Beginning the School Year
Daily Schedule
The school day starts at 8:30 am and finishes at 3:30 p.m every day except Wednesdays when school ends at 2.30pm for students. Extra help with subject teachers is available between 3:30-4.00 p.m. or at mutually agreed times.
Change of Schedule
A student, parent, teacher, dean or administrator may initiate a request for a student schedule change. The academic deans and/or the principal consider each request individually.
Attendance: Why attendance is important
Learning at our school is very interactive, requiring the participation of the students with the teacher and one another during class. This is adversely affected when a student is absent or habitually late – not only for that student, but for the dynamics of the entire class both during their absence as well as upon their return, when time is taken to reintegrate them into the learning context of the class. Additionally, book assignments can help make up lost work, but cannot replicate the discussions led by the teacher, questions raised by other students or the activities conducted in class.
The law in this country requires all children who are educated at a school to attend so long as they are well. Permission not to attend school may be granted by the Divisional Principals for a valid reason, such as illness. If permission is not given, or the student becomes ‘persistently absent’, then the family is in breach of the law and could face consequences from the Local Authority, including parenting contracts, penalty notices, an Education Supervision Order and/or prosecution. In addition, Middle and High School students may not pass courses if their attendance is inadequate, which would negatively impact their ability to meet their graduation requirements.
Safeguarding: Your child may be at risk of harm if they do not attend school regularly. Safeguarding the interests of each child is everyone’s responsibility and within the context of this school, promoting the welfare and life opportunities for your child encompasses: Attendance, Behaviour Management, Health and Safety, Access to the Curriculum and Anti-Bullying.
Failing to attend this school on a regular basis will be considered as a safeguarding matter.
Promoting Regular Attendance
Helping to create a pattern of regular attendance is everybody’s responsibility – parents, pupils and all members of school staff.
To help us all to focus on this we will report to you on how your child is performing in school and their absence rate.
Understanding Types of Absence
Every absence from school has to be classified by the school. This is why information from parents about the cause of any absence is always required, preferably in writing.
Examples include:
Health Excused absences eg owing to illness, medical/dental appointments
Educational Activity eg school trips, work experience
Disciplinary eg suspension
Excused Advised eg leave of absence authorised by the school
Unexcused advised eg holiday not authorised by the school
Unexcused Absent eg absent from school without authorisation
For more information about types of absence please contact the High School Attendance Officer.
Whilst any child may be off school because they are ill, sometimes they can be reluctant to attend school. Any problems with regular attendance are best sorted out between the school, the parents and the child, If your child is reluctant to attend, it is never better to cover up their absence or to give in to pressure to excuse them from attending. This gives the impression that attendance does not matter and usually makes things worse.
Persistent Absenteeism
A pupil becomes a ‘persistent absentee’ when they miss 15% (25 school days) or more schooling across the school year for whatever reason. Absence at this level is doing considerable damage to any child’s educational prospects and we need parents’ fullest support and co-operation to tackle this. We monitor all absence thoroughly. The parent of any student who is at risk of moving towards persistent absenteeism will be informed of this immediately so that the situation can be rectified.
Absence Procedures
If your child is absent you must:
If your child is absent we will:
- Orientation – There is an orientation programme for all new students. Students will meet with the Deans in order to finalise their course selection and may also be tested for placement. Interviews with department chairpersons will take place as appropriate.
Daily Schedule
The school day starts at 8:30 am and finishes at 3:30 p.m every day except Wednesdays when school ends at 2.30pm for students. Extra help with subject teachers is available between 3:30-4.00 p.m. or at mutually agreed times.
Change of Schedule
A student, parent, teacher, dean or administrator may initiate a request for a student schedule change. The academic deans and/or the principal consider each request individually.
Attendance: Why attendance is important
Learning at our school is very interactive, requiring the participation of the students with the teacher and one another during class. This is adversely affected when a student is absent or habitually late – not only for that student, but for the dynamics of the entire class both during their absence as well as upon their return, when time is taken to reintegrate them into the learning context of the class. Additionally, book assignments can help make up lost work, but cannot replicate the discussions led by the teacher, questions raised by other students or the activities conducted in class.
The law in this country requires all children who are educated at a school to attend so long as they are well. Permission not to attend school may be granted by the Divisional Principals for a valid reason, such as illness. If permission is not given, or the student becomes ‘persistently absent’, then the family is in breach of the law and could face consequences from the Local Authority, including parenting contracts, penalty notices, an Education Supervision Order and/or prosecution. In addition, Middle and High School students may not pass courses if their attendance is inadequate, which would negatively impact their ability to meet their graduation requirements.
Safeguarding: Your child may be at risk of harm if they do not attend school regularly. Safeguarding the interests of each child is everyone’s responsibility and within the context of this school, promoting the welfare and life opportunities for your child encompasses: Attendance, Behaviour Management, Health and Safety, Access to the Curriculum and Anti-Bullying.
Failing to attend this school on a regular basis will be considered as a safeguarding matter.
Promoting Regular Attendance
Helping to create a pattern of regular attendance is everybody’s responsibility – parents, pupils and all members of school staff.
To help us all to focus on this we will report to you on how your child is performing in school and their absence rate.
Understanding Types of Absence
Every absence from school has to be classified by the school. This is why information from parents about the cause of any absence is always required, preferably in writing.
Examples include:
Health Excused absences eg owing to illness, medical/dental appointments
Educational Activity eg school trips, work experience
Disciplinary eg suspension
Excused Advised eg leave of absence authorised by the school
Unexcused advised eg holiday not authorised by the school
Unexcused Absent eg absent from school without authorisation
For more information about types of absence please contact the High School Attendance Officer.
Whilst any child may be off school because they are ill, sometimes they can be reluctant to attend school. Any problems with regular attendance are best sorted out between the school, the parents and the child, If your child is reluctant to attend, it is never better to cover up their absence or to give in to pressure to excuse them from attending. This gives the impression that attendance does not matter and usually makes things worse.
Persistent Absenteeism
A pupil becomes a ‘persistent absentee’ when they miss 15% (25 school days) or more schooling across the school year for whatever reason. Absence at this level is doing considerable damage to any child’s educational prospects and we need parents’ fullest support and co-operation to tackle this. We monitor all absence thoroughly. The parent of any student who is at risk of moving towards persistent absenteeism will be informed of this immediately so that the situation can be rectified.
Absence Procedures
If your child is absent you must:
- Contact the attendance officer as soon as possible on the first day of absence
- Send a note or email in on the first day they return with an explanation of the absence – this includes absences during exam periods - you must do this even if you have already telephoned in
- Send a doctor’s note for any illnesses exceeding five consecutive days
If your child is absent we will:
- Telephone, email or text you on the first day of absence if we have not heard from you
- Invite you in to discuss the situation with the Divisional Principal if absences persist
- Inform the local authority if absences continue
