Arriving at school on time

Arriving at school on time is essential for your child’s learning, it encourages habits of good timekeeping and lessens any classroom disruption. Late arrival means students risk missing important information which can seriously disadvantage them. All students are expected to arrive at school in good time for the start of the school day at 08:30. Students can enter via Student Reception and the West Gate. A free breakfast is served in the Lower School dining hall from 08:10.  

If a student arrives at school after 08:30, they will be marked in the register as late. Students arriving after 09:00 without a valid reason, will be given an unauthorised absence code which reduces their attendance percentage for the school year. 

Illness

Students should attend school on every day the school is open, unless they are not well enough to. Minor illness should not be a reason for staying at home. If your child attends school when feeling slightly under the weather, but feels worse during the school day, they can speak to a member of staff and we will contact you if we think your child needs to go home. 

However, if your child is too ill to attend school, you must contact the school before 09:00 on the first day of absence, to let us know. If your child is ill for more than one day, you will need to contact the school on each morning of the absence, unless otherwise agreed. If your child is absent for more than three consecutive days, we require evidence that medical attention has been sought (e.g. a doctor’s note or appointment confirmation) for the absence to be considered for continued authorisation.

Parent/carers should email the evidence to info@cotham.bristol.sch.uk or come to the visitor's reception.

To report an absence please complete the Year 7-11 absence form which can be found on our school website Study Bugs App. Please clearly explain the symptoms your child has, when the symptoms started, and when you expect your child to be well enough to return to school.

If you haven’t already, please get the free Studybugs app, or register on the Studybugs website, and use it to tell us whenever your child’s ill and unable to attend school. Get the app or register now

Lateness Policy

Students are expected to be in school by 8.25am for registration at 8.30am in their tutor group. If you know your child is going to be late, please let us know via study bugs (add hyperlink to studybugs). Arriving late between 08:30 to 9am please entre via Student reception on Cotham Rd, arrivals after 9am will need to enter and sign in via Visitor reception on Cotham Lawn Rd. Arriving late without a valid reason will result in a behaviour point being given.

Absence follow up

The academy will follow up any pupil absences where the parent/carer has not contacted us to explain why, or where we are unclear about the reason for absence. If you fail to notify us of the reason for your child’s absence, it will be recorded as unauthorised.

Where the academy has cause for concern about the actual reason for a pupil’s absence, staff may seek more information or evidence from parents/carers, and/or make a home visit to check the reason. Unauthorised absences may result in a penalty notice or prosecution.

Medical/Dental Appointments

Please try to avoid medical and dental appointments during the school day. If you do need to make a medical appointment please try and arrange appointments for before, or after school arrange appointments so the minimum school time is lost. If students are well enough to attend school before and/or after the appointment, then they should attend to get their AM registration mark.

Please note that we can only authorise half day’s absence for a single appointment.

Holiday Absence Request

Attending school every day helps children and young people maximise their learning and enjoy the benefits of their education. It really does make a difference.For that reason, school will not authorise any leave of absence request in term time, unless the school is satisfied the reason is exceptional.

We ask parents and carers to request absence in advance, and only if absolutely necessary. Any requests should be put in writing via the Request Exceptional Absence form located on the Cotham website, and wherever possible with at least four weeks’ notice. The parent or carer who the child normally lives with should make the application.

We encourage parents and carers to discuss plans for absence with the school first, so that we can make good decisions together. Family emergencies also need careful consideration. It may not always be appropriate, or in the best interests of the child, to miss school for emergencies which are being dealt with by adult family members. Wherever possible, please try to make alternative arrangements for your child so they can still attend school.

It is really important that we know where children are, as we have a duty to ensure they are safe. If we don’t know why a child is absent, we will follow our safeguarding procedures. To assist parents/carers in booking holidays and arranging other events, our term date information can be found here.

If you have any questions about the information provided, or any other attendance related questions, please contact vealem@cotham.bristol.sch.uk.

Legal action for unauthorised absence – including penalty notices

Please note: Penalty notices are issued to parents and carers as an alternative to prosecution and are intended to prevent the need for court action. A penalty notice may not be issued if prosecution is considered a more appropriate sanction for a pupil’s unauthorised absence.