Attendance
Harris Academy Sutton regards attendance as the key factor in supporting students to maximise their potential. We believe that all students are only able to achieve their potential if they attend school punctually and avoid missing lessons. We therefore expect students to achieve 100% attendance and punctuality. Individual student records prove that this is achievable. Punctuality to school is crucial in creating a calm and purposeful atmosphere and students who are persistently late often disrupt their own and others’ learning.
A student’s progress is severely hampered if he does not regularly attend school. To illustrate:
-
90% attendance is an average of one day out of school per fortnight over a school year.
-
90% attendance over 5 years at secondary school is half a school year missed.
-
80% attendance over 5 years at secondary school is the same as one whole school year missed.
Studies shows that a student with 90% attendance will on average achieve two grades lower in each subject at GCSE when compared with their counterparts who have 100% attendance. This continues with every further 10% missed.
Harris Academy Sutton Attendance Definitions | |
| 98-100% | Expected |
| 95-97% | Satisfactory |
| Below 95% but above 90% | A cause for concern |
| Below 90% | A serious cause for concern. Classed as Persistently Absent. Educational Welfare Officer involvement. |
We understand that there are exceptional circumstances when levels of attendance may fall below 98% or even 95% for reasons beyond the student and parents’ control. These are very rare exceptions rather than the rule.
Furthermore, we acknowledge the link between school attendance and safeguarding, and the need to monitor attendance carefully in order to address poor or irregular attendance without delay. We will do all we can to ensure that our students achieve maximum possible attendance and that any problems that prevent full attendance are identified and acted upon promptly.
The Academy gates open at 8am. Our lessons begin at 8.30am, and we suggest students arrive at 8.15am latest to start lesson promptly at 8.25am.
Students that arrive after 8.25am will receive a punctuality strike and a break & lunch time detention, unless a parent calls to explain an extenuating reason for the lateness.