At Holy Trinity we are dedicated to providing your child with a high standard of education and social well being. As part of this work, we are committed to improving attendance and ensuring good habits around punctuality. This is an integral part of the work we do around Character Education.
Good attendance is crucial for our students to enjoy and achieve both whilst at school, in further education and the world of work.
Our expectations
We support the governments expectations for all students to attend school, with a minimum attendance of 96%. Anything below this is not acceptable. As a staff we will continue to work tirelessly towards a goal of 100% attendance for all students; every opportunity will be used to convey to students the importance of regular and punctual attendance. We ask for the support of our parents and carers, so that we can work together to achieve this goal and the best outcomes for your child.
We want to work with our families to remove any barriers that exist, enabling all students to be in school every day. We understand that there will be times when your child will be too unwell or genuinely unable to attend, please contact the school office and follow the absence procedures.
If there are more complex concerns please contact the attendance team or your child’s Head of Year.
- Assistant Head teacher of Personal Development- Ms Hodson
- Attendance Leader- Mrs Mallett
- Head of Year 7- Mr Elia
- Head of Year 8- Mrs White
- Head of Year 9- Mrs Chan
- Head of Year 10- Mrs Smith
- Head of Year 11- Mr Mahmood and Mrs Hayle
Early help can be provided if support is needed.
Persistent absence
We work with the Birmingham Education Legal Intervention team and follow the fast track for attendance and leave in term time process.
If your child’s attendance is under 90% this is known as persistent absence. This means that they have missed 10% of their education. You will be invited into school for a meeting under the fast track process, this is to see how we can work together to support your child and to see if early help or any other type of support would be beneficial to raise your child’s attendance.
If your child has persistently poor attendance or if leave in term time is taken, this may result in a referral to the Birmingham City Council Education Legal Intervention Team. The outcome could result in prosecution and a penalty fine.
Holidays or leave in term time are not permitted by law in the UK, unless for exceptional circumstances. Each request is considered carefully by the Head teacher and in most cases will be declined. If you are considering a request for leave in term time, please collect a form from reception.
Only one day is allowed for religious observance during term time.
Protocols for reporting absence
Absence must be reported to the school office by 8.45am. Please call 0121 772 0184 and section option 1.
If no contact is made by the parent/carer then the school will make first day contact via text message and or a phone call from the schools pastoral team, the information will be recorded and the register altered accordingly.
First day absence calling forms part of our safeguarding procedures. It is vital that school is kept informed and up to date with accurate emergency contact details for all students. Please contact the school office if your contact phone number or address changes.
Students who are absent for 20 school days could risk losing their place at Holy Trinity. The Local Authority will be informed of any child who has been absent without explanation for 10 consecutive days. If deemed appropriate, the school will submit referrals to external agencies, including the IFTS team (Integrated Family Support Teams) and Children’s services. School is obligated to record all actions that have been taken.
The attendance and pastoral team will carry out home visits as part of our keeping in touch and well being checks.
Punctuality
It is important that we maintain high expectations with regards to punctuality.
- Students must be in form or assembly by 8.30am
- Student arriving after 8.30am, are late and will be issued with a late mark and detention
- Please inform the school office as soon as possible if you know that your child is going to be late
- Students who arrive late, and after the gate has closed should report to main reception or to the Attendance Office depending on the circumstance
- Any pupil arriving after 9.10 am without a valid reason will be marked as unauthorised (U). This will have a negative impact on their attendance record.
Please read this important update for all Parents/Carers regarding school attendance for the new academic year (2023/24) Please click below:
Useful links for parents and carers:
School attendance and advice
Early help and support
