Attendance
At Bodmin College we believe that all students benefit from outstanding school attendance.
We will do all we can to support and ensure our students achieve the best attendance they possibly can.
In order for attendance to be considered very good a student must achieve 96% attendance or above.
We expect that all students will:
- Attend school regularly.
- Attend school punctually.
- Attend school appropriately prepared for the day.
We expect that all parents/carers who have day to day responsibility for children and young people will:
- Encourage regular school attendance and be aware of their legal responsibilities.
- Ensure that the child/children in their care arrive at school punctually, prepared for the school day.
- If your child is going to be absent for any reason, please ensure that you make the school aware before 8.00am on each day of absence. Contact us and ensure you give clear information including your child's name, tutor group and the reason for the absence. If we are not provided with a reason, the absence will be recorded on their attendance record as unauthorised.
We ask that all routine medical appointments are made outside of the school day and may request medical evidence to be provided for any period of absence that exceeds three days.
Report a Student Absence
Please inform us of any student absence when relevant.
Parents should inform us if their child is unwell and unable to attend by leaving a message on our answer phone (01208 72114 selecting option 1).
Please leave the following information when reporting an absence: the student’s name, their Tutor Group, the reason for absence and their expected date of return.
Absence Requests
All requests for leave of absence must be made to the school by completing a leave of absence form, which is available below.
Unauthorised absence including term-time holidays - The Law
The Government has changed the law on holiday’s in term time (Education act. The Government states that there is no right to a holiday in term time and has removed the phrase “up to 10 days holiday in special circumstances” from the Education Act 1996. The law now states that leave of absence may only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Bodmin College policy states that exceptional circumstances include; a close relative has a serious or terminal illness or a court order recommends leave of absence. More details of exceptional circumstances can be found in the policy, found here. You must apply for exceptional leave of absence using the form below.
If a parent takes a child out of school without permission they will be committing an offence under the Education Act 1996. Parents can be fined for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school. Bodmin College will refer the matter to the Education Welfare Service who may decide to prosecute.