At Knutsford Academy we are proud to be part of a Trust that places high value on excellent attendance. It is not just a school expectation—it is a Trust-wide commitment that every pupil attends school regularly to maximise their learning and development.
Attendance Target for 2026/2027
The Trust’s attendance target for all pupils is 96% across the academic year. This equates to no more than 7 days of absence per year. This target aligns with the Government’s national expectation and reflects our shared belief that consistent attendance is essential for academic success and personal growth.
Why Attendance Matters
Regular attendance ensures that children do not miss vital learning opportunities, especially in core subjects such as Maths, English and Science. Evidence shows that children with good attendance are more likely to achieve their full potential.
We ask parents and carers to support us by avoiding holidays during term time, as these can significantly disrupt a child’s progress.
What can I do to best support my child’s attendance?
Your child’s attendance data is available on the Arbor App as well as being reported on the Progress Reports you receive throughout the year. Please use this information as an opportunity to discuss the importance of attendance with your child.
In addition to this there are a few practical things that you can do to help support your child:
- Wherever possible, we ask parents/carers to arrange medical and other appointments outside of the school day or during school holidays. We recognise that this is not always possible; however, avoiding appointments during school hours helps minimise disruption to students' learning and attendance.
- Where a medical appointment during the school day is unavoidable, students should attend school before the appointment and return to school once it has been completed wherever possible to minimise any disruption to their learning.
- Supporting good attendance by ensuring your child attends school unless they are genuinely unwell, using the guidance in “When is my child too ill for school?” to help inform your decision. Is my child too ill for school? - NHS
- If your child is genuinely medically unfit or there is an urgent and unavoidable family reason. Parents/carer are responsible for informing the school to ensure they are safeguarded before 8.30am.
- To support good attendance and continuity of learning, parents/carers are asked not to take holidays during term time. Term dates are published well in advance on the school website Term Dates | Knutsford Academy to assist with holiday planning.
Understanding Attendance Percentages
What could happen if attendance drops below 96%?
What if my child is experiencing issues around attending school?
There are several ways in which you can access support through the school if your child is experiencing issues around attendance. In the first instance you should seek support from your child’s Form Tutor or their Head of Year.
If you need further support with attendance, please contact our Attendance Support Officer:
Mrs Pippa McCornville: pme@knutsfordacademy.org.uk
The name and contact details of the Senior Attendance Champion (the senior leader responsible for the strategic approach to attendance in our school) is:
Mrs Hazel Weigh – Assistant Headteacher – hwh@knutsfordacademy.org.uk
How to Report an Absence
We expect your child to attend school every day unless they are medically unfit or there is an urgent and unavoidable family reason. It is the responsibility of parents/carers to notify the school of their child's absence. This should be done as early as possible, ideally before registration (8.30am), and on every day that the child is absent from school.
The most effective way to report pupil absence (for consistency and safeguarding) is: Telephone: 01565 633294
- To report a pupil absence in Years 9 -13 - Press 1
- To report a pupil absence in Years 7 & 8 - Press 2
Parents/carers should provide the following information:
- Student’s full name and form/group
- Reason for absence (clear and specific)
- Expected duration (if known)
- Name/relationship of the person reporting
Arriving Late
All students may arrive on site from 8.05am each morning. Students must have arrived and be in in the school building by 8.40am. After this time, they will enter through the late entrance and be marked late. It is important that students arrive on time in order to be in form rooms for the start of registration at 8:40am. We expect punctuality from all pupils. Being “just a little bit late” every day has a significant impact on learning time over the course of a school year.
Being late to school on a regular basis quickly adds up to a significant loss of learning time.
|
“They only missed just…” |
That equals… |
Which is… |
And over a school career… |
|
10 minutes per day |
50 minutes per week |
Nearly 1.5 weeks per year |
Nearly 0.5 school years |
|
20 minutes per day |
1 hour 40 minutes per week |
Over 2.5 weeks per year |
Nearly 1 school year |
|
30 minutes per day |
Half a day per week |
4 weeks per year |
Nearly 1.5 school years |
|
1 hour per day |
1 day per week |
8 weeks per year |
Over 2.5 school years |
Absence During Term Time - Exceptional Leave of Absence
Under the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024, it makes clear that headteachers will only authorise absences in exceptional circumstances. Parents/carers do not have an automatic right to take their child out of school for a holiday during term time and any formal requests for leave will be considered on an individual basis.
We urge all families to follow the correct procedures and prioritise school attendance.
Applications for Exceptional Leave of Absence.
- Applications for Exceptional Leave of Absence will only be accepted via this form.
Application for Exceptional Leave of Absence – Fill in form
- A completed request form must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the proposed absence.
- The submission of a request does not imply approval.
- The Headteacher will consider each application individually, taking into account the specific circumstances and the impact on the student's education.
- Written notification of the school's decision will be provided to the parent/carer.
Penalty Notices and Legal Responsibilities
Unauthorised absences can have serious consequences.
Under the Education Act (1996), parents are legally required to ensure their child attends school regularly. If a child has 10 consecutive sessions (equivalent to 5 full school days) of unauthorised absence, parents may be issued with a Penalty Notice.
Initial Penalty Notice: £160 per parent, per child (reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days).
Failure to Pay: May result in prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
From August 2024, if a second penalty notice is issued within a 3-year rolling period, the fine will remain at £160 with no discount. A maximum of two penalty notices may be issued per parent, per child in that period. Further offences may lead to legal action by the Local Authority.
There is no right of appeal by parents against a penalty notice.
We appreciate your continued support in ensuring your child attends school every day. Together, we can give every child the best possible start in life.
