Attendance at St Columba C of E Primary School

At St Columba, we are proud that our attendance has been consistently above the national average and is currently in the top 1% of schools nationally. This shows what we already know: our children enjoy school, feel safe here, and want to be part of our community every day.

We know that good attendance is the foundation for success. Children who attend regularly are more likely to achieve well, build strong friendships, and develop the skills and confidence they need for the future.

School Start Times

• Gates open at 8.40am
• Children should be in school by 8.40am
• The register is taken at 8.45am

Being on time ensures children are settled, ready to learn, and don’t miss valuable teaching at the start of the day.

Lateness

• Arrivals after 8.50am are marked as late.
• Arrivals after 9.00am are marked as an unauthorised absence.
• Regular lateness adds up to a significant loss of learning time and can affect progress and wellbeing. If punctuality becomes a concern, the school will work with families to offer support.

• Reporting Illness

• Parents must contact the school before 8.40am on the first day of illness by calling 01329 843226 (select ‘Report Absence’) or by emailing admin@stcolumba.school.
• Parents must notify the school every day their child is unwell, unless agreed otherwise.
• If your child is absent for more than 3 days, we may contact you to discuss support and next steps.
• Medical evidence may be requested if a pattern of absence develops.
   

• Medical Appointments

• We ask that medical and dental appointments are arranged outside of school hours wherever possible. If this cannot be avoided, children should attend school before and after their appointment so that as little learning is missed as possible. Proof of the appointment may be requested in order for the absence to be authorised.
   

• Holidays and Leave of Absence

• The law does not allow schools to authorise holidays in term time. Leave of absence can only be granted in exceptional circumstances and must be requested in writing to the Headteacher. Examples may include:
• A close family wedding or funeral
• Religious observance
• Service personnel returning from duty
• Medical or emotional needs supported by evidence
• Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, and evidence will always be required. Absence for reasons such as cost of holidays or parental work commitments cannot be authorised.
   

• Celebrating Attendance

• At St Columba, we reward positive attendance, not just 100%. We know that children may sometimes be unwell, so all pupils with attendance above 98% are entered into a prize draw each half term.
• Classes celebrate attendance weekly, with the top class winning the Attendance Bear.
• Children with strong attendance are recognised as Attendance HEROes (Here, Every day, Ready, On time).
• Parents can check their child’s current attendance at any time through Arbor.

• Working Together

• We are committed to supporting every family to maintain strong attendance. If you are finding it difficult to get your child into school, please speak with us, we are here to help.
• Together, we can make sure every child at St Columba continues to thrive, learn, and grow.