Newsletters

Attendance Matters

 Attendance Matters 

Why 95% Attendance Matters at Campion School 

At Campion, we set a minimum attendance target of 95% for all students across the academic year.                                                                        

The Power of being present:

  • No Gaps: Consistently attending ensures students do not miss vital classroom teaching. Missing even a small amount of time can create learning gaps that are difficult to close. 

  • Full Opportunities: Excellent attendance means students can access the full range of clubs, trips and exciting rewards we offer, enriching their school experience.
  • Positive Connections: Being in school every day helps students build strong peer relationships and feel a vital sense of belonging within the Campion community, which boosts happiness and engagement. 

We want to work with you to achieve 95% or higher attendance.

 
Let's aim high and hit the target!

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100% Attendance 

We are delighted to celebrate the dedication of our families! In January, 436 students achieved 100% perfect attendance! This is a brilliant display of commitment and resilience.

We believe we can smash that record this month and the key lies in the 220 students who missed either one day or half a day in January. For some, that absence was unavoidable, but for many, it was the difference between a minor sniffle and achieving a 100% record.

Consistency Over Complacency

The Importance of No Excuses

As we enter February, the lure of staying home on a dark, cold or wet morning is powerful. However, consistent attendance remains the single most important factor in your child’s academic success. Missing even one day breaks the continuity of learning, forcing your child to play catch-up and impacting their confidence.

We have analysed our attendance data and found two concerning trends we need to address together:

   Rainy Day Decline

Attendance at Campion School is noticeably lower on days when it is raining. We understand the discomfort of a cold, wet walk to school, but school continues regardless of the weather. Allowing the weather to dictate attendance sends a message that school is optional, which it is not.

 

   End of the week 

Attendance at Campion School is noticeably lower on a Friday. Attending school on a Friday is important because it helps students stay consistent with their learning and not miss important lessons or activities. Fridays often include reviews, assessments, or instructions for upcoming work, and being present ensures students remain prepared and engaged. Regular attendance also builds responsibility and good habits that support academic success.

 

Your child’s education cannot be sacrificed for a long weekend or the weather. A long weekend, or the comfort of avoiding the rain, simply does not outweigh the missed learning opportunity. We must work together to set a clear, non-negotiable expectation: school comes first.

The School-to-Work Link: Why Consistency Is a Career Skill

The habits you help your child build now — punctuality, reliability and commitment — are the exact professional skills employers seek.

When a young person misses school due to minor weather discomfort or on a Friday, they are practising a behaviour that is unacceptable in any workplace. Employers need to hire people they can trust to be present, on time and committed, even when it’s inconvenient.

In the Working World

  Reliability Is Currency


In any job, from apprenticeships to professional careers, colleagues and clients rely on the individual to be present. Frequent absences force others to cover the workload, leading to inefficiency.

 Punctuality Is Professionalism


Being regularly late for work or meetings, just as being late for school, is viewed as a significant mark of disrespect and poor organisation.

 The Financial Cost


Academic studies have demonstrated that poor attendance in secondary school is directly linked to lower long-term career outcomes. Instilling the value of showing up every day, rain or shine, is the first step in preparing your child for a successful and stable career. We are collectively preparing your child not just for exams, but for life.

Six Strategies for Excellent Attendance in the Winter Months

Here are six key strategies families can implement in the home to ensure great attendance and punctuality:

  Proactive Prep – Beat the Winter Rush

The night before, ensure all uniform, warm layers (thermals, hats, gloves, thick socks), school bags and any required materials (like PE kit or textbooks) are laid out and placed near the door. By having everything ready, you eliminate the morning panic and reduce the opportunity for delays or arguments. Implement a strict “Five-Minute Rule”: Once you have agreed it’s time to leave, there is a no-delay rule for exiting the house. Stick rigidly to the routine to prevent lateness.

 

 Prioritise Sleep

The dark winter months are when our immune systems are most challenged. Help your child fight off cold-weather germs by setting and strictly enforcing a consistent, early bedtime. Teenagers need 8–10 hours of sleep per night. Crucially, remove all screens (phones, tablets, game consoles) from the bedroom an hour before lights-out. Better sleep strengthens the immune system and makes it easier to wake up and face the cold morning.

 

 Combat Germs with Consistent Handwashing

Make a habit of constant hygiene a family routine. Ensure your child washes their hands thoroughly upon returning home from school, before meals, and after coughing or sneezing. Stock up on hand sanitiser for their school bag. This simple action is one of the most effective ways to break the chain of infection and prevent those minor illnesses that lead to missed days.

 

 When to Stay Home vs. Power Through

Be firm and realistic about symptoms. A mild cold, a cough or the occasional “sniffles” is often manageable and children should still attend school. If your child is making an excuse related to the weather, offer a warm drink and encouragement, but don’t allow them to stay home. Only symptoms like a high fever, vomiting or persistent diarrhoea should warrant an absence. If in doubt, call the school for advice.

 

 Schedule Appointments Wisely

Plan ahead and book non-urgent appointments (dentist, doctor check-ups, haircuts) after school hours or during the planned February holiday break. Every hour of learning time is vital, and even a partial day of absence disrupts the educational flow. If an appointment is unavoidable during school hours, ensure your child attends school prior and returns to school immediately afterwards. Please can you provide the school with evidence of the appointment so we can update our registers.

 

 Maintaining Routine Through the Holiday

The excitement and late nights of a half-term can quickly derail your child’s body clock. While we encourage relaxation, try to maintain routine stability by keeping wake-up and bedtimes as close as possible to school-day routines, especially in the nights leading up to the return. This ensures a smooth transition back to school in February, preventing that post-half-term slump that often leads to low motivation and poor attendance.

 

Attendance Reminders

Up-to-date contact details                                Image result for free clip art contact

It is essential that we have up to date telephone numbers and addresses for all parents/carers in order to ensure that we are able to contact you if there is an emergency.  Please contact the school office to update any details that may have changed.

Appointments during school times                        Image result for free clip art appointments

Please inform the school if your child has an appointment and will be arriving late to school.  Also, please let us know if you will be collecting your child during the school day for an appointment.  Children will not be permitted to leave unless we have a confirmed message from a parent/carer.

 

Leave of Absence                                                          


The law states a leave of absence may only be granted by a school if an application is made in advance and if it considers there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.

Leave of absences which are not made in advance cannot be authorised in line with legislation. This will result in the absence being recorded as ‘unauthorised’.  All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a leave of absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service, part of Warwickshire County Council. Penalty notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices and, in the first instance, as an alternative to prosecution proceedings.

It is important to note, Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child.  Please see below a copy of Warwickshire County Council’s newsletter extract.

If you require a Leave of Absence form, please contact the attendanceoffice.

Need Attendance Support or Have Feedback?

Your child’s attendance is a partnership and we are here to help!

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s attendance, feel your family would benefit from additional support or if you simply want to provide general feedback on attendance matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We are ready to listen and work together

LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

The Supreme Court has clarified the law on unauthorised leave, including holidays, during term time (Platt v Isle of Wright 2017). The Supreme Court has made clear that attending school ‘regularly’ means that children must attend school on every day that they are required to do so. As such, the parents of any child who is absent from school without authorisation for any length of time are likely to be considered as committing an offence under s444 of the Education Act 1996.

The law states a leave of absence may only be granted by a school if an application is made in advance and if it considers there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.

Schools must judge each application individually, considering the specific facts and circumstances and relevant background context behind each request.

A leave of absence is granted entirely at the school’s discretion. Generally, a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation would not constitute an exceptional circumstance.

Where a leave of absence is granted, the school will determine the number of days a pupil can be absent from school.

When making an application for Leave of Absence, parents are advised to give sufficient information and time to allow the Head teacher the opportunity to consider all the exceptional circumstances and to notify parents of their decision.  The school may also request further information on the application and supporting documentation where appropriate.

It is advised that if the resident parent has not received notification or a response regarding the leave of absence application, it is the parents’ responsibility to ascertain if the leave is authorised prior to the start of the leave.

The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the ‘resident’ parent, ie the parent with whom the child normally resides.

Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child is expected to be in school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.  Where a leave of absence is requested, but additional days taken either prior to or after the request may be considered as part of the leave of absence.

Leave of Absences which are not made in advance cannot be authorised in line with legislation.  This will result in the absence being recorded as ‘unauthorised’. 

All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service, part of Warwickshire County Council.  Penalty Notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices and, in the first instance, as an alternative to prosecution proceedings. 

Leave of Absence taken in the academic year

The law relating to Penalty Notices changed with effect from 19 August 2024. Therefore, Penalty Notices issued for Leave of Absence taken from September 2024 will be issued in accordance with the updated legislation.

  • Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example, 2 children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices – 4 in total). 
    • First Leave of Absence offence: The Penalty Notice amount of £160 to be paid within 28 days. This is reduced to £80 each child if paid within 21 days.
    • Second Leave of Absence offence within a 3-year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice): The amount of £160 paid within 28 days.  No reduced amount.

  • Payment plans will not be offered and/or payments received outside of the 28-day period will not be accepted. Where a penalty notice expires unpaid, the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider criminal prosecution.  

  • Third Leave of Absence offence within a 3-year period (from the date of issue of the first penalty notice): A penalty notice will be issued, and the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal prosecution proceedings under S444 of Education Act 1996.

Your child’s progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority.