Absence and Attendance

At HGS, we have excellent standards of attendance and students enjoy coming to school. We know that attending school every day is crucial for students to be successful.

As a parent, your role is to ensure your child attends school regularly and to limit absence to only unavoidable circumstances. As a school, our role is to encourage attendance and to keep accurate records of student attendance. If your child is unable to attend school, you must let us know straight away.

What to do if your child is absent due to illness

1. On the first day of absence, either telephone the school on 01924 402202 or complete the Report an Absence form.
2. If reporting by phone, select the attendance extension, and if submitting information via the form, fill in all relevant details.
3. If you know your child’s absence is going to be for more than one day, report the absence by phone and inform the Attendance Officer.
4. On the day that your child returns to school, please add a note in their student planner to confirm the reason for the absence.

How to request planned absence for a medical appointment

Advance permission for medical appointments can be requested using the Report an Absence button. Please complete all details and submit the form in advance of the appointment.

How to request leave of absence

Amendments made in 2013 to The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 make it clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

If you believe there are exceptional circumstances which require your child to be absent from school, the request must be made in advance in writing, by using the Leave of Absence Request button. State clearly the dates of the intended absence, along with the number of school days that will be affected. Give full details of the reason for the request. Leave of absence cannot be authorised retrospectively.

You may wish to read our Statement on the taking of holidays in term time and view our Attendance policy before you submit a request for leave of absence.

What is the difference between authorised and unauthorised absence?
 
The law requires that all schools must show the difference between authorised and unauthorised absence.

Examples of absence which would be authorised by the school are:

• Sickness
• Medical or dental appointments which cannot be arranged outside school hours
• Days of religious observance
• Exceptional circumstances such as bereavement

Examples of absence which would be unauthorised are:

• Truancy
• Staying at home to look after younger children or sick relatives
• Birthdays
• Resting after a late night
• Relatives visiting or visiting relatives
• Attending concerts or having days out to attend local events
• Any absence you have not informed the school about by letter, and received an approval

What to do if your child is late to school

Students who are late for registration (either in the morning or afternoon) must sign in with the Attendance Officer.