Attendance and Punctuality

Many of our students have an excellent attendance and punctuality record. School starts promptly at 8.40am but some students need reminding that it is a fair walk from the entrance to many form rooms. It is recommended they should be through the entrance by 8.30am. We do recognise some students can only get a special school bus, but students on normal public transport may need to catch an earlier bus.

Students are expected to be punctual to school and to lessons. Students who are late without a valid reason will be set a detention.

If your son/daughter is unwell, please contact the school on 01442 821052, as early as possible in the morning, each day of your child’s absence. A letter confirming their absence is then not required.

Tring School also operates an e-messaging system; this enables you to notify the school of an absence by text to 07624880120.  If you wish to leave a voice message you can call  08442393472.

You may also email the school on attendance@tring.herts.sch.uk  to notify the school of any absence or if you have any queries.

If a student is absent from registration and the School has not been notified by a parent, a text message will be sent to the primary contact mobile telephone number held on our system, notifying you of the absence and requesting you contact the School. Please contact the school as soon as possible to avoid continual messages being sent.

Every half day absence from school has to be classified by the school (not the parent/carer) as either AUTHORISED or UNAUTHORISED. This is why information about the cause of absence is always required, either by telephone or note. When providing this information please give the student’s name and surname, form group, parent/carer name and reason for absence.

The Attendance Improvement Officer is normally informed of unauthorised absence and home visits often result.

Unauthorised absences are those that the school does NOT consider reasonable and for which no permission has been given. Unauthorised absences amounting to 10 sessions (5 days) by a student during a 12 week period could result in a penalty referral. If there are further unauthorised absences a penalty of £50 per parent/carer can be issued by the Education Welfare Service, rising to £100 per parent/carer if not paid within 28 days.

Dentist, Doctor and Hospital Appointments

Although we understand it is sometimes unavoidable for students to be absent from school due to an appointment with the doctor, dentist or hospital, we are concerned at the number of students who are out of school for the whole day.

Please, where possible, arrange for your child to attend school either side of the appointment. If your child has an appointment, please make sure they sign in/out at Reception.

Holidays in Term-Time

The Education Regulations 2006, which came into force from 1st September 2006, contains guidance about holidays during term-time.

Regulation 7 states that schools should only grant leave of absence during term-time if the school ‘considers that leave of absence should be granted due to the exceptional circumstances relating to the application’. Taking this into consideration the Governors have agreed this means Tring School is not allowed to grant leave of absence from school for a holiday for the following reasons:

Availability of cheap holidays

Availability of the desired accommodation

Poor weather experienced in school holiday periods

Overlap with the beginning or end of term

Any other reason not deemed to be ‘exceptional’.

Unfortunately, any holiday taken without the authorisation of the school will now be subject to a ‘fixed penalty notice’ which means you may be fined by the Education Welfare Service. If there is an exceptional reason why you feel you need to take your child out of school (not one of the reasons listed above), you are free to write a letter to the Attendance Manager, Mrs Janet Brown, setting out your reason for applying for the holiday. This request will then be discussed with Mr Barlow, Assistant Headteacher who will then decide if permission is granted.

Break and Lunchtimes

Pupils in Years 7-11 are not allowed to leave school during morning break without written permission from a member of staff. Pupils in Years 7-10 must not leave the school premises at lunch time without a valid lunch pass or letter from parents stating that they are going to their own home for lunch.

Attendance and Achievement

The relationship between attendance and achievement has been described in the following document

Raise Your Childs Attendance