Attendance/Absence – Reporting Absences Procedures
Reporting Absences – How to notify the school if your child is absent.
How to notify the school if your child is absent
Any student absence, whatever the reason, must be reported by 8.30am on each morning of absence, using our dedicated school ‘Edulink One’ phone App.
Please give a brief, detailed description of the reason of absence. Please note that reasons such as ill, poorly or unwell will be unauthorised.
Reporting Medical Appointments:
All medical appointments should also be reported using the ‘Edulink One’ phone App at least 2 days prior to the appointment, along with relevant confirmation of the appointment. A letter or screenshot of the appointment should be attached to the message using the ‘attachment paperclip’ at the bottom left of the screen. Appointments may not be authorised if you are unable to provide confirmation of the appointment.
All absence queries should be emailed in to absence-request@tbshs.org. Absence cannot be reported via this email address. The ‘Edulink One’ App, messaging function is solely for daily absence reporting and the reporting of medical appointments.
In the event of not being able to access the App then please call the attendance line number – 01279 869555
Please do not report absences via the admin school offices or the main school number.
Late arrival/missed registration:
Any student missing a form registration, either morning or afternoon for any reason, should sign in at the main reception area. If they do not, an unauthorised absence may remain on their record and parents may be notified of absence unnecessarily.
If parents/carers are aware of a reason why their child will arrive late on any occasion, they should notify the school by the App.
Signing Out/In:
Students should sign out in the main reception. Any student needing to leave during the school day for an appointment, etc. should have already advised the school by using the App.
Students will not be allowed off site if school has not received prior advice of the appointment and contact will be made with a parent/carer. All students under 16 must be collected, they cannot travel independently to appointments even if authorised by parents.
Signing back in on return from an appointment must also be done at the main school reception.
Attendance Information
We as a school set an individual target attendance of 96.5% and expect a student to achieve this to maximize their life chances. Did you know that?
100% Attendance = O lost learning hours per year
96% Attendance = 37.5 lost learning hours per year
90% Attendance = 95 lost learning hours per year
Please be aware that should your son’s/daughter’s attendance drop below 95%, we will contact you and if it continues to fall to 93% then we will contact you again and may invite you into school. We reserve the right to require you to provide proof of absence i.e. a doctor’s note, appointment card or a copy of prescribed medication, in order for the school to authorise any future absences.
Request for Absence from School for Exceptional Circumstances
As a school, following government guidance, we are no longer able to authorise absences in order that you can take a holiday. Please note that due to recent changes implemented on 19 August 2024, a fine will be issued for 10 sessions (5 school days) unauthorised absence. The fine amount will be £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days. If not paid within 21 days, the fine will increase to £160 per parent, per child. There may be applications for leave of absence that are considered to be exceptional circumstances and these may include:
- Service personnel returning from a tour of duty abroad where it is evident the individual will not be in receipt of any leave in the near future that coincides with school holidays.
- Where an absence from school is recommended by a health professional as part of a parent or student’s rehabilitation from a medical or emotional issue.
- The death of an immediate family member.
- To attend the wedding of a parent or sibling (within reasonable travel distance).
- Family graduation ceremonies or recognised awards ceremonies.
These requests will need to be applied for at least 10 working days in advance by completing and returning the form below to the school by hand to the main office (in an envelope clearly marked for the attention of the Attendance Officer) or by requesting the form via email using: absence-request@tbshs.org
Absence from School for Exceptional Circumstances Form and Information for Parents.pdf
Only the school can authorise an absence. An explanation given by a parent/carer is not always sufficient for the school to authorise it. An absence may only be authorised if the absence is due to:
- Genuine student illness where a detailed reason has been left via the phone App.
- “Leave” granted by the school for local medical appointments where either am or pm leave will be granted.
- The student being unable to attend due to exceptional unavoidable causes.
- Religious observance where applicable.
