absence.

 

Recent research has demonstrated that there is a clear link between poor attendance at school and lower academic achievements.

Research has shown that 17 days absence in a year = a drop of one grade at GCSE

Reporting an Absence

If your child is unable to attend school, you must:

  • Contact us as soon as possible on the first day of absence, preferably before 9.00am. Please make sure you state your child’s name, year group and the reason for absence.
  • You can also call into school and report an absence to reception.
  • Continue to notify and update us every day that your child is absent.
  • If absence is due to a medical appointment, please provide a copy of the appointment card/confirmation email to ensure students absence is coded correctly.

If your child is absent, we will:

  • Telephone or email you every day of absence if we have not heard from you.
  • Invite you in to discuss the situation with our Attendance Manager or Head of Year if absences persist.
  • Refer to Cornwall Council who may take legal action against the Parent/carer, if appropriate.
  • Unreported absences will be coded as unauthorised.

 

Attendance Manager: Mrs Brown

Telephone: 01752 812511 (ext 200)

Email: absence@torpoint.cornwall.sch.uk

 

Requesting time off during term time

The law does not grant parents/carers an automatic right to take their children out of school during term time. If the request is for an absence in term time you must have parental responsibility and be the parent/carer with whom the child normally lives. Permission must be sought in advance. If you do not have parental responsibility and/or normally live with the child, you must seek the consent of the parent/carer who does and that person should complete an absence request form.

 

Absence request form

Promoting Attendance

Staff and Students at Torpoint Community College are fully aware of the expectations surrounding attendance.

  • First day absence calls from the school office.
  • Tutor attendance sessions.
  • Tutor attendance displays updated regularly.
  • Celebrating excellent attendance with rewards in recognition and termly assemblies.
  • Attendance letters to parents/carers.
  • Attendance meetings with Heads of Years
  • Family support and guidance available.
  • Personal attendance plans.
  • Informative displays regarding attendance in school.

 

For further details about Attendance please see our Attendance policy within the policy page:

 

Torpoint Community College Policies

Attendance Contact

Attendance Manager: Mrs Brown

Designated Senior Leader: Mrs Howard

Telephone: 01752 812511 (ext 200)

Email: absence@torpoint.cornwall.sch.uk