Attendance - Dunoon Grammar School

In order for pupils to have the best possible chance of achieving their potential, it is in their best interests to attend school regularly. In all Cowal schools, we have a minimum target of 90% attendance for all of our pupils in both secondary and primary schools and an expectation that we will work with parents/carers to achieve this.

Absence:

We recognise that there may be times when a young person requires to be absent from school for example: illness, medical appointments, family bereavement, attending a wedding, family crisis. If your child is absent, then we ask that you contact the school as early as possible letting us know how long you expect them to be absent and the reason for this absence.

If your child has a dental or medical appointment then you must contact the school so that your child can be marked as Permission. If it is a local dental or medical appointment then it is expected that they return to school immediately after the appointment.

Unauthorised absences:

It is not acceptable for your child to be absent from school for the following reasons: holiday during term time, birthdays, to go shopping, to attend an event such as a football match or concert, to play the latest video game, tired after out of school activities. These will be marked as unauthorised and will go against your child’s attendance record.

Latecoming

Pupils have a responsibility to be at school on time in the morning, after lunch and for each period. Pupils who arrive late to class will follow the formal latecoming procedures.

Attendance/Latecoming concerns

If we have concerns about your child’s attendance or latecoming then we will follow our attendance policy (full details on the school website):

Trigger	Letter	Action
Attendance below 90%	Letter 1 is sent home	Parents/Carers are asked to contact child’s Head of House to discuss reasons for absence.
If after 2 weeks following letter 1 there is no improvement in attendance.	Letter 2 is sent home	Parents/Carers are asked to contact child’s Head of House to discuss reasons for absence and to avoid referral being made to the attendance council/Reporter to the Children’s Panel.
If after 2 weeks following letter 2 there is no improvement in attendance.	Letter 3 is sent home	Head of House will organise a child’s plan meeting to fully explore reasons for absence and to agree support for pupil to improve attendance.
2 weeks after the child’s plan meeting, if there is no improvement in attendance.	Letter 4 is sent home	A referral is made to the Attendance Council/Children’s Reporter.

Latecoming:

What you and your child should expect if your child is late to school:

1st time late in the week – pupil recorded in latecoming log
3rd time late in the week or regularly late – pupil referred to Head of House and formal latecoming procedures begin
Pupil regularly late e.g. late every Monday – pupil referred to Head of House and formal latecoming procedures begin

Once pupils are referred to HoH the formal latecoming procedures will begin as follows:

Letter 1 to parent – requesting improvement in timekeeping and inviting parent to contact us if further support required. If no improvement after 2 weeks then:
Letter 2 to parent – requesting a parental meeting to discuss timekeeping. If no improvement after 2 weeks then:
Letter 3 to parent and Head of House will organise a Child’s Plan Meeting to look at how we can support you and your child to attend school on time. If no improvement after 2 weeks then:
Letter 4 to parent – referral to attendance council.

Attendance at school is an increasing challenging issue in Scotland. We are working hard to address the problems it presents, including its impact on attainment, achievement and wellbeing of our young people. We hope we can work together to achieve the 90% target for your child/children.