Data on school attendance targets and performance is available through the Compare School Performance service here.
A copy of the school Attendance Policy is available here.
Report an absence
To report an absence, please call the school on 01332 772 706 Ext 1.
How attendance at school work and how it is monitored
The school works in partnership with parents and students to encourage all students to attend regularly and in doing so we aim to improve on our current 96% attendance record.
Regular attendance at school is vital if children are to make good progress and to benefit from the opportunities that school offers. Encouraging children to have a responsible attitude towards school attendance helps prepare them for their adult lives.
There is clear evidence to show that students whose attendance falls below 97% are at a disadvantage when compared with students whose attendance remains at a minimum of 97%.
| Attendance | Percentage of students with this attendance that achieved grade 4 or better in English and Maths at Derby Moor in 2019 |
| 95% or better | 69% |
| 93% – 94.9% | 57% |
| 90%-92.9% | 40% |
| Below 90% | 31% |
What can you do as a parent to increase your child’s attendance?
Any absence from school will affect your child’s overall percentage attendance whether authorised or unauthorised, please consider carefully if absence is necessary.
Illness
If your child is too ill to attend it is important that we receive an explanation each day your child is absent from school. If we do not receive a valid explanation for your child’s absence, we will record it as unauthorised. Persistent unauthorised absences are reported to the Education Welfare Service who may issue a Penalty Notice/Fine.
Fines apply per parent, per child:
- Payment is £120 if paid within 28 days reduced to £60 if paid within 21 days (following receipt of fine which will be issued by the Local Authority)
- If not paid the matter will be placed before the court
If your child is absent for more than 3 days we will require some form of medical proof, this can be in the form of appointment cards (with attendance of appointment confirmed), copies of prescriptions or prescribed medication.
Any absence should be reported before 10.00am prior to the automated Truancy Call system being activated.
Medical Appointments
Where possible please make appointments out of school time however if this is not possible please contact school at least 24 hours in advance to inform us if your child will be coming in late or leaving early due to an appointment. All appointments require medical proof. Medical appointments, whether authorised or unauthorised will affect your child’s attendance percentage.
Family holidays during term time
Parents should not take students on holiday in term time. All holidays taken in term time will be unauthorised and a fine may be issued.
Fines apply per parent, per child
- Payment is £120 if paid within 28 days reduced to £60 if paid within 21 days (following receipt of fine which will be issued by the Local Authority)
- If not paid the matter will be placed before the court
Lates
All students who are late to registration, after 8.35am, will receive a 30-minute detention for the following day.
We do ask that parents/carers try to ensure that students arrive to school on time and support the school in their efforts to minimize lateness. In year 11, this is even more important as any prospective employers, colleges or sixth forms look at attendance closely.
Raise Your Childs Attendance – Raise their Chances!
What does “Good attendance” mean? Do you think 90% attendance is a good figure?
90% attendance is ½ day missed every week.
Over one academic year a student misses four weeks of lessons. If you maintain 90% attendance for your time at secondary school, including studying for your GCSEs a pupil will have missed out on ½ a school year.
Recent research by Department for Children, Schools and Families (DfES) suggests that if a student misses just 17 school days a year, their GCSE grades will drop by one grade!
Therefore, 90% is not as good as it first seemed.
What can you do as a parent to increase your child’s attendance?
- Find out regularly your child’s absence. (Ask for half days if easier) and check this matches with your own record.
- Talk regularly with your child about school and how they feel about it. They are more likely to attend if they feel supported and their anxieties are listened to.
- Phone us as soon as possible to tell us why your child is absent, and when you expect them to return. Putting the school number in your phone can save you time. Know the school routine for alerting you to absence like writing a note in their planner for when they return.
- Only grant days at home for genuine illness. (You will know!)
- Avoid taking holidays in school time.
- Try to make medical appointments outside of the school day. If this is not possible, make sure that your child returns to school immediately after the appointment.
- Know routines of the school day to avoid issues, e.g. do they have their PE kit?
- If you have concerns ring us – we will check attendance and be discreet.
- Praise and reward good attendance. Even small successes, for example getting to school in promptly, even when the first lesson is not their best.
Other tips to help secure good attendance
- If there is a problem with your child’s attendance, talk calmly to your child and listen to the explanation. Pursuing the reason for non-attendance is important.
- Talk to us to resolve issues. We may be able to help and support you and your child.
- Be particularly watchful and supportive in the run up to tests and aware of coursework deadlines. These can be very stressful times for students.
- Check homework diary regularly for gaps as well as giving praise for completed activities.
- Help them catch up with missed work. A missed day at school does not mean missed work, we can always let you know what they can work on to catch up.