Rates of Authorised and Unauthorised Absence 2008/2009

Number of pupils on roll for at least one session : 849

	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
Attendance	94.7	94.0	94.3	94.1	94.3
Authorised Absence	5.1	5.7	5.4	5.6	5.4
Unauthorised Absence	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.3

Percentage of Authorised Absence = 5.6

Percentage of Unauthorised Absence = 0.2

The figures indicate that attendance at the College is maintained at a high level. Authorised absence is where students miss college for a genuine reason such as illness, funeral, hospital appointment, music examination etc. An absence is deemed unauthorised where a note is not provided or where the reason given is not acceptable to the College. The College strongly discourages absence for holidays within term-time and there are very few cases where students are missing from College through "truanting".

Parents are asked to avoid term-time absence.

Any term-time absence is disruptive to the individual and to the learning of his/her teaching group.

In 2009/10 the college will therefore generally not be willing to authorise term-time holiday absence.

If such absence seems unavoidable (eg due to work rotas), applications should be made to the Principal in advance via a Absence Request form (obtainable from Student Services Reception).