Attendance and Attainment
At Cardinal Allen, we expect all pupils to attend school every day. This is because there is an undeniable link between attendance and attainment. Pupils whose attendance is between 97% and 100% are in the best position to achieve the top grades in their GCSEs. The students with the highest levels of attendance are almost 5 times more likely to achieve 5 GCSEs at grades 5-9 including English and Mathematics. Only 35% of pupils whose attendance is lower than 90% gain 5 or more GCSEs including English and Maths. It is not just attainment that benefits from good attendance; wellbeing and wider life chances also improve through being in school, every day.
Daily Expectations
- All pupils must be on the school grounds by 8:35am at the latest, where they line up on the courts.
- Pupils are registered in Form Rooms at 8:40am.
- If a pupil arrives after 8:40am they enter through the late door (accessed from the main car park).
- Pupils arriving late to school receive a same-day 30 minute detention.
- School finish times – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 2:50pm for Years 7-10. Year 11 have period 6 until 3:50pm every day except Tuesday. On a Tuesday, all year groups finish at 3:10pm.
If your child is unwell and cannot attend school, you must contact us every day of their absence by either:
Calling the absence line (01253 872659, select ‘option 1’ for attendance and leave a voicemail), or
Through the Synergy app (3rd icon from the left at the bottom of the home page, then blue circle to create a new message)
We ask that you provide medical evidence for any appointments, such as the orthodontist or hospital. Please email this to: medicalevidence@cardinalallen.co.uk
If you are experiencing difficulties with attendance
If you and your child are experiencing difficulties with attendance then please talk to us as a first step so we can help. Our dedicated Pastoral Team, Heads of School and Attendance Team can help with a wide range of support and strategies.
What does the school do to promote excellent attendance?
There are on-going attendance rewards throughout the year. Every week our assemblies celebrate the form group in each year with the best attendance. Each term there is a rewards assembly for every year group where certificates are given for outstanding attendance. In addition to this, there are three attendance and behaviour reward trips throughout the year.
