At Connaught School for Girls, we uphold the very highest standards of attendance and punctuality. We believe that consistent attendance is key to success, and we encourage all pupils to strive for excellence in this area. Each term, many pupils in every year group achieve 100% attendance and are celebrated with certificates during school assemblies.

Why Attendance Matters

Success in school and beyond: Studies show that pupils with high levels of attendance are more likely to excel academically. Additionally, employers and colleges highly value good attendance and punctuality.

Learning Opportunities: Pupils cannot learn effectively if they are not present in school every day. Missing school means missing valuable lessons and opportunities for growth.

Catch-Up Challenges: When a pupil misses school, they must make up for the missed work, which can sometimes be challenging and time-consuming.

We encourage all pupils to attend school every day, as this plays a crucial role in both their current academic success and future opportunities.

Attendance and Punctuality Policy

 

Punctuality

At Connaught School for Girls, punctuality is a priority. Pupils must arrive at 8.20am and be in their tutor rooms by 8:25am to ensure they are registered by 8:30am. Anyone arriving after this time will be marked as late.

School Day Timings

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8:20am – 3:20pm

Friday: 8:20am – 2:20pm

We expect all pupils to be punctual. If anyone is late, their tutor will follow up to understand the reason. Should a pupil need to visit the doctor before school, a note or a written explanation in the school diary is required.

Late arrivals

Pupils arriving late must sign in at the office.

For Years 7-9, the form tutor and Head of Year will address lateness, and detentions may be issued.

For Years 10-11, a 30-minute detention will be issued on the same day, supervised by the Heads of Years 10 and 11, or members of the Senior Leadership Team.

We appreciate your support in ensuring that pupils arrive on time, setting them up for success each day.

 

Attendance procedures

Registration

Morning and Afternoon: Form tutors register pupils twice a day in their form rooms.

Lesson Registers: Subject teachers also take attendance registers, to help track any missed lessons and support pupils in catching up with their work.

Notification of absence: If your daughter is unwell and unable to attend school, please inform us by calling main reception by 8:30am on the first day of absence.

Returning to school: When your daughter returns after an absence, please send a written note explaining the reason for her time away, or complete our absence certification form.

Appointments during school hours: Please do not make medical or dental appointments within school hours. If this is unavoidable, owing to a hospital appointment or an emergency, please ensure your daughter provides an appointment card or letter to her form tutor in advance. This helps us accurately mark her attendance. The same procedure applies for external auditions or exams.

If your daughter becomes ill at school: Should your daughter fall ill while at school, our office staff will promptly contact you. If she is not well enough to remain in school, with your permission, we will arrange for her to go home.

We appreciate your cooperation in supporting your daughter’s prompt return to school after any absence, since this is vital for her academic progress.

 

Holiday absence during term time

Please do not take your child on holiday, or any form of overseas travel, during term time. As part of our home/school agreement, you have agreed that your child will not go on holiday during term time.

Secondary education moves at a fast pace across multiple subjects, making it challenging for pupils to catch up on missed work. While we understand that trips to visit family overseas are important, missing school results in knowledge gaps that are difficult to fill later. Experiencing lessons in real-time is far more valuable than trying to make up the work afterward.

Absence from school can also affect pupils’ social integration. It may disrupt friendships and make reintegration more challenging, leading to potential stress or demotivation as they work to catch up. We appreciate your support in prioritizing your child’s education and ensuring they are present during term time for their academic and personal development.