A message from Mrs Payne – Headteacher
“For a child to reach their full potential in their education a high level of school attendance is essential. At Glenwood we are committed to providing an education of the highest quality for all our pupils and we endeavour to provide an environment where all pupils feel valued and welcome. Parents and pupils play a part in making our school successful. Every child has a right to access the education to which they are entitled. Parents and School staff share the responsibility for supporting and promoting excellent school attendance and punctuality for all our pupils. It is our duty to consistently strive to achieve the highest possible attendance for all our children. Every opportunity will be used to convey to pupils and their parents or carers the importance of regular and punctual attendance.
For our children to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered here at Glenwood it is vital that your child is at school, on time, every day the school is open, unless the reason for the absence is unavoidable. The routines of children develop around attendance and punctuality at school are the same as the expectations of any future employer in the world of work. High attainment, confidence with peers and staff and future aspirations depend on good attendance.”
Good attendance is important because:
- Statistics show a direct link between under-achievement and attendance below 95%
- Regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically regular attenders find school routines, school work and friendships easier to cope with
- Regular attenders find learning more satisfying
- Regular attenders are more successful in transferring between primary, secondary school, higher education and employment or training
What is the procedure when your child cannot attend school?
When your child is unwell and or unable to come to school it is crucial that the following steps are taken for each day of their absence: Attendance Flow Chart
- Telephone the school office on 01243 373120 and leave a message on the absence line at your earliest opportunity.
or
- Report your child’s absence via admin@glenwood.hants.sch.uk
Please be aware that if you fail to inform the school of your child’s absence it will be recorded as unauthorised. Absences are monitored very closely by our Attendance Officer who will contact parent/carers of pupils falling below the expected 97% attendance target, please see our Attendance Policy located on our website for information on our attendance monitoring processes including information on the school’s process for reducing persistent and severe absence.
How Good is your child’s Attendance?
As a parent/carer you want the best for your child. Having a good education is an important factor in opening up more opportunities in adult life.
Did you know that?
- a child who is absent a day of school per week misses an equivalent of two years of their school life
- 90% of young people with absence rates below 85% fail to achieve five or more good grades of GCSE and around one third achieve no GCSEs at all
- poor examination results limit young people’s options and poor attendance suggests to colleges and employers that these students are unreliable
At Glenwood we love to celebrate good attendance by;
- Celebrating good attendance in our celebration assemblies and present our attendance mascot `Honey’ to the highest Tutor Group each week
- Reward 100% and improving attendance by inviting them to our ½ termly Headteacher Afternoon Tea celebrations
- Attendance Certificates for 100% and Improved attendance
- Promote attendance and wellbeing to all pupils in their Tutor Groups on a weekly basis
Follow the links below for useful websites with further information on Attendance
NHS guidance – Is my child too ill for school?
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
Department for Education Guidance for parents
https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/03/improving-school-attendance/
https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence
Hampshire County Council - Attendance guidance for parents/carers
https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/behaviour-attendance-parents
Hampshire-Guidance-on-Attendance.pdf
Information on Penalty Notices for non-attendance at school
