- Home
- Students
- Attendance
Attendance
Our School strives for 100% attendance for all pupils, however we appreciate that children can be ill or have rare unavoidable absences for other reasons. Therefore our overall school target is at least 96% attendance.
Kemnal Technology College is committed to providing a full and efficient education to all pupils, and embraces the concept of equal opportunities for all. We will endeavour to provide an environment where all pupils feel valued and welcome.
For a child to reach their full educational achievement a high level of school attendance is essential. We will consistently work towards a goal of 100% attendance for all children. All available evidence shows a very strong correlation between attendance and academic outcomes, with those children with less than 90% attendance half as likely to achieve 5 good passes at GCSE when compared with those who have 100% attendance.
Every opportunity will be used to convey to pupils and their parents or carers the importance of regular and punctual attendance. School attendance is subject to various Education laws and this school attendance policy is written to reflect these laws and the guidance produced by the Department for Education and Skills.
Our Attendance Expectations
Our goal is 100% attendance for every student. While we understand that illness and unavoidable emergencies happen, our minimum school target is 96%.
To ensure every child is safe and supported, we monitor attendance closely in line with national guidelines:
- Persistent Absence: Attendance drops below 90%.
- Severe Absence: Attendance drops below 50%.
Because severe absence presents a significant risk to a child’s wellbeing and development, schools are legally required to consider safeguarding actions in these cases. Our priority is always to help; therefore, if your child's attendance begins to decline, we will reach out early so we can work together and offer support before it becomes a wider issue.
Absence Procedures
The front gate opens from 8:20 am, the school day starts at 8:45 am and ends at 3:05 pm (Mon-Fri). Students should arrive no later than 8:40 am to give them enough time to get to line-ups for 8:45 am.
If Your Child is Absent You Must:
If your child is not well enough to attend school, we ask that you notify the school via the following channels before 8:30am on each morning of absence and every further day of absence until they return:
More information on the Arbor app can be found here.
If the school has not been contacted, we will endeavour to phone home to find out the reason for absence, and/or a text message will be sent to parents/carers. It is the parent’s responsibility to inform the school of the reason for absence in order that it can be authorised. This must be completed each day that your child is absent, unless there is an ongoing medical condition that we are aware of.
There may be occasions where medical evidence is needed to support the reasons for your child’s absence from school, especially if their attendance has fallen below 96%. The school will not approach your doctor to obtain that evidence; it is your responsibility as a parent/carer to provide a medical certificate or doctor’s letter, as appropriate.
Lateness
Our school day starts at 8:45am with line-ups and we expect your child to be there on time for registers to be taken. Registers are marked and your child will receive a late mark if they are not in by that time. Sanctions are given to any students that arrive late to line-ups and after the student gate has been locked.
In accordance with the Regulations, if your child arrives after that time they will receive a mark that shows them to be on site, but this will not count as a present mark and it will mean they have an unauthorised absence. This may mean that you could face the possibility of a Penalty Notice if the problem persists.
Medical Appointments
Appointments, whenever possible, should be made outside of school hours. If this is unavoidable, your child should still attend school before and/or after the appointment. Emergency appointments will be authorised with supporting evidence. We understand that it can be hard to obtain medical evidence on occasion, so a medical confirmation card will also be accepted as evidence.
If your child has an appointment, please inform the Attendance Officer of the following information:
- Child’s Name
- Child’s Year and Form Group/Class
- Date of the appointment
- What time they will arrive at school or the time they will need to depart
Helpful guidance from the NHS about when children should attend school when unwell can be found here:
NHS – Is my child too ill for school?
Leave Of Absence In Term Time
Holidays are not permitted during term time and, if taken, will be recorded as an unauthorised absence on the student’s permanent record. An unauthorised absence during term time may lead to the issuing of a fixed penalty notice.
Any request for student leave of absence in term time should be made in writing to the Headteacher and sent to the Attendance Officer. In making this decision, the school will consider the circumstances of each application individually, including any previous pattern of leave in term time and the attendance record to date.
Why Attendance Matters
Every day at school matters. Missing even a fraction of the school year quickly accumulates, creating significant gaps in a child's education.
- 95% attendance translates to roughly 9 days missed a year.
- 90% attendance means a student misses an entire month of learning.
- 80% attendance is equivalent to missing one full day of school every single week.
Over five years of secondary school, these absences add up to hundreds of hours of lost instruction. National data consistently highlights a direct link between regular attendance and GCSE success. Beyond academics, consistent attendance fosters confidence, strengthens friendships, protects emotional wellbeing, and builds vital habits for adult life. No matter past attendance, making every day count from this point forward will drastically improve your child's future.
Attendance and Safeguarding
Student attendance is a core safeguarding responsibility. When a child is absent without a known reason, we must take immediate action to confirm their safety.
Under statutory guidelines, if a student has 10 consecutive days of unexplained absence, the school is legally required to report them to the Local Authority as a Child Missing Education (CME). Children who fall into this category face significantly higher risks of harm, exploitation, and academic disengagement.
Because of these risks, our follow-up procedures are rigorous. If we cannot reach a primary parent or carer regarding an absence, we may escalate our response by:
- Reaching out to all listed emergency contacts.
- Conducting unannounced home welfare visits.
- Liaising with external agencies or requesting Local Authority support.
If we are ultimately unable to verify a child’s safety and whereabouts, or if specific welfare concerns emerge, we will immediately report the matter to Children’s Services or the police. Protecting our students will always be our absolute priority.
Celebrating and Rewarding Regular Attendance
At our school, we believe in actively celebrating positive attendance habits. To encourage and promote 100% attendance, we have established a robust rewards framework that recognises students who attend school regularly. At the end of each term, eligible students are invited to exclusive attendance parties and are granted coveted non-school-uniform days. By linking consistent attendance to these positive community rewards, we aim to motivate our students, foster a sense of pride in their reliability, and reinforce the vital connection between daily attendance and academic achievement.
School Objectives
- To ensure that all students and Parents/Carers are aware of the importance of good attendance.
- To implement effective strategies in improving attendance in college.
- To minimise the negative impact of non-attendance on teaching and learning.
- To minimise absence levels.
- To minimise unauthorised absence.
Attendance Policy
Our Expectations of Parents/Carers
In line with government guidelines, we expect parents and carers to:
- Ensure your child attends every day the school is open except when a statutory reason applies.
- Notify us as soon as possible when your child has to be unexpectedly absent (e.g. sickness).
- Only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances and do so in advance.
- Book any medical appointments outside and around the school day where possible.
The Law – Education Act 1996
Under Section 7, parents are responsible for making sure that their children of compulsory school age receive efficient and suitable full-time education.
Under Section 444, parents who fail to ensure their children receive efficient and suitable full-time education, are guilty of an offence.
Such offences are dealt with by means of court appearances or incremental fines, per parent/carer and per child, and in aggravated circumstances, a prison sentence could be served.
Further Guidance
Department for Education – Working Together to Improve School Attendance
Department for Education – Guidance for Parents on School Attendance