Attendance Procedures: Reporting & Expectations 

Reliable attendance is the foundation of student success and safety. At BCCS we expect every student to be present and on time, every day. 

1. The Morning Routine

• 08:00 | Café opens: free breakfast for all students; supervised space to settle in.
• 08:35 | School begins: Students move to their tutor rooms. 
• 08:40 | Registration: Students must be in their seats. 

Arrival time	Action Required	Location
8:35am - 8:40am	Normal arrival; go straight to the tutor room	Tutor room
8:40am - 9:10am	Go straight to the tutor room	Tutor room
After 9:10am	Must sign in at the main reception	Main reception

Lateness without a medical note triggers the following automated sanctions: 

• 1 - 5 minutes late: 1 behaviour point
• 6+ minutes late: immediate 30-minute detention

2. Reporting Absence

Illness:

If your child is too unwell to attend, you must notify the school by 8:00am on every day of absence. 

• Phone: 0117 353 5017 | Email: attendance@bristolcathedral.org.uk
• Details required: Student’s full name, Tutor Group, and a specific reason for absence.
• The 7-day rule: BCCS can only authorise 7 days of illness per year. Any further absence requires a medical note from a GP or hospital to be authorised. 

Appointments & Absence Requests:

• Medical & dental: Please book these outside of school hours. Provide 24-hour notice and evidence (letter/text) for daytime appointments.
• Religious Observance: Maximum of 2 days per year for dates set by religious bodies. 
• Holidays: Current legislation does not allow any absence due to holiday during term time unless there are extenuating circumstances, when it will be at the discretion of the Head or Deputy Head Teacher. Requests must be submitted 4 weeks in advance via this Absence Request Form. Submission of the form does not guarantee authorisation. Unauthorised absence may result in Local Authority fines issued by Bristol City Council. 

3. Why it Matters: The Impact of 90%

Why 90% isn't an "A"

In a classroom test, 90% is a fantastic score. In attendance, 90% is a red flag. If your child’s attendance is 90%, they are missing half a day of school every week. Over five years at BCCS, that equates to 570 missed lessons. That is over a term’s worth of learning lost, making it incredibly difficult for even the brightest students to keep up.

The "Learning Gap" at a Glance

Attendance %	Days Missed (Per Year)	Lessons Missed (Year)	Impact on GCSE Success (5+ Grades 9-4)
95% - 100%	0 - 9 days	0 - 54	Best chance of success
90%	19 days	114	Slowing down
85% or less	28 days	168	Falling behind
80%	37+ days	222+	Serious risk to future

4. Support and Celebration

• Celebrating Success: Weekly tutor rewards, termly "Best Group" breakfasts, and exclusive events for 100% attendance/zero sanctions. 
• Providing Support: Pastoral Leaders run Attendance Clinics to create action plans. Persistent absence results in formal Individual Attendance Plans (IAP) and potential home visits. 

5. How You Can Help: A Parent's Guide

The 'Morning Test' (illness)

Colds, headaches and tummy aches are common. Often, a child feels worse at 7.30am than they do at 10.30am. 

• Our advice: If they don't have a fever and can get out of bed, send them in. We can always call you if they truly cannon make it through the day. 
• The Rule of Thumb: If they aren't 'hospital-level' ill, try school first. 

The Sleep Routine (tiredness)

Is your child getting 8-10 hours of quality sleep? If they wake up exhausted they are more likely to 'feel' unwell. 

• Check: Are phones/screens out of the bedroom 1 hour before sleep? 
• Resource: Visit The Sleep Foundation to find '3 actions' you can take as a family tonight.

Identifying School Avoidance

If your child is reluctant to attend, it is often due to an underlying worry. Use these 'operners' to find the root cause:

1. "If you could change one thing about your school day to make it easier, what would it be?"
2. "Which lesson do you feel most 'behind' in?"
3. "Is there a specific person or place at breaktime that makes you feel anxious?"
4. "Are there any lessons that you really don’t look forward to? Why is this? How can I help?"
5. "Which teachers do you have good relationships with?"
6. "How do you find breaktime/ lunchtime? (food/ friends/ activity etc)"
7. "Are there any friendship issues/ concerns about interactions with other students in your classes?"

Contact Us Early

If there is a problem, we want to know before it becomes a habit. 

• General concerns: email info@bristolcathedral.org.uk (Attn: Form Tutor)
• Serious concerns: contact your child's Tutor, Head of Year or Pastoral Support Lead directly via the school office.