Attendance
Regular school attendance is vital in ensuring students have the best chance of achieving their academic potential. We encourage parents / carers to send your children to school each day reinforcing the importance that missed learning will have on their development.
The school day is organised into five, one-hour lessons each day. The day begins with tutor time and there is movement time built in between lessons to ensure students arrive promptly for lessons. Students should arrive on campus by 8.25am each morning. Breakfast is available every day in the school canteen from 8.00 until 8.25am. Registration 8:30 to 8:45 Period 1 8:45 to 9:45 Movement time 9:45 to 9:50 Period 2 9:50 to 10:50 Break 10:50 to 11:10 Period 3 11:10 to 12:10 Movement time 12:10 to 12:15 Period 4 12:15 to 1:15 Lunch 1:15 to 1:50 End of lunch bell 1:50 Period 5 1:55 to 2:55 Registration 3:00 School Finishes 3:10 Extra-curricular activities 3:15 If a student is absent or late due to illness, or an appointment, the parent must inform the school either by telephone on the Student Absence Line on 01707 351350 Extn: 3315 before 8.15am and on each subsequent day the student is absent. A specific reason must be given for the absence. The school may ask for medical evidence to be provided if a student’s attendance is irregular or continues for a sustained period. If a student arrives late to school they MUST sign in at Student Services before attending lessons. Any student leaving before the end of the school day for any reason MUST sign out at Student Services before they leave. Students are not able to leave the school site for any reason during the school day without being collected by an adult. Headteachers no longer have the discretion to allow time for a family holiday or to agree to extended leave for parents/carers to visit their country of origin during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. Taking children out of school during term time means they would be losing valuable school time at the expense of their education. If your child is absent from school because of a holiday, which has not been agreed, then this will be classified as an unauthorised absence and you may be fined or legal action taken against you. If you feel that the circumstances for an absence is exceptional then an application must be made to school, prior to any arrangements being made. School will then decide whether or not the absence can be authorised. To request such an absence, please download the Leave of Absence form below and once completed send it to attendance@ridgeway.aetrust.uk Please click here to see the AET Attendance Policy Currently under review due to changes in legislation under which there is a single consistent national threshold for when a Penalty Notice must be considered by ALL schools in England, this is: 10 sessions (usually equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period. This is outlined in the above documents.The School Day
Absence due to illness
Late arrivals / Early departures:
Leave of absence:
