Importance of Attendance and Punctuality  

Attendance is one of the biggest factors that influences children’s achievement and when a child attends school regularly, they succeed. Arriving on time for school gives a positive start to the day, ensuring that children are ready to learn all day and that no learning is lost. We want all children to be happy, safe and supported at school to support their strong attendance.  

Good attendance and punctuality are important life-skills that are highly valued by employers, colleges and universities and teaching students about the importance of good attendance is an important part of our curriculum.   

Attendance is a legal requirement and Heritage High School expects students to attend every day and has an attendance target of 96%.  

Responsibility as a parent 

If you are a parent of a child of statutory age (between five and 16 years) who is registered at a school you are responsible for making sure s/he attends school regularly. 

Why does attendance matter? 

Attending school on a regular basis is the key to your child doing well at school and will set them up with good routines for later life and the working world, as well as giving them the opportunity to: 

  • Make friends and feel included 
  • Learn new things and develop skills 
  • Increase their confidence and self esteem 
  • Improve social skills 
  • Achieve their potential and fulfil aspirations 
  • Every school day counts 
  • Every single day a child is absent from school equates to a day of lost learning. 
  • 100% attendance – No days missed 
  • 95% attendance – 9 days of absence (One week and four days of learning missed) 
  • 90% attendance – 19 days of absence (Three weeks and four days of learning missed) 
  • 85% attendance – 28 days of absence (Five weeks and three days of learning missed) 

What is authorised absence? 

This is any absence that is approved by your child’s headteacher. These absences will be marked in the attendance register with an authorised absence code. 

What is an unauthorised absence? 

This is any absence that is not approved by your child’s headteacher including: 

  • Absence for which a parent has not provided a reason 
  • Absence where the reason provided has not been accepted as a justifiable or genuine by the headteacher 
  • If your child arrives late after the close of registration 
  • These absences will be marked in the attendance register with an unauthorised absence code. 

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