At Rastrick High School, we believe school is unmissable. Every child of compulsory school age is entitled by law to an efficient, full-time education.
Parents/Carers have a legal duty to ensure your child attends school. Your child will have the best chance to fulfil their potential by having excellent attendance.
We expect every student to attend school on time every day, and aim for 100% attendance. We will work with parents/carers to support all our students to maintain excellent attendance and avoid unnecessary absences.
In the rare case of absence, please see below how days missed can lead to lessons missed, which will negatively affect your child’s progress in school.
If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance, please contact Rastrick High School to speak to the year team who would be happy to support you.
In the rare case of illness, you must inform the school by either ParentMail or by telephoning 01484 406381 by 8:00 am each day of your child’s absence, indicating the specific reason for the absence.
We understand our pupils sometimes cannot come to school because they are really unwell – and that’s the right thing to do for them and other pupils. Medical advice is clear however that children with mild illness will often be well enough to attend – for example if they have a cough, or cold, without a temperature. The NHS guidance, Is my child too ill for school? – NHS (www.nhs.uk) is designed to support parents in their decision-making about mild illness.
Please be aware that we cannot authorise days of illness in advance, so please ensure you contact the school daily. Students should only be absent in unavoidable circumstances.
For any medical appointments, please inform the school well in advance and where possible aim for appointments first thing in the morning or as close to the end of the school to minimise lessons missed.
Please avoid holidays during term time. We do not authorise holidays taken within term time, except in exceptional circumstances. If you believe your holiday to be under an exceptional circumstance, please complete a holiday request form addressed to the Headteacher.
Please note, that we should not be expected to class any term time holiday as exceptional as we do not encourage extended absences from school, as this will negatively impact student’s learning.
One week off school means 25 lessons are missed.
Two weeks off school means 50 lessons missed.
Fines can be imposed through Calderdale Education Welfare for taking holidays during term time. The fine is currently £120 per parent per child, reduced to £60 per parent per child if paid within 14 days of issue.
We will:
- Check your child’s attendance every day.
- Phone home to discuss your child’s attendance with you.
- Invite you to school for attendance meetings if we are concerned.
- If we cannot establish a reason for absence, then we may make a welfare home visit.