Your guide to attendance and punctuality

YOUR GUIDE TO

attendance & punctuality Excellent attendance is one of the key factors to your success at college. It is your responsibility to have a high attendance rate and prompt start to all your classes – this is a key priority. Remember, your attendance is always required on references for universities and employers!

Your Student Performance and Development Leader (SPDL) will speak with you on a regular basis about any difficulties relating to your attendance. They will also review your attendance on a weekly basis and speak with you privately if there are any patterns of unsatisfactory attendance or punctuality beginning to occur, or if any of your subject teachers pass on a concern. Your attendance record will be available to your parents/carers and your main contact at home will receive a text message each day that any absence is recorded.

permitted absence Any absence you may have from college will be recorded on your attendance record. The college recognises that some absences are unavoidable and will authorise these. If there is no alternative available and the reason is an acceptable one you will be authorised to be absent (permitted absence).

A PARENT OR CARER WILL NEED TO CONTACT THE COLLEGE BEFORE 8:45AM ON EACH DAY OF ABSENCE

The following are examples of permitted absence:

P

Hospital or orthodontist appointments which cannot be arranged outside college hours, backed by evidence of an appointment card or letter from the health provider to student administration

P

A family bereavement

P

Attendance at a family funeral, a letter/phone call is required from your parent/carer

P

Religious festivals notified in advance (24 hours) by a letter/ phone call from your parent/carer

P

Visit to a university to attend an open day or interview; a career related interview or audition, production of a letter/email to your SPDL is required beforehand

P

Driving test and theory test (not a driving lesson), and evidence is required

The following are examples of unauthorised absence:

unauthorised absence All other absences will be classed as unauthorised. These are absences where there are not adequate reasons to justify missing classes.

As with all absences, a parent or carer will need to contact the college before 8:45am on the day of absence. The college has a commitment to notify the main contact you supplied on your application form about unauthorised absences. On each day of absence we will send a text message to your main contact even if they have phoned to notify the college of your absence. Your SPDL will discuss any unauthorised absences with you each week.

Routine medical and dental appointments are not permitted reasons to be absent and will be recorded as unauthorised.

Please take your evidence to the student administration office situated on the fifth floor.

Depending on the nature of your absence you may also be advised to speak to your SPDL.

n I llness (your SPDL will discuss any specific support arrangements you require for longer term illnesses and any unique circumstances you may have) n Holidays during term time n Doctor/dentist appointments n Part-time or full-time work n Leisure activities n Birthdays or similar celebrations nR eligious festivals not notified at least 24 hours in advance nB abysitting for younger siblings/ family members nA ccompanying family members to appointments n Driving lessons nE xclusion from lessons or the college site nA ny permitted absence where evidence is required but has not been provided

HOW TO ADVISE THE COLLEGE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABSENT Unplanned absences Your parent/carer should ring the attendance line on 01706 769819 before 8:45am.

They will need the following information: nY our full name and date of birth nR eason for absence n F irst date of absence
(and time if less than a full day) nL ast date of absence if known (and time if less than a full day)

Planned absences Prior to a planned absence, the student administration office will take any evidence you can provide. You will be advised whether your absence will be classed as a permitted absence or an unauthorised absence. Religious holidays must be notified at least 24 hours in advance to be classed as a permitted absence.

College-related trips and visits If you are going to be absent from any subject or enrichment classes because
you have an activity planned in a different subject, your absence will be permitted. It is polite to inform teachers of any classes you will miss in advance.

Arriving late If you arrive late go straight to your class where you will be marked present but late.

You should speak to your teacher at the end of the class to explain the reason for your lateness and to check that you have not been marked as absent. If you arrive late for a class on a regular basis your teacher will discuss this with you and may speak with your SPDL. Your SPDL will speak with you about any patterns of unacceptable punctuality.

Rochdale Sixth Form College College Road Rochdale OL12 6HY

For more details call

01706 769 800

ATTENDANCE

Illness during the college day If you are at college and feel you have to go home early you will need to see your SPDL or a member of the senior leadership team.

If they support your absence your main contact will be informed that you are going home.

If you have arrived so late that you have missed a class and you think the reason may be a permitted one, then go to the student administration office when you have your next break. If you know you are going to miss a class due to lateness you should inform the student administration office on the attendance line. Your main contact will receive a text message each day you miss one or more lessons due to lateness.

Monitoring your attendance Your attendance data will be available to view on a live basis on Cedar, the college portal. If you think that your attendance record is incorrect, discuss the issue with the teacher concerned. Marks will not be changed where prior evidence was required but not produced in advance.

ATTENDANCE LINE 01706 769819