Importance of school attendance

At Liskeard school & Community College, we are committed to ensuring all students achieve their full potential. We know that good school attendance plays a critical role in academic progress. National research shows that students with attendance above 95% typically perform better academically, achieving, on average, one grade higher in their GCSEs than students with lower attendance rates. 

The national attendance average for 2024/2025 as set by the Department of Education is 92%. 

To help illustrate how attendance impacts learning, we’ve outlined below what good attendance looks like in terms of days off and lessons missed over the course of an academic year:

Attendance Percentage	Total Days Off (per year)	Total Lessons Missed (per year)
100%	0 days	0 lessons
95%	9 days	45 lessons
90%	19 days	95 lessons
85%	28 days	140 lessons
80%	38 days	190 lessons

As shown in the table, even small reductions in attendance can lead to significant learning time missed, which can directly affect academic performance.

We strongly encourage all students to aim for 100% attendance and ask that parents and guardians support us in fostering a positive attitude toward regular school attendance. If there are any barriers to attendance, please do not hesitate to contact us so we can work together to support your child’s education.  You can email the attendance team on attendance@liskeard.net or by calling 01579 342344.

Here at Liskeard School, we want to celebrate students who have excellent attendance and improved attendance.  We celebrate this each half-term with 100% certificate and rewards.  These are celebrated in each year’s assemblies with pupils and their Head of Year.

Reporting an absence

You can report your child’s absence by using the reporting function on Class Charts.  You can add up to 5 pieces of information.  This function can be used for reporting absences, for example illness, medical appointments, college interviews. 

Please do not use this form to complete an exceptional circumstances request.

Absence leave requests (Exceptional Circumstances)

We understand that there may be occasions when students need to take time off during term time. However, we must stress that leave of absence is only granted in exceptional circumstances. By law, the granting of leave during school terms is not an automatic right and must be approved in advance by the Headteacher.

Parents / carers who wish to request leave for their child should submit their request in writing, clearly outlining the exceptional reasons for the absence. This request should be made as early as possible.  We strongly advise that parents do not make any travel or accommodation arrangements until they have received a decision from the school.

The school will carefully consider each request on its own merits, taking into account several factors, including:

• The exceptional circumstances surrounding the request.
• The stage of the child's education—especially for those in critical years, such as exam preparation—and how the absence might affect their learning.
• The student’s attendance history, including how often they have missed school in the past.
• The nature of the trip and whether it can be considered exceptional or essential.

It is important to note that, in line with national guidelines and school policy, holidays or trips will not usually be approved during term time, particularly for students who are in examination courses. Requests for leave during these periods are unlikely to be granted due to the significant impact it could have on their academic progress.

We would also like to remind parents that the school follows the Local Authority’s attendance guidelines, which may involve the use of statutory powers if a request for leave is unauthorised. This could include issuing a penalty notice or pursuing legal action through the courts.

Please be aware of the legislation regarding unauthorised absences-

If your child is absent from school without authorisation, you will be committing an offence under the Education Act 1996. We may submit a request to Cornwall Council for a Penalty Notice to be issued in accordance with Sections 444A and 444B of the said Act. Penalty Notices are issued per liable parent, per child and each carry a fine of £80 if paid within 21 days or £160 if paid after this, but within 28 days.

If your child is further absent from school without authorisation within any 3-year period, you will be committing a further offence under the Education Act 1996. We may submit a request to Cornwall Council for a Penalty Notice to be issued in accordance with Sections 444A and 444B of the said Act. Penalty Notices for a second offence are issued per liable parent, per child and each carry a fine of £160, payable within 28 days.

Importantly, fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action such as a parenting order or prosecution will be considered. 

Failure to pay the Penalty Notice may also result in legal action. If you are prosecuted and attend court because your child has not been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500. Cornwall Council may also apply for the costs incurred in taking the matter to Court, including legal costs.

Absence not authorised by the school may also result in a prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court under Section 444(1) or Section 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996, leading to a fine of up to £2,500 and/or a custodial sentence. Again, Cornwall Council may also apply for the costs incurred in taking the matter to Court, including legal costs.

Money raised from fines is only used by the local authority to cover the costs of administering the system, and to fund attendance support. Any extra money is returned to the government. 

In summary, while we understand the need for occasional absences, we urge parents to carefully consider the potential impact on their child’s education before submitting a request for leave. The school is committed to ensuring every student’s education remains a top priority, and leave requests are only granted where there are truly exceptional circumstances.