Attendance
At Whetley Academy we believe that good school attendance gives children the opportunity of success and helps develop skills for life. We believe it is vital that all children attend school every day. We have two attendance officers in school but everyone in school has their part to play in achieving good attendance.
Good attendance is encouraged and rewarded each week and each term for classes and individual pupils.
If you are experiencing difficulty in getting your child to school on a daily basis it is important that you tell us.
We are here to support you.
MISSING SCHOOL ON A REGULAR BASIS MAY:
- Seriously hinder your child’s learning and their ability to do well and make progress.
- Affect their confidence to attempt new learning and their ability to work and learn alongside others in general and as a result develop reluctance or indeed refuse to attend school.
- Disrupt your child’s routines and make them feel vulnerable on their return to school.
- Affect their ability to make and sustain friendship groups.
- Seriously hinder your child’s learning and their ability to do well and make progress.
- Lead to your child becoming disillusioned with school and education as they get older.
- Lead to you, as the parent / carer, facing legal and financial consequences. Please remember that you have a legal duty to ensure your child attends school on a regular basis.
For more information regarding attendance please refer to the Attendance Policy. You may request a paper copy from the main office.
Requesting Leave of Absence
If you are intending to apply for a leave of absence, the correct form must be completed and submitted at least 2 weeks in advance of any departure date. All absence requests have to be in line with Bradford Council’s procedures.
Bradford Council has launched a new Leave of Absence E-Form (see link above) to simplify the process for families requesting term-time leave. This city-wide digital solution allows parents to submit one form for all children, regardless of which school they attend. Once submitted, the form is automatically shared with the relevant schools, enabling school to consider the request and notify parents of the outcome. This approach ensures legal compliance, and improves consistency in communication with families.
If you choose to take term time leave, it will be recorded as unauthorised. This means we will refer the absence to Bradford Council, who may issue a Penalty Notice. The fine is £160 per parent, per child. If paid within 21 days, the fine is reduced to £80. For a second unauthorised absence, the full £160 must be paid within 28 days.
If the absence is longer than 20 school days, or if your child has already had more than two periods of leave in the last 3 years, Bradford Council may take further legal action, which could include going to court.
Please find the e-form link to submit a leave of absence request for your child:
https://www.bradford.gov.uk/LOAForm
Alternatively, please scan the QR code below with your smartphone and it will take you to the relevant page to complete the online request form.
A paper copy of the form can still be obtained from the school office.
