At Dukes Aldridge Academy, we uphold high expectations for pupils’ attendance and punctuality. We are firmly committed to ensuring that every pupil reaches their full potential, and regular attendance is a crucial part of this. To achieve the best possible outcomes, pupils should attend school on time and should rarely miss a day. Attending school every day is essential for your child’s learning, progress and wellbeing. Good attendance helps children build strong routines, develop confidence and achieve their full potential. 

There is a well-established link between good attendance and high achievement in public examinations. In line with local authority guidance, any student whose attendance falls below 90% is classed as a persistent absentee. This is equivalent to 19 days of absence over the school year. Minor ailments, such as headaches or mild colds, are not considered valid reasons for missing school.

We value the partnership between home and school and are confident that parents and carers share our commitment to ensuring strong attendance, as this has a clear and positive impact on learning. However, where absences become frequent or concerning, the Academy may request medical or professional evidence to support these absences.

If attendance becomes persistent and significantly affects your child’s ability to make satisfactory progress, the school may need to take further action. This could include involvement from the local authority and, where necessary, legal proceedings.

It is the responsibility of all parents and carers to ensure that their child receives a full-time education. This requirement is set out in Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, which states:

“The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause them to receive efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs they may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”