As part of our provision to support students to maximise their achievement at Newport High School, we will be regularly sharing attendance newsletters that will inform Parent/Carers of the importance of excellent attendance. 

Why is attendance important?

Regular attendance to school will positively impact your child’s academic progress. Students need to attend school regularly to benefit from their education. Missing out on lessons leaves our children vulnerable to falling behind. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less at secondary school.

Research has indicated that there is a direct link between poor attendance and poor achievement. A student who has only 90% attendance misses out on almost 4 weeks of school every year. That is approximately 100 hours of lost learning. If our young people fail to attend school regularly, they will experience difficulty in keeping up with their studies and achieving their full potential in their GCSE examinations. In addition, they also miss out on the many activities and opportunities that we offer at Newport High School that support the curriculum such as active citizenship, student voice, sporting opportunities, destination intervention and PSHE activities.

Newport High School believes that excellent attendance and punctuality to school are the key foundation to enable all our students to maximise their opportunities to become emotionally resilient, confident and competent adults who are able to realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to their community.

Evidence demonstrates that a student’s progress and attainment is affected if their attendance falls below 90% and statistics show that if pupils miss just 17 days (34 sessions) of school, their GCSE attainment is likely to drop by an entire grade.

It is important that we help our young people to get into the good habits that they will need in the workplace. Excellent attendance and punctuality are essential in their future employment and we regularly receive requests from potential employers for references regarding attendance and punctuality. Students who develop a poor pattern of attendance and punctuality will be monitored by the Pastoral Team and Education Welfare Service. As a parent/carer, you are legally responsible for ensuring that your child attends school regularly and is punctual.  

If a student does not attend school or is not taking part in an approved educational activity, they are classed as ABSENT from school. This means that if your child is off school for any reason, even if they are ill or have medical permission to be off school, they will be marked as ABSENT.

Please note: Even if an absence is authorised, percentage attendance is still affected.

We ask parents/carers not to keep their child off school unless the absence is absolutely unavoidable.  Where this is the case please can parents/carers:

• Contact the school on the first morning of absence by 8.30 a.m. to provide a reason for absence via 01633820106 or email Reportingabsence@newporthigh.co.uk
• Contact the school each day of absence until your child returns to school.
• Work with the school and any other agency to resolve any difficulties which may affect regular school attendance.
• Provide medical verification for any absences exceeding 5 days (10 sessions) or more (unless the attendance team has requested medical evidence)

Where absence is unavoidable, the school is very happy to ensure that work is provided so that your child does not fall behind in his or her progress via our subject Microsoft Teams. You will need to contact your child’s Head of Year to arrange this.

Please note, that if your child fails to attend regularly they will be referred to the Educational Welfare Service to support and improvement in their attendance.

Useful Links:

Attendance Support and Intervention

Leave Of Absence Request

Example Of School Attendance Letters

Minor Ailments Information

• Downloads & Useful Links

  • Attendance Policy Dec 23