Attendance and Punctuality

Attendance

Arts and Media School Islington actively promotes and encourages 100% attendance with an overall School Target of 97% attendance.

Attendance is directly linked to academic progress and while for some students GCSEs may seem a long way away, their attendance now can affect their future prospects into further education and beyond.

Attendance & Punctuality Policy

Relationship between Attendance and Achievement

  • Nationally 1 in 5 pupils miss 17 days a year- these pupils will drop at least ONE GCSE GRADE
  • 1-4 GCSE grades can increase your wages by 17%
  • 5 or more GCSE A- C grades can increase your wages by 41%
  • If you improve your attendance by 1% you could see a 5- 6% improvement in your attainment
  • Employees with no qualifications earn an average of just £7.44 per hour.
  • Those with only GCSE’s earn an average of £9.02 per hour.
  • People with A-levels earned an average of £10.27 per hour.
  • Students who graduate from university with a degree earn an average of £15.01

Is 90% good enough?
90% might sound high but if your child has 90% attendance this is the equivalent to missing half a day every week. New government statistic now class 90% attendance as Persistent Absenteeism.
The table below shows what the percentages mean in real terms:

Percentage Attendance Amount of time off school
98% 4 days a year
95% 10 days a year
90% Half a day every week
80% 1 day off a week and a whole year over from years 7 to 11

Punctuality

Registration is at 8.40am for all students. The school door opens at 8.30am. It is recommended that your child arrives at school for 5 minutes early to be ready for registration. Any loss in teaching and learning due to lateness to the classroom will impact on the progress of your child.

Like attendance, good punctuality has a positive impact on achievement. Colleges and Employers will always ask about an applicant’s attendance and punctuality before offering a place / employments.
The figures:

Lateness Lost learning over a school year
5 minutes a day 3 days lost
10 minutes a day 6.5 days lost
15 minutes a day 10 days lost
20 minutes a day 13 days lost
30 minutes a day 19 days lost
What if my child is ill?
  • If your child is ill please contact the School as early as possible on the first day of their absence. Call 0207 281 5511 ext 1027 to leave a message on the absence line or 0207 281 5511 for reception.
  • Send a note in on the first day they return with an explanation of the absence – you must do this even if you have already telephoned us;
  • Or, you can call into school and report to reception, who will arrange for an attendance officer to speak with you.
  • If no contact is made from the parents on the morning of the student’s first day of absence, the Attendance Officer will send a message via our ‘Group call’ system.
  • The Attendance Officer will also complete 2nd calling to parents/carers.
  • If the student has not returned after 5 days or has not provided an authorisation note, the Attendance Officer will pursue the absence with parents/carers
  • If no response after 6 days, the Attendance Lead will visit the family home

It is essential that the School has up to date contact details. If you have moved home or changed your phone number please notify the School in writing.

  • If your child has been absent for over a week, please provide medical evidence from your local GP or consultant.

What if I want to take my child out of school in term time?

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