Attendance and Welfare

For any child to maximise their potential it is extremely important that they attend school every day as the learning in one lesson will provide the basis for the next. It is understood that from time to time a child will be too unwell to attend and we ask parents to inform us on each day by 9am. If you have not contacted us by this time and your child is marked as absent for lessons you will receive an automated message by approximately 10am asking for you to contact the school regarding the absence.

Please notify the school by using one of the below three options, if you do not use these specific options and choose to contact another way the attendance team may not get the information before the messages.

1. Send us a notification via the My Child at School App
2. Ring the main school line on 0117 3772200, selecting option 1 (Main school) or option 2 (Sixth form) and leaving a voicemail.
3. Email absence@stbcc.org main school absences

We follow the NHS guidance on illness. If you are unsure if your child should attend school, please check the following link https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

If your child is unwell during the school day, please remind them that they need to go to Student Support and see the school first aider who will assess them. A member of the senior leadership team will be contacted and they will make the decision if the child is too ill to stay in school. Parents will only be asked to collect a child if the member of the senior leadership team authorises it.

If a child contacts home asking to be collected, please be aware that this will lead to the student receiving a detention for using their phone while at school and not following the school policy. If you choose to collect your child after they have contacted you, we are unable to authorise the absence.

Any routine appointments for your child to see doctors, dentists, passport renewals etc should be made outside of school hours. Please let us know in advance of any appointments that your child will be attending within school hours.

If you are only offered an appointment during the school day you are required to provide proof of the appointment. This needs to confirm the date and time of the appointment along with the student's name and where the appointment is taking place. Students are expected to attend school before and after appointments if they are during the school day. If they are leaving school for the appointment, please collect them from reception. If you are unable to do this you will need to provide written confirmation that you take full responsibility for them leaving and what time they should leave. Please email absence@stbcc.org any confirmation.

If you would like to request approval for a planned absence (not for medical appointments unless for a full day or more), please download and complete our Student Term Time Leave Request which can be found below.

Please be reminded that it is the Principal’s decision if an absence is authorised. This includes absences due to illness.

We regularly monitor attendance in accordance with our Attendance Policy and we will always look to work with you to resolve any attendance difficulties. Please get in touch if you have any concerns about your child’s attendance via our email on absence@stbcc.org or contact your child’s Tutor or Head of House.