Attendance

At Chertsey High School we have always taken a very straightforward view when it comes to attendance: we expect students to be in school every day, barring serious illness or accident, and we do not permit holidays during term time.

We do recognise, however, that a student’s absence due to an illness or a medical appointment can be unavoidable. Parents must notify the school on the first day of an unplanned absence – for example, if their child is unable to attend due to ill health – as soon as possible.

We encourage parents to make medical and dental appointments out of school hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the student should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary. the school will not authorise more absence than is required to attend the appointment.

All appointments need to be reported to our Attendance Officer 24 hours in advance. Please remember to write a note in your child’s school planner to confirm the absence in order for the class teacher to release your child from their lesson to go to their appointment.

All students must sign in and out of school reception for health and safety purposes.

To report an unplanned absence, please contact the Attendance Officer as soon as possible by:

• Phone - 01932 598020 Option 1
• Email - clarkj@chertseyhighschool.co.uk. 

Remember to give the full name of your child, their year group, the reason for absence and when they are expected back at school.

If we do not receive a reason for absence, we will send a truancy text.

School attendance and the law

Parents and carers should be aware that the law enforces the position regarding holidays. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, which became law on 1st September 2013, state that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. The Headteacher should determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if leave is granted.

In accordance with the above regulations, requests for leave of absence will be treated sympathetically, but only in exceptional circumstances can they be approved. The policy of Surrey County Council (to which Chertsey High School has agreed) states that parents who take their child out of school for five days or more during term time, without the authority of the Headteacher, will be liable to receive a penalty notice. Penalty notices will be issued by the Local Authority, and are issued separately to each parent per child absent.

The penalty is £60 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice, rising to £120 if paid after 21 days but within 28 days of receipt of the notice. If the penalty is not paid in full by the end of the 28-day period the Local Authority must prosecute the recipient for failing to ensure regular school attendance under section 444 Education Act 1996.

Please be aware that each parent is liable to receive a Penalty Notice for each child who incurs unauthorised absences. For example, if there are two parents and one child, each parent will receive one Penalty Notice. If there are two parents and two children incurring unauthorized absences, each parent will receive two Penalty Notices, which in this case would amount to £120 each if paid within 21 days.

Click Here To Download Our Attendance and Punctuality Policy