Requesting An Absence
This form is to be used for all requests for leave of absence during term time, including medical and illness.Â
One form must be completed per child if more than one member of your family is due to be absent.
A separate form must be completed for each period of absence. (If your child is ill and you are not sure how long they will be absent for, please submit an individual form for each day they are absent).
All absences must be approved by the Headmaster, in advance of the absence. You will always receive an email to confirm if your absence has been recorded as authorised or unauthorised.
In accordance with Department for Education (DfE) guidance, we are unable to authorise holidays taken during term time.
Please ensure that the form is submitted as far in advance as possible to allow sufficient time for requests to be considered.
Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us to maintain accurate attendance records.
A copy of this form can also be found on the BCS App. Please note that absence requests should not be made via phone or email.
If you are having trouble submitting the form please email attendance@thebluecoatschool.comÂ
Attendance
Regular attendance plays an important part in helping children to make the most of every aspect of school life. Each day in school contributes not only to academic progress, but also to friendships, routines, confidence and participation in the wider opportunities that make up a Blue Coat education.
We recognise that children will sometimes need to be absent, particularly through illness, and that this is unavoidable. However, even relatively small amounts of absence can add up over the course of a year and can affect the continuity of a child’s learning and experience at school.
The figures below show what different attendance percentages represent across our school year. Our aim is to work in partnership with families to support strong attendance wherever possible, so that every child has the best opportunity to thrive.
90%
= 17 days / 3.5 school weeks missed
85%
= 26 days / 5 school weeks missed
75%
= 43 days / over 8.5 school weeks missed
Having 95% attendance over 4 school years (for example, in Prep from Year 3 to Year 6), means around 34 days of learning missed, this is more than half a term.