Attendance

As a school, we aim for 96% attendance across all year groups as setting a good attendance pattern will help your child to accept and understand patterns of behaviour that will help them in their ‘adult life’.

Your child’s attendance can affect their achievement in school both academically and socially. Poor attendance can lead to poor GCSE results and less of an opportunity to progress to further education as well as reducing their chances of getting a job.

You may not be thinking of your child’s future employment now, but employers want to recruit people who are reliable and punctual.

When your child does not attend school regularly, they find it more difficult to keep up with school work and in a busy school day it is difficult for schools to find extra time to help a child to catch up.

Your child also misses out on the social side of school, which can affect their ability to make and maintain friendships, a crucial part of growing up.

What should I do if my child is absent from school?

All absences must be reported to the school on each day of illness by 8:50am. 

Absences can be reported to the school by either telephoning the absence line on 01252 542397 (option 1) , via the:

Studybugs App

            or by sending an email to:

absence@coveschool.uk

Please include the following key information in your email: 

• Child's Name
• Year Group
• Reason for Absence (for example high temperature or sickness bug). 

This must be reported on the first day of absence and all subsequent days unless the school has indicated otherwise.

If your child is absent and we have not heard from you, a text will be sent requesting the reason why your child is absent (this is because we have a duty to ensure your child’s safety as well as their regular school attendance).  

What should I do if I need to take my child out of school for a medical appointment?

As a rule, medical and dental appointments should be made outside of the school day. As a school, we only authorise a maximum of two lessons for an appointment and students are expected to attend school either before and/or after an appointment.

There are exceptions to this if a student is having a longer or specialist medical appointment/treatment. Please note: evidence will be requested in the form of an appointment confirmation letter, booking slip or message for medical appointments.

Please make sure the school are notified of any medical appointments, by email to:
absence@coveschool.uk 

• Students leaving the school site during the school day must sign out at the Student Enquiries office, and sign in again upon return.
• Parents must go to Reception and advise who they are collecting and what they are collecting them for.  If you wish your child to walk home or make their way straight to the appointment, please contact the school on the morning to advise.
• NB: We would like to ask parents not to call or text their children during the school day. If an urgent message needs to be passed to your child, please call reception and we will ensure the message is passed on.

How do I request Leave of Absence?

Please complete a ‘Request to Authorise Absence from School due to Exceptional Circumstances’ form to request absence from school for circumstances other than illness.

This should be returned to the school office at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to the first date of absence.  We understand that in some cases (e.g. a change of circumstance or an emergency) this may not be possible.  

Copies of this form are available from the school office or to download in the Documents section to the right.

Please note: Schools are only able to authorise absence from school in exceptional circumstances. In making a request for an authorised absence from school you will need to explain why the circumstances are exceptional.

Examples of UNAUTHORISED ABSENCES may include:

• Family Visiting or Visiting Family
• Caring for Family Members
• Family Holidays or Outings
• Shopping Trips or Birthdays

How is a Penalty Notice issued for unauthorised absence and how much is the fine?

Penalty notices are either posted to your home or delivered to you by hand. If a First Penalty Notice is issued for unauthorised absence, you either have up to 21 days to pay £80 or a  further 7 days to pay £160.

If you receive a Second Penalty Notice because you have received a Penalty Notice for the same child in the preceding three-year period, you have up to 28 days to pay £160.

If a Third Penalty Notice is to be issued, this may result in further legal action.

Punctuality to school

Morning Registration: 8:30am  /  Afternoon Registration: 1:55pm

• The school day begins at 8.30am; All students are expected to be in their tutor room at this time so therefore they need to be in school by 8.25am. For Information: Morning registration starts at 8.30am and lasts until 8.50am
• Any student arriving in school after 8.30am must sign in via ‘Student Enquires’. They will be given a late to school slip and set a 10-minute same day breaktime detention (this is held in Room 1). If a student does not attend their late detention, they will be set a C3 after school detention for the following day.
•  If a student is late 3 or more times in a Half Term, they will automatically be set a C3 detention for any subsequent late to school during that Half Term plus the 10-minute same day breaktime detention. Please Note: This will reset every Half Term.
• All lateness is recorded daily. This information will be required by the courts, should prosecution for non-attendance or lateness be necessary.
• Officially the register closes at 9am. Arrival after the close of registration will be recorded as unauthorised absence code ‘U’ (Late after the register closed) in line with County and DfE guidance. This mark shows the student to be on site, but legally recorded as 'Absent.'