Attendance
At Garden City Academy, we recognise the strong link between excellent attendance and high levels of achievement. Regular and punctual attendance enables children to fully access learning opportunities, develop positive routines, and build strong relationships within the school community.
Our minimum expected attendance target for all pupils is 98%.
We work in close partnership with parents and carers to promote excellent attendance and punctuality for every child.
Term‑Time Leave of Absence
Parents and carers are expected to ensure that holidays and extended periods of leave are taken outside of term time wherever possible.
Requests for leave of absence during term time will only be considered if there are exceptional circumstances.
Requesting Leave
- Requests must be made in writing using the appropriate form, available from the school office
- All requests must be submitted to the Headteacher at least four weeks in advance of the proposed absence
- Retrospective requests will not be considered and will be recorded as unauthorised absence
The Headteacher may only authorise term‑time leave in exceptional circumstances. The decision regarding whether leave is authorised, and the number of days approved, is final.
All decisions will be confirmed in writing, including the expected date of return to school. Parents must contact the school immediately if there is any delay to their child’s return.
When Leave Will Not Be Authorised
The school will not authorise term‑time absence in the following circumstances:
- Immediately before or during statutory assessment periods (SATs) for Year 6
- Immediately before or during statutory assessment periods (SATs) for Year 2
- When a pupil’s attendance record already includes unauthorised absence
Any leave taken without agreement from the school will be recorded as unauthorised and may result in sanctions, including a Fixed Penalty Notice issued by the Local Authority.
What Is Good Attendance?
| Attendance | Description | Approx. Days Lost per Year | Approx. Weeks Lost per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98–100% | Excellent | 0–4 | Less than 1 |
| 96.2–98% | Good | 5–9 | 1–2 |
| 95–96.1% | Satisfactory | 10–13 | 2–3 |
| 90–95% | Unsatisfactory | 14–18 | 3–4 |
| Below 90% | Persistent Absence | More than 19 | More than 4 |
Persistent Absence
At Garden City Academy, a pupil is considered persistently absent if they miss 7% or more of school across the academic year, for any reason.
Absence at this level has a significant and damaging impact on a child’s education and wellbeing. We therefore give priority to monitoring and addressing attendance concerns.
- All absences are monitored carefully
- Parents and carers will be contacted promptly if attendance is approaching or exceeds the persistent absence threshold
- Support and intervention will be put in place in partnership with families to improve attendance
We rely on parents’ full cooperation and engagement to ensure that children attend school regularly and on time.
