Attendance

Research shows that attendance below 95% will affect future attainment and progress. Merchants' Academy expect students' attendance to be 96% or higher.   

 

It is a parent / carer's legal responsibility to ensure their child's regular school attendance.

If the Academy has concerns regarding a student's attendance, the Parent/Carer will be notified and they may be invited to the Academy to sign an Attendance Contract.

If a student's attendance fails to improve, the Parent/Carer may be at risk of receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice fine of £60 per parent. This may also lead to prosecution in court and a fine of up to £2500.

Time keeping

Students arriving late to school can be very disruptive to a lesson. The Academy ask that all students arrive to school on time. 

Registration will take place at the Secondary site during tutor time at 8:30am, and at 9am at the Primary site.  

Any students arriving after this time will be marked as Late on the register. 

Parents of students who are persistently late are at risk of receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice fine.

Illness

Is your child feeling too unwell for school?

Please use the NHS advice website: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/ to check whether you should send your child in. If in doubt consider whether you would have a day off work if you felt the way that they do, and if they could participate in most school activities sitting in a classroom comfortably.

Please give us a call if unsure and let us know if there is anything we can do to support.

Medical Appointments

The Academy requests that parents/carers arrange all dental or medical appointments for outside of school hours. 

Where this is not possible, please provide the Academy with an appointment letter or card. 

Holidays

Term time leave is only very rarely authorised by the Principle or Head Teacher, and only in exceptional circumstances.   

If a Parent/Carer chooses to remove their child from school during term time for a holiday, they must inform the Academy by telephone or in writing in advance of the planned holiday. There are holiday forms available at the school reception or to download from here. 

Absence request form

Unauthorised absences on your child's attendance register may result in the Parent or Carer being issued a Fixed Penalty Notice Fine of £60 per parent, per child, or they may be required to attend court and face prosecution.
 

If you have any concerns regarding your child's attendance, please feel free to contact the school and arrange a meeting with a member of the Attendance Team. 

Further information and documents about Student Welfare

To view our Attendance Policy, please click here