Good attendance at school is vital for children to reach their full potential. Research shows that school absence correlates with low attainment and can have long‑term effects on early adulthood outcomes, including:
- Lower likelihood of achieving higher qualifications
- Weaker labour‑market outcomes (employment status, job quality, income)
- Lower life satisfaction and poorer mental health
The overall pattern is clear: persistent absence compounds disadvantage over time.
What is good attendance?
Regular and punctual attendance is essential for effective learning, promoting positive relationships and developing good attitudes. The recommendation from Welsh Government is that good attendance is at least 95%.
| Attendance % | Impact on Learner | No of days lost |
| 96% to 100% | Your child is taking full advantage of every learning opportunity. | Up to 3 days missed |
| 91% - 95% | Your child could be at risk of under achieving and may need extra support from you to catch up on their missing lessons | Up to 10 days missed |
| 87% - 90% | Your child`s poor attendance could be having a significant impact on their learning as they will be missing out on a broad and balanced education. | Up to 19 days missed |
| 86% | Up to 27 days missed | |
| 80% - 85% | Up to 38 days | |
| Under 80% | Up to 47 days |
Authorised and Unauthorised Absence
Authorised absence means that the school has either given approval in advance for a pupil of compulsory school age to be away, or has accepted an explanation offered afterwards as justification for absence. Unless exceptional circumstances apply, the only four legitimate reasons for absence are:
- Religious observance
- Illness of child – when the nature of the illness has been specified
- Death of a close family member
- Urgent medical or dental appointment (Evidence Required) routine appointments should be made for out of school hours.
The school has the discretion to de-authorise an absence where it feels it is appropriate.
The Role of the Parent/Carer
Parents and carers are legally responsible for ensuring their children attend school regularly and on time. They can support their children by:
- Ensuring regular and early bed times to provide sufficient sleep
- Ensuring students set alarm times or give wake-up calls in plenty of time for students to have a healthy breakfast before school
- Encouraging students to have uniform and school equipment ready the night before
- Where possible, arranging routine medical appointments outside of school hours
- Reporting any concerns promptly to school and retaining open and honest communications with school
- Being positive about education
Reporting a pupil absence
The school needs to be notified of ALL absences and associated reasons by 9am at the latest.
This is a legal requirement and we need to code the child's absence appropriately.
Please call the school office (01443) 203411, choosing option 1, and leave a message or email [email protected]. Any unexplained absences are followed up by the Attendance Officer.
When leaving your message please be specific i.e stomach bug, headache etc. Stating your child is 'unwell' or `won't be in today or this week` will result in the school calling you to ascertain a reason.
Should your child be suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea, they must stay off school for 48 hours following the last bout of the illness.
Punctuality
Students may arrive at school from 8:00am, and the school day begins promptly at 8:45am. Any student who arrives after 8:45am without prior agreement will be considered late. They must enter the school via the ‘Late Gate’, which leads to a supervised holding room where they will remain until 9:00am.
The holding room is overseen by a member of the Senior Management Team, who will speak with students to understand the reason for their lateness and determine whether any additional support is needed to help them arrive on time.
If a student is repeatedly late without a valid reason, break-time detentions may be issued.
Students arriving after 9:15am must enter through reception and report to the school office to be signed in by a member of staff. This will result in an unauthorised morning absence being recorded, which will contribute to the school’s graduated attendance response.
| Minutes Late per day during the school year | Approximate number of days teaching lost in a year |
| 5 mins | 3 days |
| 10 mins | 6 days |
| 15 mins | 9 days |
| 20 mins | 12 days |
| 30 mins | 18 days |
Holidays
The Local Authority has introduced a firmer approach to holidays during term time. Headteachers will consider each request on its own merits and have the discretion to authorise or unauthorise every leave of absence period. Should there be any special family circumstances that prohibit a family taking a holiday during the school holiday periods, the Headteacher may possibly decide to authorise the request.
If the Headteacher does not authorise an absence, but the child is still absent, then the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued.
Bryn Celynnog will only grant application for holidays in term time in special circumstances and when:
- A child's attendance is above 95%.
- The request is for no more than 5 school days in a school year.
- Holidays are not during key assessment periods.
To apply for leave of absence for your child please complete the following form. The completed form can be emailed to [email protected]
Extra-Curricular Activities
To apply for leave to attend an extra-curricular activity please complete the following form. The completed form can be emailed to: [email protected].
Application for Extra-curricular activity