Attendance

Phoenix Collegiate is committed to maximising the achievement of all our students. There is a clear link between good attendance and educational achievement. Our aim is to promote regular attendance and good punctuality in order to ensure all our students achieve their potential. 90% attendance = 1/2 day missed every week!

Did you know?

There is a direct link between attendance at school and examination results. Research tells us that if a school can improve its attendance by 1%, they will see a 5-6% improvement in attainment. Please help us and your child by ensuring that their attendance remains at 100%, allowing them to achieve their potential.

It is their future! If they are not at school, they cannot possibly do well!

To support your child, please ensure that:

They are in school every day.
You make medical / dental appointments out of school time.
You do not take holidays in school time - please see paragraph below, 'Holidays in Term Time', for further information.
You phone the school by 10:00am if your child is too ill to attend on 0121 588 8384.
You send a letter from home, upon your child's return to school, stating the reason for their absence.
You will provide medical evidence for any days off, in order for the school to authorise such absences.

Good attendance will result in:

Certificates
Rewards
Recognition
Every opportunity to achieve their full potential
Improved examination results

Unacceptable attendance will result in:

Their education suffering
Unnecessary time spent by staff contacting home
Parents / Carers being prosecuted for student’s poor attendance

Should your child fail to attend during registration, and no contact has been made to inform the school of their reason for absence, we may use our automated text message service or call you directly to inform you that they are NOT in school.

Holidays in Term Time

The government has passed legislation regarding students missing school to go on holiday. The regulations mean that from 1^st September 2013, Head Teachers may not grant leave of absence during term time, unless there are very exceptional circumstances that have been agreed in advance. Exceptional circumstances do not include family holidays, visiting relatives or friends, spectating at sporting or other events, looking after family members who are unwell, babysitting younger family members, birthdays or shopping.

If you choose to take your child out of school during term time without leave of absence being granted, then it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Parents / Carers who fail to ensure their child’s regular attendance can be fined £80 (per parent, per child). If payment is not made within 21 days, this increases to £120.

If, after serious consideration of this, you still propose to take your child away from school during term time, a 'Leave of Absence' request form must be completed by parents / carers and returned to the Education Welfare Officer at least two weeks before the proposed absence. Absence request forms are available through the Attendance Team. The Head Teacher will respond to the request in writing within 1 week.

Parents / Carers cannot authorise the absence themselves, which means that permission should be requested before tickets are booked.

More information on Penalty Notices for a Term Time Holiday or Irregular School Attendance

Attend School for the Best Start in Life

Please see the letter below, from the Director of Children and Education, Sandwell, about supporting your child / children to Attend School for the best start in life.

Attend_School_for_the_Best_Start_in_Life

Absence due to Covid

As Covid restrictions are no longer in place the following ruling now applies; If your child tests positive for Covid there is no need to isolate. If they are feeling well enough to attend school they can do so. If your child is unwell with Covid, this needs to be treated as a normal illness and return to school when they are well enough. Please email the positive test result to the attendance team email in order for us to authorise the absence.