Attendance

At Blenheim High School, we want every student to be the best version of themselves and the single biggest factor in school success is regular attendance. Students learn best when they are in school, on time, every day. 

Why attendance is important

Better Learning

• Missing school means missing valuable lessons, discussions and opportunities to learn. Even a few days of absence makes it harder for students to keep up with their classmates.

Enhanced Social Skills

• Regular attendance helps students build strong relationships with peers and teachers, develop routines and become part of the school community.

Better Career Prospects

• Students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve strong academic results, keeping doors open for the future. 

Safeguarding:

• If a child is frequently absent, the probability of safeguarding concerns increase. Regular attendance helps keep students safe and well.

Should my child go to school if they are unwell?

We understand it can be difficult to decide if your child is well enough to attend school. To support with your decision making please consult the NHS guidance which can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/. Please contact attendance@blenheim.surrey.sch.uk for further information.

Communicating Absences

Absences must be reported through the Talaxy Parent Portal: https://blenheim.talaxy.app/ before 8.30am on each day of your child’s absence.

Medical or dental appointments are to also be reported through the Talaxy Parent Portal. Parents are encouraged to arrange medical or dental appointments outside of school hours wherever possible

Please note, just because you have informed us your child is not in school, does not mean the absence is automatically authorised and you may be asked to provide medical evidence to authorise the absence.

If we do not hear from parents, the attendance team will endeavour to make contact by text message, email or phone as part of our duty of care for your child’s safety. 

Exceptional Absence Requests

The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 state that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. 

Any request should be submitted as soon as it is anticipated and, where possible, at least 1 week before the absence. In making a request for an absence from school parents need to explain why the circumstances are exceptional by emailing a completed an exceptional circumstances form which can be found here: Application for Leave of Absence for Exceptional Circumstances – Fill in form. Applications for a leave of absence are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Following an absence due to exceptional circumstances, please be aware that students will typically be expected to complete one hour in the library to catch up on work missed for each day of absence.

Lateness

Students must arrive by 8.40am on each school day. Students who arrive after 8.40am will be marked as late (L) and will receive a late code. Students who are frequently late are placed onto the late watchlist

If a student arrives after the close of registration (9.10am) with no valid reason they will be marked with the unauthorised absence code (U) for the morning session

Attendance Support

Attendance is monitored by the Attendance Officer, Form Tutors, Heads of Year and the Senior Leadership Team. There is a range of internal and external support available. If you have any concerns for your child, please reach out to your child’s Form Tutor in the first instance.

Penalty Notices

The Surrey Attendance Service, acting on behalf of Surrey County Council may issue a Penalty Notice as an alternative to the prosecution of a parent for their child’s unauthorised absence from school requiring the recipient to pay a fixed amount. 

Circumstances when a Penalty Notices may be issued:

1. Pupils identified by police and Surrey Attendance Advice Officers engaged on Truancy Patrols and who have incurred unauthorised absences.
2. The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 state that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. 

Where a child is taken out of school for 10 sessions or more and the ‘leave of absence’ is without the authority of the head teacher, each parent is liable to receive a penalty notice for each child who is absent. In these circumstances, a warning will not be given where it can be shown that parents had previously been warned that such absences would not be authorised and that they will be liable to receive a Penalty Notice if the leave of absence is taken.

3. The issue of a Penalty Notice will also be considered where a pupil has incurred 10 or more unauthorised sessions during the preceding 10 school weeks.  The parents’ failure to engage with supportive measures proposed by the school will be a factor when considering the issue of a Penalty Notice.   Unauthorised absence will include late arrival after the close of registration without good reason.   
4. Section 103 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 places a duty on parents to ensure that their child is not in a public place without justifiable cause during school hours when they are excluded from school.  This duty applies to the first five days of each exclusion.  Failure to do so will render the parent liable to a Penalty Notice. If the Penalty Notice is not paid, the recipient will be prosecuted for the offence under Section 103. Alternative education provision will be made from the sixth day of any exclusion and failure to attend such provision without good reason will be treated as unauthorised absence.

With the exception of unauthorised leave of absence taken in term time (Paragraph 2 above) parents will be sent a ‘Notice To Improve’ their child’s attendance, warning them of their liability to receive such a notice before it is issued.

Amount Payable Under a Penalty Notice: The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

1. If a parent/carer has not incurred a penalty notice relating to the relevant child/children since 19 August 2024, then the penalty notice will be charged at the rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80.00 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
2. If you have incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children since 19 August 2024, the rolling 3 year period will be activated from the date of the first penalty notice and the second penalty notice will be charged at the flat rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. There will be no reduction for payment within 21 days. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
3. If you have incurred 2 penalty notices relating to this child/children in the rolling 3 year period since the first penalty notice was issued, then you will NOT receive a third penalty notice – Surrey County Council will have no option but to consider a prosecution, per parent/carer per child, in the Magistrates Court under s 444 Education Act 1996.