Attendance and Punctuality

It’s cool to be at school!

At St. George’s Cathedral Primary School we know for a fact that attending school regularly and on time has a hugely positive impact on learning and progress. Excellent attendance and punctuality is the key for our children’s success now and in the future. In line with the Government and Local Authority Guidelines, we expect all our students to maintain an attendance level of 96% and above. It is the responsibility of everyone in our school community – parents, children, staff and governors – to ensure they achieve this. Therefore, we constantly monitor and review attendance and punctuality. We encourage excellent attendance and punctuality for all our children, by offering an environment in which everyone feels valued and part of the school community.

Why is attendance so important?

It is simple: if children are not in school, they are not learning and therefore they are not making progress.  Every moment at school counts because we are learning all the time! If children miss days of school, they miss out on crucial teaching and learning and they then have to catch up, not to mention missing out on spending time with their friends.

Why is Punctuality Important?

There are so many reasons why being on time is important!

• It gets your day off to a good start and puts you in a positive frame of mind, so that you can make the most of your learning opportunities.
• It sets positive patterns for the future.
  You don’t miss a moment of teaching and learning time!
• It is disruptive if children come into a lesson late.

Because we value attendance and punctuality so highly, we are always making a fuss of it! Each week, the classes with the highest attendance and punctuality in each key stage are publicly congratulated in Friday’s Assembly.

At the end of each term, certificates are given out for individuals with 100% attendance.

Routines and expectations

Gates open at 8.40am with a member of the Senior leadership Team always at the gate to greet families. Children in Key Stage 1&2 be left at the gates and should go straight to their class. Nursery and Reception children will walk across the playground where they will be greeted by a staff member from their class. Children must be in their classrooms by 9am as this is when the register is taken.

If children arrive late to school they must report to the Ms. Morrissey to let them know they are here, the reason for their lateness.

If children are too ill to come to school, please make every effort to keep in touch by whatever means suits you best. You can email or call the office from 8am to explain an absence. If we don’t hear from you we will get in touch. If no reason for absence has been given, you will be contacted promptly by the school and it may be followed up by the school’s Education Welfare Officer. 

Holidays within the school term are not permitted. If there are special circumstances for missing school, it is important to make a request to the Headteacher.