Attendance

A minimum attendance of 97% is vital to progress. Anything less than this is considered unsatisfactory. Evidence shows that this level of attendance is linked to good progress and a higher level of achievement.

Parents and Carers are responsible for ensuring that their children attend school every day possible.

Students track their own attendance in their planners. Attendance information is also displayed in the tutor rooms and around the school.

Parents and Carers are asked to avoid arranging medical and similar appointments during school hours, evidence may be requested if it is impossible to arrange appointments outside of school hours. Appointments made after 2pm cause the least disruption to your child’s education.

Parents and Carers must telephone the Attendance Office at The Marvell College to inform us of, and also explain the reason for the absence of a student. This must be done by 9am. This is achieved by contacting The Marvell College on 01482 799132 and selecting option 1 from the switchboard. Any message left must contain the name of the student, their Year or Tutor Group and a specific reason for the absence.

It is our policy to telephone home if absence is unexplained, some absences may not be authorised. Holidays taken during term time will not be authorised and fines may be incurred for this. If contact home cannot be made then home visits may be carried out as this is a safeguarding concern if we have not being informed about a child’s whereabouts when they are expected in school.

Punctuality

It is very important that students arrive to school and to all lessons on time. The school day starts at 8.45am and all students should be in their tutor period by this time. Students should arrive at school no later than 8.40am.

For lateness to school, or to any lessons, consequences will be issued as per the School’s Behaviour Policy.

Signing Out

If students need to leave school during the teaching day, they must have permission from the school and must sign out at reception.

Permission will only be granted if a letter or note, in the planner, is brought from home for the Form Tutor or Year Office, who will check authenticity. If students need to leave during lesson time, the letter/note must be shown to the Teacher before the lesson starts.

Before leaving the premises students must sign out at reception. This is a Health and Safety issue because we need to know who is in the building/on site at all times and that all students are accounted for.

Please note that students are not allowed to leave the site at break times. Students in Year 7 to Year 10 are not allowed out at lunch time. Year 11 students have the option of leaving the school site at lunch time, provided they sign in and out and return to site no later than 13:45pm. Afternoon lessons begin with registration at 13:50pm.